Ira Hayes, a Native American Marine and hero of World War II, exemplified courage and sacrifice on the battlefield. As one of the six men immortalized in the iconic photograph of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima, he became a symbol of American valor and patriotism. Despite the adulation he received upon returning home, he struggled with the trauma of war and the pressures of fame, highlighting the challenges faced by many veterans upon their return from combat.