Dear USF

Former Journalist Weighs In

The article on Joe Rosenthal, the photographer of the Iwo Jima photo, was the most interesting one I’ve read in the alumni magazine. It was also interesting to hear of his subsequent career at the Chronicle.

Though an academic at UC Santa Barbara for my career, I was a sometime journalist and photographer earlier, and I was editor (1965–1966) of the Foghorn.

— Michael O'Connell ’66

Family Ties

It is with great pride that I read the article about Joe Rosenthal in USF Magazine. He certainly deserves this recognition.

On June 19, 1970, my brother, Officer Richard Radetich of the SFPD, was killed in the line of duty. Joe Rosenthal was the photographer at Richard’s funeral. Mr. Rosenthal went above and beyond the call of duty, consulting with my family about every detail.

— Jo-Ellen Radetich ’01

Ticking off the Bucket List

A veteran friend and I, a retired major, U.S. Army (18 years special forces reserve), both had on our bucket list a trip to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., along with other military museums in the area. We traveled down to Quantico, Virginia, and pulled into the parking lot of the U.S. Marine Corps Museum and as we got out of the car, I noticed the unique architecture on the roof. I said to my friend, “OK, there’s some special significance to that roof design. What is it?” We were greeted by a couple of retired Marine NCO’s and when I asked one about the roof, he told me the exact degree of the roof design was identical to the angle of the American flag on Mount Suribachi in the photo taken by Joe Rosenthal. I told the sergeant that Joe Rosenthal was an alumnus of the University of San Francisco!

— Bill Clotere ’58