The Six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers
There are six Flag Raisers on the famous Iwo Jima photo. Four in the front line and two in back. The front four are (left to right) Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, Harold Schultz and Harlon Block.
The back two are Michael Strank (behind Sousley) and Rene Gagnon (behind Schultz). Strank, Block and Sousley would die shortly afterwards. Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon became national heroes within weeks.
2016 update: The Marine Corps investigated and determined that Harold Henry Schultz was among the 6 in the famous photograph of the 2nd flag raising instead of John Bradley.
Mike Strank
Mike Strank was born in 1919 in Jarabenia, Czechoslovakia. He died in 1945 in Iwo Jima, Japan. Their leader and Sergeant, it was Mike who got the order to climb Mt. Suribachi. Mike picked his “boys” and led them safely to the top. Mike explained to the boys that the larger flag had to be raised so that “every Marine on this cruddy island can see it.” It was Mike who gave the orders to find a pole, attach the flag and “put’er up!”
At home as a boy, Mike was studious, had a photographic memory, played the French Horn and once slugged a baseball out of Points Stadium in Johnstown. In 1936, Mike ran down to the river to see for himself the terrible Johnstown flood. He brought this report back to his family: “Don’t worry–it will recede.”
Mike’s right hand is the only hand of a flagraiser not on the pole. His right hand is around the wrist of Franklin Sousley, helping the younger man push the heavy pole. This is typical of Mike, the oldest of the flagraisers, always there to help one of his boys. Two months before the battle Mike’s Captain tried to promote him but Mike turned it down flat: “I trained those boys and I’m going to be with them in battle,” he said.
Mike died on March 1, 1945. He was hit by a mortar as he was diagramming a plan in the sand for his boys. Mike is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Harlon Block
Harlon Block was born in 1924 in Yorktown, Texas. He passed away in 1945 in Iwo Jima, Japan. Harlon was an outgoing daredevil with many friends at Weslaco High School. A natural athlete, Harlon led the Weslaco Panther Football Team to the Conference Championship. He was honored as “All South Texas End.” Harlon and twelve of his teammates enlisted in the Marine Corps together in 1943.
Harlon was Sgt. Mike’s second-in-command. He took over the leadership of his unit when Sgt. Mike was killed. Harlon was killed by a mortar blast hours later on March 1 at the age of 21. When his mother Belle saw the Flag Raising Photo in the Weslaco Newspaper on Feb. 25, she exclaimed, “That’s Harlon” pointing to the figure on the far right. But the US Government mis-identified the figure as Harry Hansen of Boston. Belle never wavered in her belief that it was Harlon insisting, “I know my boy.” No one–not her family, neighbors, the Government or the public–had any reason to believe her. But eighteen months later in a sensational front-page story, a Congressional investigation revealed that it was Harlon in the photo, proving that indeed, Belle did “know her boy.” Harlon is buried beside the Iwo Jima Monument in Harlingen, Texas.
Franklin Sousley
Franklin Sousley was born Sept. 19, 1925 in Hilltop, KY, and he died March 21, 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan. Franklin was a red-haired, freckle-faced “Opie Taylor” raised on a tobacco farm. His favorite hobbies were hunting and dancing. Fatherless at 9, Franklin became the main man in his mother’s life. Franklin enlisted at 17 and sailed for the Pacific on his 18th Birthday. All that’s left of Franklin is a few pictures and two letters Franklin wrote home to his mother:
————July 1944, Letter from Training Camp: “Mother, you said you were sick. I want you to stay in out of that field and look real pretty when I come home. You can grow a crop of tobacco every summer, but I sure as hell can’t grow another mother like you.”
————Feb. 27, 1945 Letter from Iwo Jima:
“My regiment took the hill with our company on the front line. The hill was hard, and I sure never expected war to be like it was those first 4 days. Mother, you can never imagine how a battlefield looks. It sure looks horrible. Look for my picture because I helped put up the flag. Please don’t worry and write.”
Franklin was the last flag-raiser to die on Iwo Jima, on March 21 at the age of 19. When word reached his mother that Franklin was dead, “You could hear her screaming clear across the fields at the neighbor’s farm.” Franklin is buried at Elizaville Cemetery, Kentucky.
