LONG AFTER FADING AWAY, A FORGOTTEN MARINE REEMERGES

Boston Globe ^ | May 11, 03 | Benjamin Gadin

[gunnyg]

LONG AFTER FADING AWAY, A FORGOTTEN MARINE REEMERGES

Author(s): Benjamin Gedan, GLOBE CORRESPONDENT Date: May 11, 2003 Page: 13 Section: City Weekly

Omitted from the bronze Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, uncelebrated in World War II history texts, and long unrecognized in his hometown, former US Marine Sergeant Henry O. Hansen will be memorialized this summer with the construction of a public garden, 58 years after he helped raise the first American flag on Iwo Jima in 1945.

A triangular vacant lot on Medford Street outside Somerville's Magoun Square will house a community garden, monument, and seating area to honor the unsung veteran, marking the end of eight years of sporadic lobbying. Hansen, who later died in the fighting, is the only original flag-raiser without a memorial in his hometown, city officials said.

"They never got recognition," James G. O'Connor, director of Somerville's Veterans' Services Department, said last week. "It's been overlooked."

Planning for the park is in the earliest stages, though further along than fund-raising for the $100,000 project.

The city's Conservation Commission has not yet designed the monument, received private donations, or identified possible grant funds.

City officials have pledged no public money to the project, and plans to post a temporary sign describing the initiative have been delayed, said Anne Phelps, Conservation Commission director.

A $10,000 pledge from CVS, however, has given organizers a renewed sense of mission, providing the "driving force" behind the long-promised memorial, said Michael Fager, who is coordinating the project for the Conservation Commission.

The funds will not be donated until a new CVS store opens in the fall, said Gerald Cohen, president of SF Properties Inc., which helped negotiate the gift as part of a CVS development project in Magoun Square.

Despite the slow start and sour economy, however, organizers said they were optimistic about the prospects for additional fund-raising.

The war in Iraq could spark renewed appreciation for veterans of World War II, Fager said, adding that local World War II veterans and their relatives need no reminder of soldiers' sacrifices in the European and Pacific campaigns.

"This particular event was, for the history of World War II, so important. People don't want to forget," he said of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi. "We have just finished a war, and we are reflecting on what it means."

On Feb. 23, 1945, after intense fighting, Marines from Company E, 2d Battalion reached the summit of Mount Suribachi.

Under fire, six Marines, including Hansen, secured a small American flag to a 20-foot section of Japanese iron pipe and hoisted the Stars and Stripes, according to documents in the Marine Corps University Research Archives and the Naval Historical Center.

When resistance ceased, five other Marines replaced the original flag with a larger one, and the event was immortalized in a photograph by Joe Rosenthal, which served as the model for the Washington, D.C., monument.

The second flag-raisers achieved instant hero status, and have been celebrated on websites and in countless photographic reproductions of the event.

As Somerville officials outline plans to open the city's seventh public garden, with a wrought iron fence, irrigation pipes, and perennials, officials said the time to honor the local, original flag-raiser has finally arrived.

"If you say `the flag-raising,' you see the huge monument in Washington of the second flag-raising," O'Connor said, lamenting the lack of a city memorial. "Hopefully, something will happen."

Benjamin Gedan can be reached at gedan@globe.com.

[CARepubGal]

Thank you for your service Gunny! Interesting read.

[stylin19a]

Thanx Gunny.....Semper Fi !

[SuziQ]

Is that a picture of the first flag raising?

[SuziQ]

an automobile skidded to a stop and a French officer dashed out and approached the commanding officer. He explained that a general retreat was in progress and that orders were for the Marines to withdraw.

It would be a Frog!

[gunnyg]

Yep, SuziQ--the photo is of THE Iwo Flag Raising by S/Sgt Lou Lowery of Leatherneck magazine at about 1020, on the morning of 23Feb1945.

Lowery shot numerous shot of both the flag raising itself, as well as the patrol as it ascended Suribachi, and also a few more after the flag was raised.

The "replacement" flag was substituted as the original was simultaneously lowered, later that day, and Lt Schrier was still commanding the hill and supervised this.

DickG

[LadyX]

Thanks for the hail here, CARepubGal.

One of the highlights of my life was at the Dedication Ceremony of the Iwo Jima Monument on the Parade Deck at Parris Island.
Every dime for the monument was contributed by Marines.

Women Marines in 1952 were separate from the men, so in the ceremony we were "A" Company of the eight full companies.
It was the greatest buildup of The Corps in its history.

It was my privilege to be Guidon Bearer out front of the parade with the "A" Company Commander, proudly carrying the American Flag and going Front & Center to salute the Reviewing Officers with the other seven Guidon Bearers.

