Ray Jacobs and That First Flag On Iwo Jima

Gunny G's Old Salt Marines Tavern Forum ^ | 15 February 2005 | Ray Jacobs

[gunnyg]

Subject: More FYI Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 11:43:19 -0800 FYI.

I spent 2 1/2 hours yesterday with a reporter and cameraman team from Associated Press.They are preparing a story about Iwo,the first flag raisng and my part in it.It will be offered to all of their clients nationally later this month.It went well.I am very satisfied with with the whole experience.The cameraman took about 100 pictures..perhaps more.He is also a writer and wants to do a story about all this for Naval Proceedings.

It was an exhaustive interview and the reporter had done his homework.For example,he called James Bradley.Bradley told them he believes I was the radioman on Suribachi that day.They are going to dig up the original notes and stories filed by the AP reporters who interviewed me and other Marines on Suribachi.

I showed them the newest item just acquired.It's a photo copy of the front page of the Los Angeles Times dated Feb.25,1945.Center page is a picture of the second flag raising with a caption reading..."COLORS GOING UP" 'United States Marines hoist American flag atop Suribachi Iwo Jima volcano,after battling Japs to rim of crater.In the flag raising patrol above is PFC Raymond Jacobs,19,of 729 East 15th St,Los Angeles.Photo by Joe Rosenthal,with wartime picture pool,radioed by Navy from Guam to San Fransisco."

Now that is a real collectors item!!!

My wife,my daughter and I are leaving tomorrow for the 6oth Reunion Of Iwo Vets at McLean,Virginia.I will be a long trip but I am looking forward to it.In addition to tours of the monuments and History Center there is a seminar on the battle for Iwo Jima conducted by none other than Colonel John Ripley.I am looking forward to seeing Betty Michels/McMahon.She is the daughter of James Michels the Marine holding the carbine in Lowery's picture.We first met at the Long Prairie memorial dedication and have corresponded ever since then.

Following the reunion we are traveling to New Jersey to Visit one of my sons and his family.Back home Friday,Feb.25th.

Oh,..no need to hold back on the e mail From Brig.General Simmons.The AP guys have copies and I quoted from it in the guest column I have written for Hackworth's Defense Watch internet news magazine Soldiers For The Truth.That too will be published later this month.

Semper Fi,Ray ray1jacobs@msn.com

[gunnyg]

Posted to GyG's OSMT forum, etc.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Thank you, VETS one and all.

The other day I came across Bradley's site. Reading this page made my eyes leak:

http://www.jamesbradley.com/flagsofourfathers.cfm

[humblegunner]

United States Marines hoist American flag atop Suribachi Iwo Jima volcano,after battling Japs to rim of crater.

Big bump to that!

[granite]

[aposiopetic]

Ira Hayes is the last guy to the left, with his hands not reaching the pole. Ira walked off Iwo Jima and was surprised to find himself hailed as a hero. President Truman called Ira a hero to his face in the Oval Office. Ira didn't see it that way. As he later told the press: "How can I feel like a hero when 250 of my buddies hit the beach with me and only 27 of us walked off alive?"

bump

[Zacs Mom]

Oh Gunny - this brought tears to my eyes!!!!!! I am so very, very, very glad to see that Ray's story is going to be told!!!!!!!!! hot-damn!

for any who may have missed it, here is my special Iwo Jima page

please note - this page is graphic intense and may take a while to load on slow connection

[gunnyg]

THE FLAG RAISING ON IWO JIMA!

[gunnyg]

Then you feel as I do!!!!!

Semper Fidelis

Dick

[EagleUSA]

The story of Iwo has always been special. And Ira Hayes' story of a hero was really something. I remember the movie made about him, starred Tony Curtis. A moving story.

We remember them all. Something sadly missing from the teachings of our young nowadays. A grand history.

[Zacs Mom]

I can imagine how great this makes you feel!!!




Well done, Gunny!
Well done, indeed!

[doug from upland]

The men who saved the world for us. It is a shame that more are not appreciative.

[aculeus]

Thanks for posting have a good re-union.

[IronJack]

Yes, THIS was the orignal flag-raising. The one captured indelibly by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal came a few hours later.

If I recall my Iwo history correctly ...

[fuzzycat]

My father was 1st Cav Signal Corps 1st Sarge in the South Pacific. He had one Hell of a collection of photos from the Phillipines campaign and others.
Among them is one of the original black and whites of the, I guess, second flag raising.
I still have that photo along with all the others.
Some folks seem to have forgotten just how horrible that war was. Sometimes I show the photos of dead, burnt Japs and the happy Phillipino people our guys saved. I for one will never forget what these men gave.
Thanks Daddy and all the rest. RIP.

[Bear_Slayer]

United States Marines hoist American flag atop Suribachi Iwo Jima volcano,after battling Japs to rim of crater

Wasn't there a Navy Corpsman involved in the flag raising?

Ooh Rah Devil Docs!!!

[frannie]

My brother and my best friend's husband [he was my husband's best friend] were both on Iwo Jima,two young men from Wellston, Ohio.

Carl Zimmerman,I know he was in the artillery, died in April 1997, my brother died in July 1996.


I don't think my bother was a very good soldier, he would not talk to me about what he did. He only said I didn't have to kill anyone.

I wish I knew what his job was. His name is Albert Sadler.

Carl and Albert saw each other while on Iwo Jima. Is there any way I can find out if any of his firends are still living?


Thank you

Frannie

[jigsaw]

Ping

[doug from upland]

My dad and his brothers were in the Navy. God rest their souls. They saved the world.

[DmBarch]

Frannie, don't sell your brother short. He wasn't in a stateside brig for going AWOL. He was at one of the roughest battles in our history. I bet he went where he was sent and did what he was told to do.

Many of the combat veterans of that time didn't want to talk about what happened. A lot of them didn't say anything at all until they were over 60. They might talk about funny things that happened while in the service, but not the truth of war.

[Lancey Howard]

Semper fidelis,
LH
0311