Ira Hayes
Ira Hayes was born January 12, 1923 in Sacaton, Arizona, and died January 24, 1955 in Bapchule, Arizona. Ira Hayes was a Pima Indian. When he enlisted in the Marine Corps, he had hardly ever been off the Reservation. His Chief told him to be an “Honorable Warrior” and bring honor upon his family. Ira was a dedicated Marine. Quiet and steady, he was admired by his fellow Marines who fought alongside him in three Pacific battles.
When Ira learned that President Roosevelt wanted him and the other survivors to come back to the US to raise money on the 7th Bond Tour, he was horrified.
To Ira, the heroes of Iwo Jima, those deserving honor, were his “good buddies” who died there. At the White House, President Truman told Ira, “You are an American hero.” But Ira didn’t feel pride. As he later lamented, “How could I feel like a hero when only five men in my platoon of 45 survived, when only 27 men in my company of 250 managed to escape death or injury?”
The Bond Tour was an ordeal for Ira. He couldn’t understand or accept the adulation . . . “It was supposed to be soft duty, but I couldn’t take
it. Everywhere we went people shoved drinks in our hands and said ‘You’re a Hero!’ We knew we hadn’t done that much but you couldn’t tell them that.” (More about Ira below . . .)
Rene Gagnon
Rene Gagnon, was born in Manchester, N.H. on March 7, 1925, and died in Manchester, N.H. on October 12, 1979. Rene Gagnon was the youngest survivor and the man who carried the flag up Mt. Suribachi. He was the first survivor to arrive back in the US. (More about Rene below . . .)
John Bradley
John Bradley was born July 10, 1923 in Antigo, WI, and passed away January 11, 1994 in Antigo, WI. “Doc” Bradley was a Navy Corpsman who “just jumped in to lend a hand.” He won the Navy Cross for heroism and was wounded in both legs. Bradley, a quiet, private man, gave just one interview in his life. In it he said . . . “People refer to us as heroes–I personally don’t look at it that way. I just think that I happened to be at a certain place at a certain time and anybody on that island could have been in there–and we certainly weren’t heroes–and I speak for the rest of them as well. That’s the way they thought of themselves also.” (More about John below . . .)
Ira Hayes in Later Years
Ira in later years . . . Ira went back to the reservation attempting to lead an anonymous life. But it didn’t turn out that way . . . “I kept getting hundreds of letters. And people would drive through the reservation, walk up to me and ask, ‘Are you the Indian who raised the flag on Iwo Jima?”
Ira tried to drown his “Conflict of Honor” with alcohol. Arrested as drunk and disorderly, his pain was clear . . . “I was sick. I guess I was about to crack up thinking about all my good buddies. They were better men than me and they’re not coming back. Much less back to the White House, like me.”
In 1954, Ira reluctantly attended the dedication of the Iwo Jima monument in Washington. After a ceremony where he was lauded by President Eisenhower as a hero once again, a reporter rushed up to Ira and asked him, “How do you like the pomp & circumstances?” Ira just hung his head and said, I don’t.”
Ira died three months later after a night of drinking. As Ira drank his last bottle of whiskey he was crying and mumbling about his “good buddies.” Ira was 32.
Rene Gagnon in Later Years
Rene Gagnon in later years . . . Rene Gagnon carried the flag up Mt. Suribachi. Rene was modest about his achievement throughout his life. Rene is honored with a special room in New Hampshire’s prestigious Wright Museum. Rene is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, the Flag Raiser buried closest to the Marine Corps Memorial.
John Bradley in Later Years
John Bradley in later life . . . “Of the surviving Flag Raisers, only Bradley was successful in putting his life back together after the war.” —From the best-selling “Immortal Images” by Tedd Thomey
John Bradley returned to his home town in the Midwest after the war, prospered as the owner of a family business, and gave generously of his time and money to local causes. He was married for 47 years and had eight children. While Bradley had a public image as a war hero, he was a very private person. He avoided discussion of his war record saying only that the real heros were the men who gave their lives for their country.
The Global Media reported the death of a World War II icon on January 11, 1994 at the age of 70. But his hometown newspaper best captured the essence of Bradley’s life after the war: “John Bradley will be forever memorialized for a few moments action at the top of a remote Pacific mountain. We prefer to remember him for his life. If the famous flag-raising at Iwo Jima symbolized American patriotism and valor, Bradley’s quiet, modest nature and philanthropic efforts shine as an example of the best of small town American values.” —Editorial, “The Antigo Daily Journal”
I just finished reading “Flags of Our Fathers” by John Bradley’s son, James and also just recently watched the movie produced in the early 2000s of the same name.
