Ira Hayes

“WWII hero Ira Hayes would have appreciated this book. Author Tom Holm uses Ira’s courage and humility as tools to dissect the historic and current fate of his Native American people. And Ira’s challenges focus light upon the tragedy of war and the horrors of PTSD. A meaningful and beautifully-researched read.”

“Tom Holm brilliantly and respectfully offers readers a rich and long overdue account of the life and tragic death of Ira Hayes that pierces through the stereotypes and misconceptions that plagued his during his life and long after his passing. It is a sensitive work that reminds us of the enormous emotional, psychological, and cultural difficulties Hayes had to cope with throughout his life. It is a splendid and timely contribution.” 

“As a historian and a veteran, Tom Holm is uniquely positioned to write this important story, the first scholarly treatment of Hayes' life and times. Holm examines Hayes' struggles with fame and illness after World War II while offering insights into a post-war America hostile to Native identity and sovereignty despite the sacrifices made by Hayes and thousands of other Native Americans.”

“Tom Holm has masterfully turned the story of Ira Hayes on its head, reading his life through the lens of trauma - both inflicted from war and from the intergenerational consequences of colonialism. This new reading of Hayes' life challenges how the media and Hollywood have portrayed Hayes and centers Native American perspectives on Hayes and Native military service more broadly."

"An excellent piece of scholarship; the definitive work on this Native American veteran. Carefully nuanced and rich in context, Holm transcends and dispels the stereotypes of Ira Haye’s life to show the complexity of the Akimel O’odham experience, the impacts of World War II, the social use of alcohol in 1940s America, and his personal experiences from poverty, racism, and the unwanted and unending attention following the flag raising on Mount Suribachi. As Holm concludes, 'He should be remembered for who he was rather that for what the dominant society has been led to believe about him.'"

"Tom Holm deservedly looms large in the history of Indigenous peoples’ military service in the wars of the twentieth century. In his new book, IRA HAYES, Holm reintroduces us to the iconic individual in ‘The Photograph’ of the flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. Holm extricates Hayes from the trope of tragedy and the racist stereotype of the ‘drunken Indian’ into which his story was confined during his lifetime and in which it remained trapped since his death. Instead, a complex Ira Hayes comes to life in the long context of his Akimel O’odham culture and community, American colonialism and racism, his military service, and his likely suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This tour de force is, by turns, compelling, devastating, and intensely humanizing."

"Tom Holm's compelling narrative fills a critical void in our cultural interpretations of World War II America. The author's dynamic analytical blend of the social, military, and media elements that shaped the life of Ira Hayes makes for exquisite storytelling. The expertly researched tale is a profound reminder of the personal costs of war and the price of unwanted celebrity. IRA HAYES presents readers powerful context to better understand and appreciate the Native American experience during the Second World War and beyond."

“A strong contribution to the literature of World War II, Native American warriors, and the unseen wounds of war.”

“With grace, sympathy, and tact, Holm tackles both sides of the stereotype stamped onto Hayes’ life… This is the well-written and compelling biography Ira Hayes deserves.”