Iwo Jima, The Story of Two Flag Raising’s (VIDEO)

Iwo Jima, The Story of Two Flag Raising’s (VIDEO)

 

Guns.com ^ | Feb 23, 2013 | Chris Callahan

 

Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2013 2:21:46 PM by EXCH54FE

 

sgtstryker (Photo credit: GunnyG1345)

 

 

 

In a September 17, 1947 letter, U.S. Marine Corp. Sgt. Lou Lowery wrote, “You fellows did all the dirty work and the ones who were on Rosenthal’s picture got all the credit.” The letter’s recipient, Pfc. Raymond Jacobs, was among the Marines who raised the first flag atop Iwo Jimo, which Lou Lowery photographed. However, it was a second flag raising that occurred moments later, caught on film by Joe Rosenthal, that would capture the world’s imagination. His Pulitzer Prize winning photograph would become one of the most iconic symbols of the American determination in World War II and immortalize its subjects in memories of Americans for generations to come.

 

First Flag On Suribachi – The THREE Flag Raisers!: BGen Simmons’s E-Mail…..

Dear Walt,

I have received as have you Raymond Jacobs’ compelling photo essay documenting his claim to be the radioman who accompanied the patrol that raised the first flag over Mt Suribachi.

I am very impressed and, unless there is something I don’t know about, I think his claim should be recognized by publication of a suitably edited version of his essay.

FIRST FLAG ON SURIBACHI – THE IWO JIMA FLAG RAISING

It was last May when I first learned of Sgt Raymond Jacobs and the part he played as a member of the 40-man combat patrol led by Lt. Schrier up Mount Suribachi on the morning of 23 February 1945.

That was the patrol that raised our Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima! I had just posted a picture of that First Flag Raising on one of my websites, and it was not long until I received a response from Ray stating that he was in that picture.

Knowing that Cpl Charles “Chuck” Lindberg was recognized as the only living survivor of the flag-raising, I immediately e-mailed him back requesting more information. I soon heard back again from Ray, and I began a bit of research into several books I have on Iwo Jima, the flag raisng, etc.

I also forwarded this information on to Ray “Doc” Fornof, in Hawaii, as I knew he was at that time involved in conversations with Chuck Lindberg regarding this most interesting topic. Fornof advised that he was much interested and that he would follow up on this with both Jacobs and Lindberg. And he kept me posted on their exchanges of information. Since that time, in addition to information provided by both Jacobs and Lindberg, I have become aware, through many readings, of numerous interesting and even shocking facts regarding this subject

Ray Jacobs had advised me that on the morning of 23 February he, a radioman, had been watching a reconnaissance patrol led by Sgt Sherman Watson as it made its way back down Suribachi. At about that time, Jacobs received a call from battalion ordering him to rendezvous with Lt. Schrier who was to lead the 40-man combat patrol up Suribachi and raise our colors

Jacobs was to accompany the patrol as its radioman. Pfc at that time Jacobs was a member of Fox Company, 2d Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, and the other patrol members were from Easy Company, therefore the other members of the patrol didn’t know Jacobs and Jacobs had never met the others before. Chuck Lindberg has indicated that there had been a radioman with them on the patrol, but that he didn’t know his name………

CONTINUED…

Gunny G: Old Posts: Ray Jacobs, Suribachi, Iwo Jima,Flag Raising,Clint Eastwood, etc.

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

AN OPEN LETTER TO CLINT EASTWOOD….by Dick Gaines

An Open Letter To Clint Eastwood

I see by recent news articles that you are to be involved in a new film regarding the raising of our flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. I have wondered if this is going to be yet another of the usual party line accounts, or if this one will finally be an in-depth full story and truth of that event in our history.

Since it is you involved this time, I expect the latter could be the case, and I think it’s worth a shot to attempt to bring the following information to your attention in hopes that the story of Marine Ray Jacobs, and others, might finally be brought to the attention of the American public in a way that is worthy of both the event and the men themselves.

Jacobs is one of the known remaining survivors, along with Chuck Lindberg, of Lt. Schrier’s 40-man combat patrol up Suribachi that day to raise our colors over the Japanese homeland. I am referring here to the earlier first (so-called) flag raising–not the later raising of a replacement flag that was photographed by Joe Rosenthal (and was also shot by Sgt Bill Genaust on motion-picture film as well)–and which quickly, and incorrectly, became famous as the Iwo Jima flag raising well-known to all. The actual flag raising was photographed earlier that same day by Marine S/Sgt Lou Lowery, and is not nearly so well-known. Even today, nearly sixty years after the battle for Iwo Jima, a number of facts are still in question, and the emphasis of the flag raising itself remains on the replacement flag and not the original flag raised.