I decided to do some additional research on the subject and started with the multitude of internet articles available.
The USMC after many years (re)openend the case involving the identities of those actually in the first and second flag raisings. Yes there were two. There was also a photo taken between the first flag raising and the second flag raising. The interim photo was called the “Gung Ho photo” and shows the 15-20 individuals of the platoon(s) present on Mount Suribachi at the flag raisings.
Long story short, after doing forensic analysis @ 2015 on the evidence available (i.e. 16mm film footage taken by USMC photgrapher Bill Genaust) much like the Zapruder footage of JFK fame.
The first flag raised over Mount Suribachi at the south end of Iwo Jima was deemed too small. Later that day, Gagnon, a runner in the 5th Marine Division, was given a larger flag to take up the mountain. As there was no photograph of the first flag-raising, the second flag-raising photograph became famous and was widely reproduced. After the battle, Gagnon and two other men (Ira Hayes and John Bradley) were identified as the surviving second flag-raisers and were reassigned to help raise funds for the Seventh War Loan drive.
The USMC concluded that the six individuals immortalized in Joe Rosenthal’s photo three of the six identities were never in question among the flag raiser: Ira Hayes, Mike Strank, Franklin Sousley.
The latest correction to the list of flag-raising Marines resulted from a review by historians Stephen Foley, Dustin Spence and Brent Westmeyer, whose work was validated by investigators from the Marine Corps and the FBI.
Ira Hayes said in 1945 that Harlon Block was the Marine at the foot of the flag pole. Previously, Pfc Hank Hansen was identified as the image at the foot.
The remaining two (John Bradley, Rene Cagnon) were uder review in later years. This inspite of James Bradley’s book and the Clint Eastwood / Steven Spielberg film.
The USMC concluded in October 2019 that John Bradley was not among the second group of flag raisers. His position was ID’d as Pfc Harold Schultz.
In addition, Rene Cagnon was mis-identified and Harold “Pie” Keller was later identified in Cagnon’s place as the Marine in the iconic photo.
With the recent correction, the list of six Marines in the iconic photo now includes: Ira Hayes, Harold Schultz, Michael Strank, Franklin Sousley, Harold “Pie” Keller and Harlon Block.
Block, Sousley and Strank died before the conclusion of the battle for Iwo Jima in March 1945.
Hayes died ostensibly from PTSD related alcoholism in 1954 shortly after attending the USMC Memorial dedication in Washington, D.C.
Harold Schultz died in 1995 at the age of 70, and Harold Keller died in 1979 at the age of 57. John Bradley died in 1994, age 70. Rene Cagnon died in 1979 age 54 and was eventually buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
So you may ask: Why the confusion? I contend it was the fog of battle. The USMC probably knew earlier that some maybe half of the flag raisers were misidentified. But by that time the country was in a huge fund raising bond drive and as it was said in the movie ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ – “when the legend conflicts with the facts, print the legend.”
Interesting how it was that after all the participants passed this life, that the USMC decided to set the record straight. No criticism meant here on my part, just an observation.
The Marine Corps stated, “in a sense, it doesn’t matter which Marines were in the photo, because the image represents the hard work, determination and sacrifice of all who served”.
Semper Fidelis
Must have been great to have met this Great men.
I saw John Bradley, Ira Hayes and Rene Gagnon at the Washington Monument in DC on July 4, 1945. It was my 10th birthday and the men were on a bond tour after the famous flag raising. The Marines were important to me because my dog was serving with them in the Pacific. I remember my Father saying “They are using those men.” Over the years I would see an article about Ira Hayes and his battle with alcohol. Fifteen years later I married a Marine who would come home from Vietnam with PTSD. We visited the Memorial several times and never forgot those young men.
My father was a coach at ingleside, Texas high school when the war started. He was drafted at the age of 33 into the army and went to camp Roberts in California. He avoided being shipped out to the pacific islands because he suffered a broken neck during training. I remembered him telling me as a child that one of his students at ingleside was one of the flag raisers at Iwo Jima. Was one of the men there from ingleside, Texas?. We moved to weslaco, Texas in 1943. He was in education there. Could he have been referring to Harlan Block?
