Posted on 01/07/2005 2:17:10 PM PST by gunnyg
Looks like the eyewitness story of Marine Radioman Ray Jacobs, the radioman in Lou Lowery's photos of the flag raising on Iwo Jima, will finally be seen by millions of Americans, as it deserves to be seen. The following from from Ray Jacobs...
ray1jacobs@msn.com
Website:
http://carol_fus.tripod.com/marines_hero_ray_jacobs.html
"Just got this yesterday.I replied that I would be happy to meet with her for an interview.I'll let you know what happens.
We are probably going to attend the 60th anniversary reunion in D.C.Still looking over the information packet.
I have mailed copies of my essay to Charles Lingberg and Brig.Gen.Edwin Simmons.The General is the Director Emeritus of the Marine History and Museums Division.When he was active as Director he set in practice the idea that people claiming to be part of either flag raising who were not named in the official version of the flag raisings were probably frauds.He is quoted as saying "..if all those persons were really up on Suribachi raising flags it must have been a veritable flag pageant".In my letter to him I teased him about closed minds.
Semper Fi,Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: Una Shinners To: ray1jacobs@msn.com Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 9:15 AM Subject: History Channel documentary
Dear Mr Jacobs
I am contacting you from Flashback Television, a London based television production company. We specialise in historical documentaries and for several years we have been producing programme for the History Channel in the US and worldwide. One of the History Channel's most successful series, Heavy Metal (formerly Battle Stations), is produced by us as well as one off specials such as D-Day: The Lost Evidence which was the channel's flagship programme for the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion last June.
The reason for me contacting you is that I stumbled across your fascinating website whilst carrying out some provisional research for a new series that we are shortly to begin production of. The History Channel have asked us to make an eight part series dedicated entirely to the Allied struggle and victory in the Pacific during WWII. The first progamme that we are making deals entirely with Iwo Jima.
The documentary will feature interviews with veterans of the Pacific, leading historians/experts, archive footage, to include authentic aerial photographs and re-enactments. We are traveling to Texas during February to film a huge re-enactment of the assault on Mt. Suribachi and prior to this, we may be traveling to the 60th anniversary reunion in Virginia to meet with some veterans. I would love to establish if you are planning on perhaps attending this reunion.
Warmest regards and I look forward to hearing from you.
Una Shinners
Associate Producer
Flashback Television
9-11 Bowling Green Lane
London EC1R 0BG
tel: + 44 (0) 20 7490 xxxx
fax: + 44 (0) 20 7490 xxxx
web: http://www.flashbacktv.com"
Was Ira Hayes in that photo?
No
It's not even February!
Hi, My grandfather was on the next boat getting ready to hit the beach. He watched from that boat history being made. Told me how hard it was to keep the flag up and the men that were lost that day keeping old glory flying. Thank you for your sacrifice and your service, God Bless You!!
There is a radio operator on the left, but I thought Ray Jacobs was the guy on the right.
Which is he?
Ping for a later read.
Looks interesting. Does Ray Jacobs live in Michigan?
We're talking years here, not months--60 years now this story has been waiting!
Hayes accompanied the second group of flag raisers up the hill with the second larger flag when it was determined the first flag was too small to be seen fm the beach.
The photo attached to this posting with the guy holding the M1 Carbine is of the first flag raising of the smaller American flag. The second flag raising later that day with the larger flag became the much more famous image. This still is a sore point among some Iwo vets as the second group of flag raisers were given most of the attention and the first flag raisers almost completely ignored. Of course we should also realize that the mission on Iwo Jima was not to become famous, it was to kill Japanese. I'm sure all the guys involved with the flags felt that was Mission Number One.
For Info--Please click on the website below the flag raising pic above; or, click on gunnyg; or, click on any of my links on this topic on my FR page.
Semper Fidelis
Dick Gaines
Remember, don't call him drunken Ira Hayes.
He won't answer any more.
That was some moment.
You can't see him he was off to the right.
There they battled up Iwo Jima's hill,
Two hundred and fifty men
But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again
And when the fight was over
And when Old Glory raised
Among the men who held it high
Was the Indian, Ira Hayes
There they battled up Iwo Jima's hill,
Two hundred and fifty men
But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again
And when the fight was over
And when Old Glory raised
Among the men who held it high
Was the Indian, Ira Hayes
Ira returned a hero
Celebrated through the land
He was wined and speeched and honored; Everybody shook his hand
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war
The page is graphic intense but well worth the wait, I think.
Enjoy!
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