Radnor - Fort Myer Heights in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Flag Raisings
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, January 19, 2008
1. The Flag Raisings Marker
Inscription.
The Flag Raisings. . On the morning of February 23, 1945, the fifth day of battle, a 40-man Marine combat patrol ascended the rocky slopes of Mount Suribachi, a 550-foot extinct volcano at the southern tip of Iwo Jima. The patrol, led by First Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier, had been ordered to sieze and occupy the crest and raise a small American flag. When the patrol reached the rim of the crater, some of the Marines fought off a defending force of Japanese, while others located an iron pipe, tied the flag to it, and raised the Stars and Stripes. Watching the flag go up, Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal proclaimed, "The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for another 500 years.", Shortly after raising the first flag, another patrol was sent to raise a larger flag that would be visible over the entire island. As the second group hoisted this flag, Associated Press Photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment on film. For Marines on the battlefield, the two flag raisings gave hope for a quick victory. However, the determined Japanese only dug deeper and would fight tenaciously for another month., Captions of Photos on Upper Right of Panel , Michael Strank (4) , Sergeant, USMC , Connemaugh PA , 1919 - 1945 (killed on Iwo Jima), Rene Gagnon (5) , Private First Class, USMCR , Manchester NH , 1926 - 1979 , Harlon Block (6) , Corporal, USMC , Yorktown TX , 1924 - 1945 (killed on Iwo Jima), Photos on lower left corner of panel , Ira Hayes (1) , Private First Class, USMCR , Sacaton, AZ , 1923 - 1955, Franklin Sousley (2) , Private First Class, USMCR , Flemingsbury, KY , 1925 - 1945 (killed on Iwo Jima), John Bradley (3) , Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class, USN , Antiago, WI , 1923 - 1994
On the morning of February 23, 1945, the fifth day of battle, a 40-man Marine combat patrol ascended the rocky slopes of Mount Suribachi, a 550-foot extinct volcano at the southern tip of Iwo Jima. The patrol, led by First Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier, had been ordered to sieze and occupy the crest and raise a small American flag. When the patrol reached the rim of the crater, some of the Marines fought off a defending force of Japanese, while others located an iron pipe, tied the flag to it, and raised the Stars and Stripes. Watching the flag go up, Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal proclaimed, "The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for another 500 years."
Shortly after raising the first flag, another patrol was sent to raise a larger flag that would be visible over the entire island. As the second group hoisted this flag, Associated Press Photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment on film. For Marines on the battlefield, the two flag raisings gave hope for a quick victory. However, the determined Japanese only dug deeper and would fight tenaciously for another month.
Captions of Photos on Upper Right of Panel
Michael Strank (4)
Sergeant, USMC
Connemaugh PA
1919 - 1945 (killed on Iwo Jima)
Rene Gagnon (5)
Private First Class, USMCR
Manchester
Photos on lower left corner of panel
Ira Hayes (1)
Private First Class, USMCR
Sacaton, AZ
1923 - 1955
Franklin Sousley (2)
Private First Class, USMCR
Flemingsbury, KY
1925 - 1945 (killed on Iwo Jima)
John Bradley (3)
Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class, USN
Antiago, WI
1923 - 1994
Erected by The National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is February 23, 1733.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 53.417′ N, 77° 4.251′ W. Marker was in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It was in Radnor - Fort Myer Heights. Marker was on Marshall Drive near Richmond Highway. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Fort Myer VA 22211, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,834 times since then and 85 times this year. Last updated on February 2, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 3. submitted on January 22, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4, 5. submitted on January 28, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 6. submitted on September 8, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 7. submitted on January 7, 2010. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.