Yes- Harlan Block was one of the 13 football seniors who were allowed to graduate midterm and all joined the Marines together, although they ended up separated before they were sent to Iwo Jima, there were a lot of Marines gathered in Honolulu and some of the team met up – Harlan met one of the other ‘inseperable 8’ from the team and told him he did not believe he would come back so would he take Harlan’s Marine ring home to his mama. His friend did, but mom did not want the ring and told the young man, you were his best friend, you had better keep it- and he did until he was 90+ when he gave the ring to history there, just a year or two before he died. Harlan was the only one of the 13 team members to die. He is the man forcing the tip of the flag pole (a pipe) into the rocks. Ira Hayes is at the opposite end. Gagnon and Bradley did not actually raise the flag- neither the first smaller one, nor the much larger one shown in the photo and statue. Gagnon carried the second larger flag up the hill, handed it up to be put on the pole and received the smaller one to carry back down. Bradley was at both raising of the first and second flags, but did not raise either. This is based on later investigation using film made at the time of both, and other photos. Gagnon was the one initially making the identification of who was where in the photo as he was the first to arrive back in Washington. Bradley initially concurred. Hayes did not- he placed Block at the rocks when Gagnon had said Sgt. Henry Oliver “Hank” Hansen who helped raise the first smaller flag was in Block’s place. Hansen did not help with the second flag.
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I read ” Flag of our Fathers.” I think the later confusion over who raised what flag was deliberate. It is shocking that for at least two Marines, their presence there is in doubt for the second flag-raising. The Marine Corp should have investigated it as the picture represented the best of America’s fight against fascism and tyranny. Those who actually raised the flag should now be acknowledged. I remember Ira Hayes very well even though I was a child.. He suffered from PTSD and as an Native American, would not have gotten the help that he needed in those bigoted days after the war. His untimely death was a shock to us all and should have been a lesson in treating people with dignity. Instead ,the powers that be cynically used a tired, fragile, combat-fatigued young man and hastened his early death.
Well said. Indeed, the serious harm we do to others when we choose to deny the truth to protect ourselves from seeing our own pride, and greed. May God bless and protect the soul of Ira Hayes forever.
Need some help. My wife’s uncle Thomas Jefferson Kelly 27th Marine Div. Was KIA Feb.19th 1945(first day) Iwo Jima. His body was never brought home. My mother in law was last of 9 children and left us his purple Heart along with other things. My wife was under the impression he was buried in Hawaii. We cannot find him. I am trying to find out where he might be buried or was he buried at sea or was he buried on Iwo Jima then moved?? can someone guide me in the right direction. Thank You.
FYI: Cpl. Thomas Kelly. I have the information you need.
daviddddd@yahoo.com
the army came in afterwards to mop up and maintain. the marines did the heavy work. research history
I’d like to find out more? I’d want to find out more details.
What US flag raising on Mount Suribachi are you referring to and what about it? Four Marines actually raised the first flag in the morning on February 23, 1945. Six Marines actually raised the larger second flag attached to another and heavier pipe in the afternoon on February 23. The first flag came down when the second flag was raised (came down March 14); ten flag raisers.
You can check the names of those that raised the original flag (4 Marines) down below – my post on Nov. 2, 2019.
What are the names of the raisers of the original flag on Iwo Jima?
Can you identify all the Marines in the famous photo of the 5th Marine Division standing by the first flag raised in Iw Jima. There are about 17 men in the picture.
Betty:
Here is a link to the “Gung Ho” photo with the individuals identified.
http://www.5thmarinedivision.com/flag-raisers.html
You have to scroll down a few pages to find the actual photo with the individuals identified.
Interesting to read these comments to see who get “credit” for the 3 flag raisings. I wonder how many other families of servicemen who died in the war claim their brother/son/father/uncle, was one of those who raised the flags. (This is the first time I knew there was more than 1!). I know in my family, the rumor keeps floating around that my uncle was one of the flag raisers. From reading this website, I think our family can put this rumor to rest. Every family would like to believe the bravery of their loved ones that were in the war, was memorialized in this way. Just by enlisting, I know my uncle was brave. You’ve got to be brave to go off to war.
