Hey Marines

[MalahatTwo7]

I knew that there was film footage of this, and I think most of us have seen pieces of it - but here is a bit of background on it:

Team Closer To Finding Iwo Jima Marine. Sergeant Who Filmed Famous Photo Killed 9 Days Later

POSTED: 1:24 am EDT June 27, 2007
UPDATED: 6:47 am EDT June 27, 2007

IWO JIMA, Japan -- If you've ever seen the famous photo of the American flag being raised on Iwo Jima during World War II, what you may not know is that it wasn't the only picture being taken at the time.

While Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal was snapping the now-legendary image, a Marine sergeant named William Genaust was also filming the scene with a 16-millimeter movie camera.

Sgt. Genaust was killed in action nine days later. His remains were never found.

But now, there's a possible lead. A U.S. search team looking for Genaust's remains said they've found two possible sites. Officials said the team is recommending that a larger team excavate them.

The seven-man team, including an anthropologist, focused mainly on surveying Hill 362 A, where Genaust was believed to have been killed.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[DennisTheMenace]

They are likely to find many more bodies during their search. Semper Fi!

[MalahatTwo7]

They are likely to find many more bodies during their search. Semper Fi!

That was my figuring too. At least if they do find others, they will all be appropriately cared for, I expect anyhow.

[gunnyv]

The last of the original flag raisers of Iwo, Cpl Chuck Lindberg, died last week in Minnesota. My unit's headquarters is in Minneapolis, and we had to send a bunch of Marines back from annual training to support the funeral. We all figured the Commandant would show up, but I guess the senior Marine on deck was a LtCol. Guess the boss had a previously scheduled appointment.

[JHR1985]

this is just me spouting off and might get me in trouble but.... you have one of the guys from the most famous photograph of the Pacific Campign who dies... and you cant make time to be there....


then again, there is always extremem circumstances

[DeputyMarshal]

Bill Genaust deserves a picture in this thread. Here he is from www.iwojima.com :

[MalahatTwo7]

JHR, I agree with you there. Kinda like the President or Prime Minister being "not available"..... Unless it is combat related or a matter of extreme urgent national security, like deciding we ARE GOING to war.... Oh well, guess thats why I'm only a Master Corporal... (thats an E6 for you US types) heheeehehehe

And thanks DM, for the photo - although at first glance I wondered why he was holding a Gatling gun by the muzzle? LOL

[DeputyMarshal]

JHR, I agree with you there. Kinda like the President or Prime Minister being "not available"

The only thing that comes to mind is that somebody might be worried about political issues. There are undoubtedly some people around who still don't care for the fame of the second (staged) flag raising and the publicity that went with it at the expense of the first (spontaneous) flag raising and its relative obscurity.

I'm a little dissappointed that the best that they could do was a Lt. Colonel.

[DennisTheMenace]

The last of the original flag raisers of Iwo, Cpl Chuck Lindberg, died last week in Minnesota. My unit's headquarters is in Minneapolis, and we had to send a bunch of Marines back from annual training to support the funeral. We all figured the Commandant would show up, but I guess the senior Marine on deck was a LtCol. Guess the boss had a previously scheduled appointment.

If the Commandant took the time to travel to the funeral of every Marine who did something note worthy, he would be hitting five funerals a day. Semper Fi Cpl Lindberg, you did your nation, Corps and family proud!

[MalahatTwo7]

If the Commandant took the time to travel to the funeral of every Marine who did something note worthy, he would be hitting five funerals a day. Semper Fi Cpl Lindberg, you did your nation, Corps and family proud!

True enough Dennis, but on the other hand, its not a regular occurance to see something as spectacular and important as the Flag Raising was. However, DM makes a good point between the "real" raising and the staged (most popular) event.

[gunnyv]

I will agree, the CMC is a busy man. However, in my opinion, this was a last chance opportunity. My Canadian brother, your comment is exactly why I believe the CMC should have been there. It could have been a good time to publicly repudiate some of the misconceptions about the flagraisings at Iwo, set the record straight, and recognize the original flagraisers.

The second flag raising was not "staged" in any way. It was 6 men taking down a smaller flag and replacing it with a larger one. There was no intent of those men or the photographer to present it as anything more. The government propaganda machine did that all by itself. The photo itself was nothing more than a lucky shot. Sgt Genaust's video proves it-no posing, no jockeying for position. Rosenthal himself said he would have ruined it had he tried to pose it, as he would have wanted all the faces visible.

From everything I have ever read-and I consider myself an avid reader of USMC history-those men were less than thrilled with either their newfound celebrity or the lack of recognition for the original flag raisers. Cpl Lindberg's funeral would have been a singular opportunity to properly recognize those men, as well as the rest of the Marines who served in WWII.

[MalahatTwo7]

My apologies, Gunny, I stand corrected.... And I knew better too, as there was a program on the History Channel not long ago, about this very event.

[wolfee27]

I'm amazed at coincidences sometimes. I happen to be at work right now watching the ballgame when I come across this thread and it reminded me of an event today.

I'm a laid off firefighter who has to work for a hospital based private ems company in Toledo. Very rare ALS ems calls, second-tier BLS ems calls, but 99% interfacility transports (I refer to myself as a Dialysis Transportation Specialist).

Today I had the honor of meeting an 85 year old man, being transferred from a local hospital to a local nursing home after a back fracture. He told us to be careful lifting him, else he'd "go marine on your a**es". So I started talking to him and found out that he was a WWII vet from the Pacific Theater. Guam, Iwo Jima, Bataan, etc. Come to find out, his wife informs us that he was present for BOTH flag raisings, he just doesn't say anything about it due to his humility. (Sort of like name dropping, I assume?)

I guess the only bright side of my job now is that I get to talk a little more in depth with the person behind the patient and meet a piece of history occasionally.

God Speed, Marines.

[ffbam24]

Flag Raising

Can't seem to embed it here.