For those who were at Parris Island, you know that if there is a parade, the wind will come!
No slight feat for a 118-lb. gal to hold steady the staff held straight out during the interminably long National Long Anthem.
I'd have dropped dead before I'd let it waver, of course.

The Drill Instructor who'd trained me took bets on the sideline from males who questioned my ability to perform it to perfection..:))
It was my privilege to be a Classroom Subjects Instructor for women recruits during the Korean Conflict, and participated in all inspections and ceremonies as Right Guide for Company "A" while I was stationed there.

This is a picture of me 50 years later, taking my grandson there a year ago - - -

[sine_nomine]

My brother was a Marine DI, properly speaking, IS and will always be a Marine. The Marines are an inspiration to everyone.

The second raising is an awesome photograph. It captures the action so well that I always stare at the monument. It seems to be alive. I saw it as a boy and later as a young father. I wonder if the power of the photograph has overwhelmed the memory of the nation. It is a great symbol of the entire action.

I have trouble with isolating one group or another as the heroes of Iwo Jima. They were all heroes, from logistics and Naval artillery to the men fighting on the ground.

[CARepubGal]

That is a great story and picture. And what a great thing to share with your grandson! I figured you would enjoy the article.

[LadyX]

Thank you so much.
Kyle will be a high school senior this coming year and is in his third year of Jr. ROTC.
In another week, he will go to Fort Jackson, in Columbia, for a week of Leadership School, and on the 31st, I'll be going to watch him in a year-end ceremony at Dutch Fork High School.

The recruiters are already after him to go into service next year, scoring highly on his tests, and I've an idea he will go where he can get the most college education on the side.

One of my sons was in the Army and his son is in the Air Force, in Communications, going on five years now.

[wrbones]

Howdy, Gunny! How ya doin', Brother!

Bumpin' this fer my Marine Corps.

Semper Fi, Mac.

Never forget.

( BTW, GunnyG is the Marine to ask about damn near anything related to Marine Corps history! He's good people. He'll steer ya right.)

[Mixer]

Thank you for sharing this with us all.

[jwfiv]

Good morning, Firefly...thanks for pinging me to this story about the forgotten Marine, and for reminding me of your presence at the dedication of the Memorial...a wonderful image, just barely out of reach...you in uniform holding the Guidon.

[Dubya]

Semper Fi

[LadyX]

The most amazing thing was when I went back last year for Kyle to see the ceremony where Lima Company received their globe and anchor emblems, and could be called Marines.
It was as if I had never left there.

From the moment I cleared the gate, the old adrenalin kicked in - the posture straightened; the spring in the step returned and the steady, ground-eating stride was back in gear!

Within an hour, then 16-year old Kyle, in great shape and a weight-lifter, was literally begging me to slow down, and totally worn out by afternoon!
I could have kept going 24/7.

Lima Company was practicing that morning, and when I sent Kyle back to get more film from the car, I went into the Reviewing Stand (now a permanent covered one) and chatted with the Lima Company Commander, who was observing while the NCO's put the six platoons through their paces.

The remarkable thing about Corps is the wonderful respect shown everyone fore and aft of you, and Captain Torres honored me with conversation for a good 20 minutes before practice ended.

Things had changed dramatically since my not air-conditioned old wooden barracks days, but the Corps Spirit was stronger than ever - - - I could almost hear the planes taking off with boys I knew going to Korea to combat - - -

Thanking God this day for all those experiences, and His guiding hand in my life.....

[sit-rep]

I was just browsing the latest post titles, and noticed your flag. I do not think Chief negotiator can hear you...

[LadyX]

"I was just browsing the latest post titles, and noticed your flag. I do not think Chief negotiator can hear you..."

Don't be too sure about that.

Could be he has been welcoming Marines aboard through the Pearly Gates....he was a friend to many of us and we do not forget, no matter what the circumstances.....

I knew him way back in 1998 and through The Freeper Island Adventures and The Sea Sagas.
I will honor him as I see fit.

[TexasCowboy]

"I do not think Chief negotiator can hear you..."

And you are dead wrong!

CHIEF never missed a Gyrene thread, and he's not missing this one.

Old Marines never die.
They live on in the hearts and minds of those who earn their globe and anchor just like they did!

[Fred Mertz]

You've got that right!

Semper Fi....from an Army man.

[LadyX]

Thanks, guys - - now if we just knew how ofMagog is, everything would be all right - - -

Still laugh over your 'doctoring' after the little mishap at sea, Fred..:))

[Fred Mertz]

Where is our Cap'n?

I've been busy, but I've been missing him.