The thing is the Army fought and raised the first Flag. The Marines saw it and came up the hill with a bigger Flag and put it on top of hill. The Army actually did all the work and the Marines took credit for everything and they weren’t even on the hill fighting.
I worked at the VA hospital and one of the soldiers that was in the 1st flag raising cried while telling the story.
Do some basic research before posting something like this (will be polite and call it “misinformation.”) My Uncle Douglas A Vibert (Marine Corps Platoon Sgt) was killed by sniper taking the hill, received Silver Star(can look it up.)You dishonor him and the many other Marines with “Army did all the work and Marines took credit and weren’t even on the hill.”This isn’t Twitter.
The VA woman (and you) said “hill” not mountain. The Marines faced the main Japanese force and heavier fighting north of Mt Suribachi were there was hills. Your uncle’s Posthumous Silver Star Medal for action on February 21, 1945 says base of “Mt. Suribachi” (mountain-volcano).
The battle was over on March 26 (5th Mar. Div. left, some other Marine units did not) but the fighting was still not over. The VA hospital “soldier” probably was in the Army’s 147th Infantry Regiment which was fighting on Iwo Jima on March 23 attached to the 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division. The 147th Infantry killed 1,600 Japanese soldiers. The Marines placed several personal flags on Iwo Jima besides the ones on Mt Suribachi. 147th Infantry could have too. The 147th Infantry also fought valiantly on Guadalcanal with the Marines and was an experienced fighting force capturing many Japanese on Iwo Jima and was there longer than the Marines were..
FYI: “Platoon Sergeant” was a rank in WW2. Your uncle was a “Leader of a mortar section” (mortar section leader). 81mm mortars (heavy mortars; smaller =60mm mortars): 2 Sections (each led by a Plt. Sgt.). Each section had 4 mortar squads (Cpl.-squad leader, gunner, assistant gunner, and 4 ammunition carriers).
I stand (grammatically) corrected. Mountain.Volcano. Hill. We pay homage and prayers for those who fought and survived and those who did not. A wonderful tribute to him was written by Bill Hanrahan. Thanks again, Bill.
Marines were there fighting, my Dad was there and in charge of the grave detail. Marines took the brunt of the battle. I’m sure Army was involved as well. Let’s give credit to all servicemen who fought for our country on that black sand.
Doug was married to my father’s sister Louise at the time of his death. I’m glad to know that others have an interest in his service so many years after his death.
Not true. Marines fought on the hill too. My father was there. Out of his group (i think he said out of his Platoon) that we’re there, only 17 returned alive, he being one of them. He made a bracelet (cuff) for my mother out of airplane scraps commemorating the fight & all his friends killed there. The date on it is when the Marines/he landed on Iwo Jima: Feb 19 1945. He often told the story of watching the flag being raised. He was a proud Marine.
I know who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. Brave Americans all: Army or Marine, bravery, courage and sacrifice are the issues.
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This is the latest confirmed information from HDQTR Marine Corps about who the flag raisers are. I also get tired of explaining to people the the 2nd flag raising was not staged, but that myth continues. My father was in the Navy offshore Iwo Jima on the troop ship MS Boschfontein. She was a commandeered Dutch liner fitted with 5 inch guns. My father said over half of the Marines did not return to the ship alive. He saw the 2nd flag go up not the 1st flag. They were under kamikaze attack during the landings, this is little known to the public. In any case, Ganon was not involved in any of the flag raisings, Doc Bradley was in the first flag raising. The article I leave here will name the two Marines who were in the 2nd flag raising. This is legit and confirmed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/us/marines-iwo-jima-flag-raising.html?0p19G=7900
Here are the U.S. Flag raisers who raised the three flags on Iwo Jima.
1st Flag – Mt. Suribachi, 2/23/1945 (4 Marines)
1Lt. Harold G. Schrier
Plt. Sgt. Ernest I. Thomas (KIA)
Sgt. Henry O. Hansen (KIA)
Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg (WIA)
2nd Flag – Mt. Suribachi, 2/23.1945 (6 Marines)
Cpl. Harlon H. Block (KIA)
Cpl. Harold P. Keller
Pfc. Franklin R. Sousley (KIA)
Sgt. Michael Strank (KIA)
Pfc. Harold H. Schultz (WIA)
Pfc. Ira H. Hayes
3rd Flag – USMC HQ, SW Iwo Jima (near Mt. Suribachi), 3/14/1945 (2 Marines)
Pfc . Thomas J. Casale
Pfc. Albert B. Bush
The 1st flag and pipe was lowered as the 2nd flag was raised.
