Meet the 6 Veterans who raised the United States flag during the battle of Iwo Jima

Sydney Glynn — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 12:49:17 -0500

It’s a photograph seared into most Americans’ memories and depicted in the life-sized Marine Corps War Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.: six battle-weary Marines, joined almost as one, hoist a U.S. flag over Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945, marking the capture of critically important territory in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

But who were the service members determined to place Old Glory atop Mt. Suribachi, caught in the Pulitzer Prize-winning image by Associated Press photographer Joseph Rosenthal?

Correctly identifying all the men present at what was the second flag-raising during the Battle of Iwo Jima has actually taken about 70 years. (Officially, the hard-fought operation to secure the island, which began Feb. 19, 1945, lasted just 36 days.)

The Marine Corps first revisited the record in June 2016, following queries by a pair of amateur historians that began in 2013. The Marines commissioned a review panel to look at the evidence, and a correction was issued on June 23, 2016, updating the name of one of the men present. But the record was still wrong, and so on further review, the Marines issued another correction on Oct. 17, 2019.

Here’s a short sketch of the men in the second flag-raising image, which became the most iconic photo of the war:

Cpl. Harold P. Keller (1921-1979). Iowa-born Harold “Pie” Keller was identified in 2019 as the sixth man at Mt. Suribachi. According to the obituary on the memorial website, FindaGrave.com, Keller was born near Brooklyn, Iowa, and attended Brooklyn High School. He served in the Marine Corps from 1942-1945, marrying Ruby O’Halloran in 1944 while still on duty. After the war, he returned to Brooklyn, serving for 30 years as a member of the fire department and becoming the fire chief. He had two sons, Ken of Iowa City, Iowa, and Wayne of Grand Forks, North Dakota; and a daughter, Kay Maurer of Clarence, Iowa. (Details: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17178561/harold-paul-keller.)

Cpl. Harlon Block (1924-1945). Born in Yorktown, Texas, Block grew up in Weslaco, Texas, according to a 2015 news release issued by Texas Rep. Filemon Vela, a Democrat. A star football player, Block led the Weslaco Panthers to a conference championship and was named All South Texas End. He and a group of his teammates accelerated their studies and graduated early to enlist in the Marines Corps in 1943. He was eventually assigned to Company E, Second Battalion, 28th Marines, Fifth Marine Division. “One day into the battle, Corporal Block and the 28th Marines began their assault on Mount Suribachi, a 550-foot-high extinct volcano,” Vela said. “After a three-day onslaught, the unit reached the top and defeated the last remaining Japanese defenders.” Block was killed in action on March 1 on Iwo Jima island. (Details: https://vela.house.gov/2015/2/press-release-congressman-vela-honors-south-texas-native-corporal-harlon.)

Pvt. First Class Ira Hamilton Hayes (1923-1955). Born in Sacaton, Arizona, to World War I Veteran, Hayes was an Akimel O’odham, Pima, Indian, according to the Library of Congress and a 2019 blog published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1942, Hayes was a carpenter on the Gila River Indian Reservation. After earning his “silver wings” as a paratrooper and being nicknamed “Chief Falling Cloud,” he was assigned to Company B, 3rd Parachute Battalion, Divisional Special Troops, 3rd Marine Division, the VA blog notes. Hayes was a highly decorated Marine, the library record shows, receiving among other honors the Presidential Unit Citation with one star for Iwo Jima; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, for Vella Lavella, Bougainville, the consolidation of the Northern Solomons and Iwo Jima; and the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. (Details: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87849282.html and https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/68545/ira-hayes-immortal-flag-raiser-iwo-jima.)

Pvt. First Class Harold Henry Schultz (1925-1995). The participation of Detroit-born Harold Shultz at the flag-raising was acknowledged by the Marines in its 2016 correction. Shultz entered the Marine Corps in 1943 and left in 1945, after being seriously injured in Japan. He received the Purple Heart, according to a May 5, 2016, story by Popular Mechanics reporter Matthew Hansen. Hansen was writing the account of how he, in 2014, had broken the news about the misidentification of the Marine in the AP photo, while working as a columnist for the Omaha World-Herald. He could find very little information about Schultz, however. “I have thus far unearthed only the barest of information about our missing flag-raiser,” Hansen writes in the magazine piece. “He married only late in life, never had children, and appears to have lost touch with most if not all of his extended family in Michigan, where he was born.” Schultz is second from left in the photo, Hansen continues, but never told his stepdaughter or anyone else that he’s pictured in the “most-reproduced photo in American history.” (Details: https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a20738/whos-really-in-that-iconic-photo-of-iwo-jima.)

