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| IWO JIMA MONUMENT |
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| Who were the six Flag Raisers ? |
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| THERE ARE SIX FLAG RAISERS ON THE PHOTO. fOUR IN THE FRONT AND TWO IN THE BACK. The front four [Left to right] Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, John Bradley and Harlon Block. The back two are Michael Strank [behind Sousley] and Rene Gagnon [behind Bradley]. Strank, Block and Sousley would die shortly afterwards. Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon became national heroes within weeks. *********************************************************************************************************************************************** Mike Strank...Born 1919 Jarabenia, Czechoslovakia. Died 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan. Their leader and Sargent, it was Mike who got the order to climb Mt. Suribachi. mike picked his "boys" and led them safely to the top. It was Mike who gave the orders to find a pole, attach a flag and "put'er up!" 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. Mike died on March 1st, 1945. He was hit by a mortar as he was diagramming a plan in the sand for his boys. Mike is buried in Arlington Cemetary. Harlon Block...Born 1924 Yorktown, Texas. Died 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan. Harlon was 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 1st at the age of 21. Harlon is buried beside the Iwo Jima Monument in Harlington, Texas. Franklin Sousley... Born Sept. 19, 1925 Hilltop, KY. Died March 21st 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan. Franklin was the last flag-raiser to die on Iwo Jima at the age of 19. Franklin is buried at Elizaville Cemetary, Kentucky. Ira Hayes... Born Jan 12, 1923 Sacaton, Arizona. Died Jan 24, 1955 Bapchule, Arizona. Ira Hayes was a Pima Indian. When he inlisted 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. He fought in three Pacific battles. Rene Gagnon...Born Manchester, N.H. March 7, 1925. Died Manchester, N.H. Oct 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. Rene was modest about his achievement throughout his life. Rene is buried in Arlington Cemetary, the Flag Raiser buried closest to the Marine Corps Memorial. John Bradley...Born July 10, 1923 Antigo, WI. Died Jan 11, 1994 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. John Bradley returned to his home town in the Midwest after the war, he avoided discussion of his war record saying only that the real heros were the men who gave their lives for their country. The preceeding information was found while surfing the web. To learn more about the Flag Raiser please visit the following web site. http://www.IwoJima.com/raising/raisingc.htm |
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