The 2nd flag and pipe was lowered as the 3rd flag (official) was raised up the flag pole.
Others, including navy corpsman John H. Bradley (WIA), assisted the flag raisers (got pipes and helped tie the flags on the poles and helped secure the flag poles in the ground after the flags poles with flags were raised and planted); Pfc. Rene Gagnon took the replacement flag up Mt. Suribach and took the 1st flag down to Hqs.
The 3, 4, and 5th Marine Divisions also had cemetery flagpoles were the U.S. Flag was run up the poles during the division services for those servicemen that were buried there.
daviddddd@yahoo.com
Why is Bradley still on this page and there isn’t a single word about Schultz? Make no mistake–John Bradley was indeed a hero. But he wasn’t a flagraiser.
It appears that Bradley was a flag raiser for the first flag and he confused the two events when he spoke about it later. There was a battle going on at the time and all involved were more tuned in to that rather than flag raising and photos. But it is strange that Bradley and Gagnon went around the country on a war bonds drive as 2nd flag raisers. Perhaps they told there superiors they were not involved and were then told to keep quiet about. You are the heroes. Who knows.
This is a bunch of dingoes’ fetid testicles.
Originally the marine at the base of the flagpole had been misidentified. It was actually Cpl. Harlon H. Block of Weslaco, Texas. He was KIA seven days after the photo was taken. Ira Hayes knew the truth. In 1946 Ira Hayes stepped off his farm near Bapchule, Arizona out onto U.S. Hwy 80 and hitchhiked 1300 miles to Weslaco, Texas. Once there he asked directions to the farm of Block’s parents. He found Block’s father in the field and walked up to him and told him who he was and what he came for. Said he’d sign an affidavit or whatever it took to set the record straight. Then he turned and left for the highway before Block’s father could even offer him a drink of water.
Ira Hayes died in 1955. Gagnon died in 1972. Bradley died in 1994.
Through a war bond drive, the making of a movie in 1949 and at least one public appearance later, Ira Hayes never hinted that the other two were fakes. He hitchhiked 2600 miles to correct one wrong identification but never breathed a peep standing next to two others. To believe this I would have to destroy my own mind.
The revisionists think everybody in this country is a vapid cretin, unable to think critically.
The public relations people in HqMC in 1945 had learned positively that one of the raisers was Rene Gagnon. They high-pressured him to identify Hayes. Hayes had previously warned him not to, he wanted to be left alone. Gagnon caved to the pressure – he was only 19 at the time. Hayes was not happy.
Gagnon was the key to get Hayes. If Gagnon was a fraud then, logically, his ID of Hayes was fraudulent. Hayes was a fraud. Hayes has been the ultimate target from the beginning of this scam. Look for the denouncement of Ira Hayes – soon.
The objective is to trivialize then ridicule then dismiss entirely the glories and the heroes of our past. Through this process they destroy our national pride and then self-esteem. Finally they can force us to go along with the just and righteous purpose they have in mind for us – to be their beasts of burden and sacrificial animals.
James Bradley’s book “Flags of Our Fathers” is the Burning Bush on this subject.
If you examine the photos carefully as I have done also, you will realize that the USMC Boards that looked into the photographs have now made the right corrections. Bradley was one of the first flag raisers. Gagnon is the fraud. It is obviously not him in the photo. If fact he is in another photo taken as the second flag was going up. He can’t be in two places. Gagnon was a glory seeker and took the opportunity to put himself into the famous photo. If you look at ALL the others photos taken at the time you will see who actually raised both flags. Not rocket science. Just that some guys finally examined the photos and realized the mistakes that were made. Nothing nefarious about it. HAYES is definitely in the famous photo. You are nuts to believe all your conspiracy theories here. The USMC made real sure they got it right this time. Both complete reports from 2014 and 2019 with photos are on line and can be viewed. Check it out and stop with the nonsense.
Gidday!
As an Aussie and a son of both parents who served in WW2 (father in RAN and mother in Australian Women’s Land Army), I sincerely thank these and all brave American men and women who fought or suffered unimaginable battles for freedom.