Pvt. First Class Franklin Runyon Sousley (1925-1945). Born in Hilltop, Kentucky, Sousley attended Fleming County High School, according to “Iwo Jima Hero,” a story authored by Alli Bramel for the Kentucky Historical Society website. After high school graduation in 1943, he had relocated to Dayton, Ohio, to take a job with General Motors’ Frigidaire Division. He was drafted and entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944, eventually assigned as an automatic rifleman to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines of the 5th Marine Division, Bramel writes. He was killed at Kitano Point on Iwo Jima about a month after raising the flag. Bramel’s article notes that Sousley received several posthumous awards for his actions at Iwo Jima, including a Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation with one star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star and World War II Victory Medal. (Details: https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/931.)

Sgt. Michael Strank (1919-1945). According to the obituary on FindaGrave.com, Strank was born in Jarabenia in then-Czechoslovakia. He was called Mychal Strenk until his family immigrated to the United States in 1920, part of a wave of newcomers arriving at Ellis Island, according to obituary authors Kit and Morgan Benson. The family settled in Franklin Borough, Pennsylvania, where his father worked as a coal miner. The Bensons write that Strank had a photographic memory, which helped him quickly learn English. After high school graduation in 1937, they note, he entered the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Great Depression-era work relief program. Two years later, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and, in 1942, after being promoted to sergeant, joined the 1st Marine Raiders, fighting at Pavuvu and Bougainville in the 3rd Marine Division. The obituary goes on to say that he later joined in E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, eventually landing on Iwo Jima with the 70,000-strong invasion force. One week after the flag-raising, Strank was killed by enemy artillery during fighting elsewhere on the island. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. (Details: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2115/michael-strank.)

In August 2016, the Marines also had to correct the record of the first flag-raising at Iwo Jima earlier in the day, captured in a less famous photograph by Sgt. Louis Lowery of Leatherneck magazine. Marine Corps records identified the following service members in that flag-raising event:

1st Lt. Harold G. Schrier
Plt. Sgt. Ernest I. Thomas, Jr.
Sgt. Henry O. Hansen
Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg
Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class John H. Bradley
Pvt. Philip L. Ward

Details: “Marine Corps updates its official records of first flag raising over Iwo Jima,” Marines news release, Aug. 24, 2016: https://rly.pt/33KGSB9

Learn more

“Correction to the Identity of Marines in Photograph of the Flag Raising on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima,” Marines news release, Oct. 17, 2019: https://rly.pt/3sfXmL4

“USMC statement on Iwo Jima flag raisers,” Marines news release, June 23, 2016, https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/810457/usmc-statement-on-iwo-jima-flagraisers

“History of the Marine Corps War Memorial,” https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/historyculture/usmcwarmemorial.htm

Bryan McGraw, “The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers: Chaos, Controversy and World War II U.S. Marine Corps Personnel Records,” National Archives presentation, 2016: https://rly.pt/3LVxYSl

CPL Harold Paul “Pie” Keller (1921-1979) - Find a...

Married: Ruby M. Keller 2 March 1944. Parents of: Ken, Wayne & Kay. CPL. U.S. MARINE CORPS, WORLD WAR II. Harold “Pie” Paul Keller, son of Byron Paul Keller and Ruth Hendrickson Keller Belland, was born on August 3, 1921, near Brooklyn, Iowa. He received his education in the Brooklyn School graduating from the...

Response by CWO4 Terrence Clark made Feb 23 at 2022 2:09 PM

CWO4 Terrence Clark — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:09:41 -0500

Excellent article. PFC Hayes is celebrated by his home town of Sacaton with a monument, park and school bearing his name. Just up the road from us. Out of state folks still interested in driving up to visit.

Response by PO2 Marco Monsalve made Feb 23 at 2022 3:20 PM

PO2 Marco Monsalve — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:20:59 -0500

Great post on WWII history. Thanks for the share.

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Feb 23 at 2022 5:02 PM

CPL Douglas Chrysler — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 17:02:54 -0500

Salute to all. RIP

Response by 1stSgt Dan Boone made Feb 23 at 2022 5:42 PM

1stSgt Dan Boone — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 17:42:41 -0500

"Uncommon valor, a common virtue"
Now THOSE were some "hard corps" Marines. (With all due respect to those who serve today!)

