Does anyone know the names of the real soldiers that raised the flag at Io Jima?

Question

Sorry I spelled Iwo Jima wrong

Answer 1

Ira H. Hayes (with hands outstretched);
Franklin R. Sousley (with slung rifle - killed in action); Michael Strank (barely visible on Sousley's left - killed in action); John H. Bradley (with empty canteen cover hanging from right side of belt); Rene A. Gagnon (helmet barely visible beside Bradley); and Harlon H. Block (at foot of pole - killed in action)

The three survivors were ordered stateside to participate in the 7th War Bond Drive. It is alleged that this experience introduced Cpl. Hayes to alcohol. By all accounts, he was very uncomfortable with the attention showered upon him.

In 1954, Ira Hayes attended the dedication ceremony Memorial. Within 10 weeks of this celebration Ira Hamilton Hayes would be dead at age 33.

On January 24th, 1955, after another night of drinking outside of Bapchule, on the southern end of the Gila Reservation, lamenting yet again over his fallen "buddies", Ira, drunk, fell into an irrigation ditch. There, he froze to death, (as Johnny Cash sings in the song by Peter LaFarge):

He died drunk one mornin'
Alone in the land he fought to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch
Was a grave for Ira Hayes.

The ditch where he died was the single source of water that was provided for his people by the Federal government he'd proudly served. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on February 2nd, 1955 (Section 34, Plot 479A).

Corporal Gagnon died on 12 October 1979 in Manchester, New Hampshire and was buried at Mount Calvary Mausoleum. At his widow's request, Gagnon's remains were reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery on 7 July 1981. Rene is the flag raiser buried closest to the Marine Corps War Memorial. Iwo Jima was his first and only campaign.

Navy Pharmacist's Mate Second Class Bradley landed with the regiment on 19 February (‘D-Day’ for Iwo Jima). Just two days later earned the Navy Cross, for "extraordinary heroism as a Hospital Corpsman in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima." Bradley rushed to the aid of a wounded Marine, under intense fire bandaged his wounds and then pulled the Marine 30 yards through heavy enemy fire to a position of safety.

He served until wounded in both legs on 12 March by an enemy mortar shell, but refused evacuation until he finished rendering aid to two other wounded Marines. He was evacuated by plane the next day and finally was flown to the Naval Hospital at Bethesda, Maryland.

Bradley, the longest surviving member of the six who raised the second flag, died on January 11th, 1994 in his home town of Antigo, Wisconsin. He was 70 years old.

Answer 2

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic photograph taken on February 23, 1945 by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the Flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.

The photograph was instantly popular, being reprinted in hundreds of publications. Later, it became the only photograph to win the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in the same year as its publication, and ultimately came to be regarded as one of the most significant and recognizable images in history, and possibly the most reproduced photograph of all time.

Of the six men depicted in the picture, three (Franklin Sousley, Harlon Block, and Michael Strank) did not survive the battle; the three survivors (John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes) became suddenly famous. The photograph was later used by Felix de Weldon to sculpt the USMC War Memorial, located just outside Washington, D.C.

The famous picture taken by Rosenthal actually captured the second flag-raising event of the day. A U.S. flag was first raised atop Suribachi soon after it was captured early in the morning of February 23, 1945.

Captain Dave E. Severance, the commander of Easy Company (2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, U.S. 5th Marine Division), ordered Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier to take a patrol to raise an American flag at the summit to signal to others that it had fallen. After a fire-fight, a 54-by-28 inch (137-by-71 cm) flag was raised, and photographed by Staff Sergeant Louis R. Lowery, a photographer with Leatherneck magazine.

However, the first flag raised by the Marines was too small to be seen easily from the nearby landing beaches.

Answer 3

When I was 18 I played one of those men. As a woman that is kind of hard. Your best bet is to go the the army web page or a us history site. Just do a search on iwo jima. Good luck.

Answer 4

Its Iwo Jima, Ira Hayes Franklin Sousley,John Bradley and Harlon Block were the ones in the "front" of the picture, Michael Strank and Rene Gagnon were two in back. Michael Strank, Harlon Block and Franklin Sousley never made it off of Iwo Jima, they were killed . God Bless all of them, they were Americas finest. We owe all that fought and died in all of Americas Wars our gratitude and utmost respect and thanks. For if it was not for them we would not be free.

Answer 5

Ira Hayes was one of them. He was an American Indian. The others are known and you may be able to find their names by entering Ira Hays. I'm sure the others will also show up.

I know one later on died in combat on Iwo Jima. Heroes all of them!!

Edit: Yes, Dukalink6000 got it. Grats, Duka.

Answer 6

There are six Flag Raisers on the photo. Four in the front line and two in back.
The front four are Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, John Bradley and Harlon Block.
The back two are Michael Strank and Rene Gagnon.

Answer 7

Sergeant Michael Strank(USMC)
Corporal Harlon H. Block(USMC)
Private First Class Franklin R. Sousley(USMC)
Private First Class Ira H. Hayes(USMC, Johnny Cash Wrote a song abuut him)
Pharmacist's Mate Second Class John H. Bradley(USN)
Private First Class Rene A. Gagnon(USMC)

Answer 8

Yes they do hold on... John Bradley was one...um...Ima Hayes...I can't remember the other 4 but they are listed and talked about (their live ECT.) In the book "flags of my father's" By James Bradley, Son of John Bradley

Answer 9

Hi,,, the only one that i know for sure off hand is Ira Hayes.... a Native American was among the group...... the others are known ,, i just dont know them.....

good luck

Answer 10

the only one i know for sure is the native American Ira Hayes. he was immortalized in song by Johnny Cash.