National Iwo Jima Memorial
[ west side ]
Battle for Iwo Jima World War II
Connecticut Men Killed In Action
Benny R. Amarone • Robert C. Armstrong • Roger W. Arsenault • Richard Barella • Lewis G. Benko • Henry J. Blaski • Fred W. Borger • Walter E. Brandenberger • James M. Bredice • Walter J. Brzozowski • John N. Budway • William F. Caldwell • Edw. A. Carlson • Francis D. Carlson • Henry S. Chapman • Paul J. Cushman • Albert J. DelVecchio • Edward R. Dennett • James E. Dermody • Frank DeWolfe • Odell Doyon • James Duffy • Oliver B. Ellsworth Jr. • Irving W. Estabrook Jr. • Ernest D. Evleth • Edward Ezepchak • William E. Fallon • Frank T. Fisco • John S. Gardiner • Joseph L. Gearhart • Robert A. Geer • Frederick D. Gilbert • Ludwig A. Halas • William R. Stolzenberg • Edward J. DeSautels • George F. Hyland • Edward J. Johnson • Robert E. Krosky • Joseph W. Lenzi • Walter B. Liss • Lorrin F. Lane • Enrice Latorraca Jr. • Alexander Logoyke • George E. Lord • Richard P. Lynch • Thornton H. Lyttle • Donald E. Maley • William A. Malizewski • Joseph Manzone • Joseph A. Martel • Edward R. Matava • Raymond McAdoo • John R. McGrew • Henry Milkowski • Robert R. Moone • Don B. Moreland • John A. Muscoe • Vincenzo Murrone • Charles L. Nagle • Joseph J. Nowie • Stephen R. O'Donovan • Roger W. Olmstead • Frank W. Palumbo • Donald L. Pennington • David Phaneuf • Stewart J. Phillips • August Porco • Steve Richick • Joseph C. Riordan • Eugene E. Roberts • Armand J. Robidoux • Charles B. Rossi • George Roth Jr. • Robert A. Rotunno • Frank Senick • Victor J. Skone • Charles P. Smith • Walter Sokoli • Aldo L. Sorcinelli • Frank Souza Jr. • Ed F. Sparkowski • Walter Stankowich • Henry F. Suleski • Edw. M. Terreau • Raymond D. Thompson • Marvin D. Tinker • Henry A. Tyler Jr. • Richard H. VonEgidy • Edwin H. Voorhees Jr. • Karl N. Watcke • Wm. J. White • Herbert A. Wildman Jr. • Richard J. Wilkinson Jr. • David P. Winspur • John E. Winzler • Harold C. Wooster • John J. Yakupco • James Yncera • Thomas A. Young • John B. Zwanch
"Uncommon valor was a common virtue."
Adm. Chester Nimitz
[ south side left panel ]
The Assault On
Iwo Jima
February 1945
[ map of the island ]
"By their victory, the 3rd, 4th, & 5th Marine Divisions
and other units of the V Amph. Corps have made
an accounting to their country which only
history will be able to value fully."
Adm. Chester Nimitz
[ south side right panel ]
Iwo Jima - - - An Inferno
Of Heartbreak And
Heroism And Mankinds
Epic Finale Of Hand
To Hand Combat.
Now It Belongs To
History."
David Douglas Duncan
The bronze flag raising sculpture above depicts the historic photograph taken by Associated Press Combat Photographer Joe Rosenthal on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima on the fifth day of the battle. His photograph of the flag raising was instrumental in recording for history the decisive and inspirational action of the battle. It has become the symbol of the patriotism, the unity of purpose, and the spirit of victory displayed by all Americans during World War II. Joseph Petrovics is the sculptor who created, from Joe Rosenthal's photo, the bronze sculpture for this National Iwo Jima Memorial. The Iwo Jima survivors and the members of the the Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, Inc. recognize and honor these two artists for recording this important event in our nation's history.
