wrong. here is david martin. >> it happened on the fifth day of the battle for iwo jima. marines took the high ground. photographer captured the essence of world war ii in one split second. >> the key element to me and most marines is that, here is the irony, you can't see who it is. >> but says retired marine colonel mary rynewald, the marine corps did identify the men. one, john bradley, navy coreman who fought along side the marines was believed to be this man. nearly 70 years later, historian, eric cruley started asking questions. >> an important iconic moment in american history to the get it right, i think is essential for, you know all americans to kind of say this is the truth. these really are the guys that were there. bradley was there, that's him. but compare that to the figure in the photo. >> the two were completely inconsistent with respect to -- their clothing, the articles of equipment they were carrying. forensic specialist, michael