Response by MSgt Currie C. made Feb 23 at 2022 7:20 PM

MSgt Currie C. — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 19:20:33 -0500

Yes, I do.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Feb 23 at 2022 7:58 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 19:58:02 -0500

While the names of the Marines in the photo are important, at the time the photo was published, and now, it is symbolic of all Marines involved in that war and others. God, Country, and Corps.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Feb 23 at 2022 10:50 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 22:50:02 -0500

Here's the problem I have with the 'newly' identified Marines.. Harlon Block was originally misidentified as being another Marine, Sgt. Henry Hansen. Pfc Hayes walked all the way to Texas from Arizona to tell Block's mother he was in the photo. She had been adamant that her son was in the photo.
If Hayes did that, doesn't anyone else think he'd also set the record straight about other the two other men as well? And don't you think they would have said something too?

Something just isn't right with this.

Response by Cpl Ronald Peters made Feb 23 at 2022 11:07 PM

Cpl Ronald Peters — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 23:07:19 -0500

In 1987 while serving with 1st Battalion 5th Marines I reenlisted atop of Mt Suribachi Iwo Jima. There is no more Hallowed ground for Marines than Mt Suribachi. Semper Fidelis Brothers Make Peace or Die

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Feb 26 at 2022 4:24 PM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 16:24:33 -0500

I was lucky enough to get to know Charles Lindberg while on recruiting duty in Minnesota. He was a good man who always looked after us youngsters. He didn't talk much about Iwo, but you could tell it had a profound effect on him.

Response by SrA Ronald Moore made Mar 2 at 2022 7:55 PM

SrA Ronald Moore — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 19:55:56 -0500

Thanks for sharing

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Mar 3 at 2022 6:53 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 06:53:51 -0500

Excellent history share

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Mar 7 at 2022 9:18 AM

Sgt Jay Jones — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 09:18:15 -0500

Excellent history lesson. Semper Fi!

Response by Rory Schultz made Mar 7 at 2022 2:47 PM

Rory Schultz — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 14:47:44 -0500

May I make a small comment, people keep asking why didn't they speak up about their role in raising the flag? They did. My father a lifer Marine, his two older brothers who were there and his cousin Harold Schultz did speak up. So did Ira Hayes, Cpl. Charles Lindberg and 1st. Lt. Harold Schrier many, many times over the years. There were numerous investigations from 1945 -1950 by the U.S. Marine Corp. There is still a ton of information the public does not know about. Truman ordered it squashed and classified since he was just elected and did not want anything that could cause issues for re-election, the upcoming War Bond drive, damage the public morale since the war was still raging and the invasion of Japan still pending but mostly his reputation since he already went public on false information. But one thing for sure, Rene Gagnon completely lied about his involvement, he never raised the flag. Ira Hayes told President Truman to his face that Rene Gagnon was a liar......shit hit the fan! There is so much more that the public does not know.....
Ira Hayes spoke up about the truth until his death.
Rene Gagnon carried on with his deception until his death.
Doc Bradley kept his mouth shut and would not speak up to reveal the truth.

The last time I saw Harold Schultz was in 1969 when he came to see my father after his return from Vietnam. Harold went to, if I remember correctly, to California to work for the Post Office. He gave my father a Japanese Flag with signatures of the Marines that day on Mt. Suribachi. My father after retirement also went to work for the Post Office until his death in 1990. Harold died in 1995.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2022 4:04 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 16:04:14 -0500

Nice share.

Response by SSgt Jt Toten made Apr 6 at 2022 7:11 AM

SSgt Jt Toten — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 07:11:24 -0400

After my separation from the military I went to work for a company that was privately owned. The owner asked me and another vet to go help a friend pack up to move on company time. So we went the house to find out it was a 90 something old retired marine who fought in the first landing of Iwo Jima. It was an honor to help and listen to what stories he was able share with us that day.

Response by LCpl Richard Lally made Aug 4 at 2022 9:16 AM

LCpl Richard Lally — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:16:45 -0400

Thank you for the correct information Sarge....Sempi Fi

Response by Sgt Bob Adcock made Oct 17 at 2022 6:19 PM

Sgt Bob Adcock — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 18:19:59 -0400

Thanks! "Uncommon valor was a common virture!" Semper Fidelis!