[ north side left panel ]
Mt. Suribachi Flag Raising
Raising Larger Flag and Simultaneously
Lowering Smaller First Flag Raised
Feb 23 1945
P.F.C. Franklin R. Sousley, USMCR
Cpl. Rene A. Gagmon, USMCR
Ph. Mate 2nd Clarence. John H. Bradley, USN
Cpl. Ira H. Hayes, USMCR
Sgt. Michael Strank, USMC
Cpl. Harlon H. Block, USMC
-------------------------------------
The rocks beneath the statue at the feet
of the flag raisers are from the site of the
original flag raising on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima
Volcanic sand from Iwo Jima has been
incorporated into the concrete base
[ north side right panel ]
"The battle of Iwo Jima
is one of the great epics
in all military annals."
Leon Uris
"Victory was never in doubt. What
was in doubt in all our minds
was whether there would be any
of us left to dedicate our cemetery
at the end or whether the last
Marine would die knocking out the
last Japanese gun and gunner."
Maj. Gen. Graves B. Erskine
[ east side left panel ]
Mt. Suribachi
1st Flag Raising
Lt. Harold Schrier, USMC
Pl. Sgt. Ernest Thomas, USMC
Pl. Sgt. Henry Hansen, USMC
Corp. Charles Lindberg, USMC
P.F.C. Louis Charlo, USMC
P.F.C. James Michaels, USMC
On February 23, 1945, the fifth day of the battle at 10:30 A.M., the first American flag raised on Japanese soil in World War II was placed atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima by the men listed above.
The battle continued for a month longer, with thousands of additional casualties. However, the capture of Mt. Suribachi, because of its key Japanese defensive position, was a turning point of the battle, leading to fina; American victory.
St. Sgt. Louis R. Lowery photographed the first flag raising depicted in this etching.
[ east side center panel ]
WWII – Feb. 23, 1945
Iwo Jima flag raising - Mt. Suribachi
Battle for Iwo Jima – Feb. 19, 1845 – Mar. 16, 1945
6824 Americans Killed In Battle
21865 American Casualties
27 Congressional Medals of Honor
Awarded. More Than Were Awarded
To Marines and Navy In Any
Other Battle In Our Country's History
Medal of Honor Awarded To
Lt. JG Rufus G. Herring
Lt. Col. Justice Marion Chambers
PFC Jacklyn Harrell Lucas
Sgt. Ross Franklin Gray
Sgt. Darrell Samuel Cole
Cpl. Tony Stein
Capt. Robert Hugo Dunlap
Capt. Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy
Pvt. Donald Jack Ruhl
PFC Douglas Thomas Jacobson
Pvt. Wilson Douglas Watson
PhM1 John Harlan Willis
Cpl. Hershel Woodrow Williams
PhM2 George Edward Wahlen
Gy. Sgt. William Gary Walsh
Cpl. Charles Joseph Berry
PFC William Robert Caddy
PhM3 Jack Williams
PFC James Dennis La Belle
Plt. Sgt. Joseph Rodolph Julian
Sgt. William George Harrell
2d Lt. John Harold Leims
1st Lt. Jack Lummus
Pvt. George Phillips
Pvt. Franklin Earl Sigler
PhM1 Francis Pierce Jr.
1st Lt. Harry Linn Martin
[ east side right panel ]
This Memorial Monument Was Erected by The
Iwo Jima Survivors Assn. of Connecticut Inc.
In Tribute To and In Memory of All Our
Comrades Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice
In the Battle Of Iwo Jima.
It Was Conceived by Dr. George Gentile,
Founder and President. His Idea Came to Fruition
Through His Leadership and the Dedicated
Support and Fund Raising Efforts of The
Members, and Through the Generosity And
Patriotism of the Thousands of Citizens Who
Made Contributions.
Dedicated February 23, 1995.
The 50th Anniversary of The Flag Raising At
Iwo Jima, and Presented For Posterity To
The Citizens of the State Of Connecticut By
The Iwo Jima Survivors Assn.
Marker is at the intersection of Ella Grasso Boulevard and Barbour Road, on the right when traveling east on Ella Grasso Boulevard.
Courtesy hmdb.org
