Retired marine whose troops planted US flag on Iwo Jima dies

The Associated Press ^ | August 6, 2021

[Oldeconomybuyer]

SAN DIEGO — Dave Severance, a retired U.S. Marine colonel whose troops were the first to plant an American flag over the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II, has died. He was 102.

Severance died Monday at his home in the San Diego suburb of La Jolla, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

On Feb. 23, 1945 about 40 members of Severance’s company were sent up Mount Suribachi with orders to plant the flag.

A short time later, another group was sent up with a second flag to replace the first. That iconic image was captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal who won a Pulitzer Prize.

Severance spent his retirement quietly trying to set the record straight that there were two flag-raisings that February morning in 1945.

Severance retired from the Marine Corps in 1968 following 32 years of service. After leading Marines in WWII, he went on to fly nearly 70 missions in Korea as an aviator.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[Red Badger]

Semper Fi, Marine.
Rest in Peace, bro.....................

[GreyFriar]

Rest in Peace Marine.

[lightman]

Vechnaya Pamyat (Memory Eternal!)

[D_Idaho]

Somehow, “Thank you for your service” seems inadequate for a man like this. God speed, Sir. Time to go home.

[BBQToadRibs2]

Not many of that generation left, unfortunately.

Rest in peace.

[SuperLuminal]

Semper Fi...
R.I.P.

[knarf]

Amen

[Jolla]

Semper Fi

La Jolla is one of the most beautiful places ever, glad he could live out his years there after the hell he experienced.

Eleanor Roosevelt said:

“The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen.

[libertylover]

Thank you, Colonel. The flag up there was inspirational.

Also remember though: several of the men who actually planted the flag didn’t make it off of Iwo Jima alive.

[PROCON]

RIP Marine, we thank you for your service to America and to our freedom.

[stevem]

My Dad invaded Iwo Jima. He landed about noon on D-Day. He was a Navy Pharmacist's Mate (Medic). His group landed and was mortared back into the ocean and had to come in again a short time later.

It's inevitable but sad as these connections with that era pass. It is truly the end of an era that so many alive today don't appreciate. I guess that is inevitable, too.

Rest in peace. You earned it.

[redshawk]

Well they don’t call it the greatest generation for nothing . I wonder if the kids today even know about that day. Sigh, times they are a changing.....

[Jane Austen]

RIP

[redshawk]

Wow... About your Dad. Hugggs

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Cuttnhorse]

One of my favorite places in D.C.

[Bigg Red]

May his soul rest in peace.
May Perpetual Light shine upon him.

I am just finishing up “The Rifle” by Andy Biggio. Highly recommend it.

[Jane Long]

Amen!

[Bigg Red]

Eleanor Roosevelt (spit!)