May the ‘brotherhood’ our nations be forever remembered.
You say this is the flag raisers site, but you forgot to mention the first flag raisers.
At 8am on Feb 23rd, a patrol of 40 men from 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, led by 1st Lieutemant Harold G. Schrier, assembled at the base of Mount Suribahi. At 101:20 am the flag was hoisted on a steel pipe abouve the island by First Lieutenant Harold Schrier, Platoon Commander, Sergeant Ernest I. Thomas, Platoon Sergeant, Corporal Charles W. Lindberg, and Private First Class James R. Nicel.
Marine Corps Photographer Sergeant Lou Lowert captured this first flag-raising on film just as the enemy hurled a grenade in his direction. Dodging the grenade Lowery hurled his body over te edge of the crater and tumbled 50 feet. His camera lens was shattered, but he and his film were safe. Photos for civilian Photographers were sent back to us by plane (Rosenthal) and military photographers were sent back by ship. Rosenthal sent a dozen pictures back to his editor that day and the editor chose the picture the paper printed and made the 2nd flag raisers famous. The US needed a hero at that time to lead the Bond drive and ordered the men in the second raising to return to the beach and be brought back to Washington, This order caused the death of 3 of the men trying to get to the beach.
I got to meet Charles Lindberg a year before he passed at a veterans service our church hosted. Was a very neat man to talk with.
Sorry but the first flag raisers are as follows:
Schrier
Lindberg
Thomas
John Bradley
Hansen
Phil Ward
Nicel as not even there. Do not know where you got his name from. The USMC reports from 2014 and 2019 are on line and all photos and info are in them as to who were the actual flag raisers for both flags.
I was born in Lima Peru South America, all my life i was a great admirer of the American Fighting Men, one day i went to the movies to see the movie Sands of Iwo Jima, I must have seen that movie a mill, check that, 2 million times, never in my life i though that some day i was going to wear the uniform and helmet of the american soldier, but, i was wrong, i am now a Korean War Vet, and my idols are THE WWII GENERATION, THE GREATERS, those american are the reason this country is the greaters of ALL TIME
How amazing I live in the town where one of the men from Iwo Jima lived – He’s passed away now but going into a business and see a monument of him with the other marines was amazing – He was the only Navy guy in the pic.
Sorry to tell you this but Jack Bradley was misidentified as one of the flag raisers. Please google for more information. It certainly does not make him any less a hero.
My father located Gagnon, Bradley and Hayes, sent them stamped postcards and asked that they sign and mail the postcards. The all responded. I have these postcard autographs all dated 1947. If scans of these cards can be uploaded to this site, I will be happy to do so.
Hi George: I would be honored to have a scanned copy of your postcards. What a wonderful keepsake of our WWII Heroes. Feel free to send them to my e-mail if you wish.
Thanks
Well Sally… maybe…although most Native American tribes are descendants of people from Asia who crossed the Bering Strait around 10,000 years ago, (so you understand even “Native Americans” came from somewhere other than North America) there is much more recent DNA evidence too show that the first people here in North America were Caucasian. That evidence shows they arrived in North America some 26,000 years ago. I know that is not the politically correct story that many want to believe but it is a scientific FACT! If you don’t believe me just read the several articles from 2013 in Smithsonian Magazine. There has also been evidence of Caucasian bones found in North and South America that are older than any of the oldest “native American ” bones that have been discovered on those two continents. Much of this information has been surpressed by the media and the “Native American” lobby because it “doesn’t look good” for the false narrative they like to push. You won’t see this information unless you look for it. If you want to go further back… I believe it was about a million years ago, ( the earth is estimated to be 4.5 BILLION years old) all of the earths land was one massive “continent”. Also, the oldest know human remains were found in Africa… I believe these are also approximately 1 million years old or older. So, when the one huge land mass started to separate and become continents… nobody really knows for sure who the hell was here… or anywhere first… the science is still evolving! So… 10,000 years…26,000 years…or even a million years…it’s all the same to me! So quit with your convenient false narrative, do some research/reading, and stop disparaging other people’s ancestors. PS … Ira Hayes was a heroic man and a GREAT Marine! He is a credit to his Pima tribe as well as to everyone in our country!
are you a credit to your race?