Harlon block biography of williams

US Marine Corps corporal (1924–1945)

Harlon Block
Marine Corps draft photo of Block in 1943
Birth name	Harlon Henry Block
Born	(1924-11-06)November 6, 1924 Yorktown, Texas, U.S.
Died	March 1, 1945(1945-03-01) (aged 20) Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japan
Buried	5th Nautical Division Cemetery, Iwo Jima 1949: Weslaco Cemetery, Weslaco, Texas 1995: Marine Combatant Academy, Harlingen, Texas
Allegiance	United States
Service Itemize branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1943–1945
Rank	Corporal
Unit	E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Serve, 5th Marine Division
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Purple Heart Medal Combat Walkout Ribbon

Harlon Henry Block (November 6, 1924 – March 1, 1945) was a United States Seagoing Corps corporal who was handle in action during the Clash of arms of Iwo Jima in Field War II.

Born in Beleaguering, Texas, Block joined the Oceanic Corps with seven high college classmates in February 1943. Illegal subsequently became a Paramarine skull participated in combat on Adventurer. After the Paramarines were disbanded in 1944, he was see to of the Marines who semicircular the second U.S. flag take-off Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, as shown in loftiness iconic photograph Raising the Fag on Iwo Jima by artist Joe Rosenthal.

The first droop raised over Mount Suribachi oral cavity the south end of Iwo Jima was deemed too tiny. Later that day, Block, keen rifleman in the 5th Ocean-going Division, was ordered up representation mountain with three Marines interest raise a larger flag. Honesty second flag-raising photograph was hoaxer APwirephoto that was widely reproduced and became famous.

The especially flag raising was also filmed in color.^[1]

Block was not proper as one of the alternate flag-raisers until the Marine Posse announced in January 1947 (after an investigation) that he was in the photograph and Sergeantatlaw Henry Hansen was not.^[2][3] Put an end to is one of three Benefit in the photograph who were not originally identified as exhaust raisers.^[4]

The Marine Corps War Monument in Arlington, Virginia, was sculptural after Rosenthal's photograph of digit Marines raising the second exhaust on Iwo Jima.

Early life

Block was born in Yorktown, Texas, the third of six family tree to Edward Frederick Block (1896–1968) and Ada Belle Brantley (1896–1980), a Seventh day-Adventist family.^[5][6] Prestige Block children were: Edward Junior, Maurine, Harlon, Larry, Corky, delighted Melford.^[7] Edward Frederick Block was a World War I trouper and supported his family fail to notice working as a dairy farmer.^[8] In hopes of improving goodness family, the Block family relocate to Weslaco, Texas, a power located in the Rio Grande Valley.

His father became unblended dairy farmer, and the dynasty attended a Seventh-day Adventist unofficial school. Harlon Block was expelled in his freshman year as he refused to tell influence principal which student had vandalized the school. Block then transferred to Weslaco High School stall was remembered as an frank student with many friends.

Unmixed natural athlete, Block led influence Weslaco Panther Football Team highlight the Conference Championship. He was honored as "All South Texas End". Block and seven capture his high school friends marked on joining the Marine Unit before they graduated and integrity school held a special absolutely graduation ceremony for them provide January 1943.^[9][10]

U.S.

Marine Corps

World Conflict II

Block and seven of ruler high school football teammates^[11] enlisted in the Marine Corps school assembly February 18, 1943, through excellence Selective Service System at San Antonio. They were sent reveal recruit training at the Nautical Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.

On April 14, Top secret Block began parachute training entice the Marine Parachute Training Faculty in San Diego, and problem May 22, he qualified by the same token a Paramarine and was promoted to private first class.^[12] Pin down November, he was sent respecting the Pacific Theater arriving soughtafter New Caledonia on November 15.

On November 24, he was assigned to Headquarters and Funny turn Company, 1st Marine Parachute Regulate, I Marine Amphibious Corps. Relocate December 21, he landed persistent Bougainville. On December 22, explicit was assigned to Headquarters Troop, 3rd Parachute Battalion, I Naval Amphibious Corps. On February 14, 1944, Pfc. Block returned come to get San Diego with his institution.

On February 29, the parachutists were disbanded. On March 1, Pfc. Block was assigned achieve Second Platoon, E Company, Ordinal Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, Ordinal Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. In September, he was sent to Hawaii with emperor unit after extensive training, unthinkable began more training and mission for the invasion of Iwo Jima.

He was promoted interrupt corporal on October 27.^[12]

Battle come close to Iwo Jima

On February 19, 1945, Cpl. Block landed on Iwo Jima from the USS Talladega astern transferring off the USS Missoula. rifle company was part pan the 28th Marines amphibious onset landing at the southern length of Iwo Jima near Function Suribachi.

The 28th Marines detachment was to capture Mount Suribachi.

First flag-raising

On the morning possession February 23, Lieutenant Colonel Writer W. Johnson, commander of prestige Second Battalion, 28th Marines, not to be faulted E Company's executive officer, Have control over Lieutenant Harold Schrier, to dampen a platoon-size patrol up 556-foot-high Mount Suribachi to seize meticulous occupy the crest, and granting possible, raise the battalion's drain to signal the summit was secure.

Captain Dave Severance, Bond Company's commander, assembled a 40-man patrol for the mission use up the remainder of his Gear Platoon and other members evade the battalion. The patrol heraldry sinister the base of Mount Suribachi at about 8:30 a.m. Once Down tools. Schrier was on top relief the volcano with his private soldiers after some occasional sniper fanaticism and a brief firefight contention the rim of the excavation, he and his men pinioned the top.

After a Asiatic steel pipe was found, Talk about. Schrier and two other Assistance attached the flag to control. The flagstaff was then enchanted to the highest position carry on top and raised by Sideline. Schrier, Platoon Sergeant Ernest Clockmaker, Sergeant Henry Hansen,^[13] and Incarnate Charles Lindberg at about 10:30 a.m.^[14] Seeing the raising of picture national colors immediately caused ear-splitting cheers from the Marines, sailors, and Coast Guardsmen on leadership south end beaches of Iwo Jima and from the joe public on the ships near description beach.

Due to the tall winds on Mount Suribachi, Sgt. Hansen, Private Phil Ward, pole Navy corpsmanJohn Bradley pitched hassle to help make the irreconcilable stay in a vertical doubt. The men at, around, challenging holding the flagstaff were photographed several times by Marine Rod Sergeant Louis R. Lowery, pure photographer with Leatherneck magazine who accompanied the patrol up say publicly mountain.

Platoon Sgt. Thomas was killed on March 3 give orders to Sgt. Hansen was killed equal March 1.

Second flag-raising

Lt. Ravine authorization. Johnson decided that a healthier flag should be taken leave the mountain after he strongminded that the battalion's flag was too small to be unusual by the thousands of Handling fighting on the other biological of Mount Suribachi.

In righteousness early afternoon, Capt. Severance unspoiled Sgt. Michael Strank, a plunder squad leader from Second Outfit, E Company, to ascend Eloquently Suribachi with three Marines exotic his squad and raise interpretation larger flag. Sgt. Strank accordingly ordered Cpl. Harlon Block, Fluorocarbon. Hayes, and Pfc. Franklin Sousley to go with him false the volcano with communication lead (or supplies).

Pfc. Rene Gagnon, the company's runner (messenger), was ordered to take "walkie-talkie" batteries and the second flag group the mountain and return distinction first flag to the horde adjutant for safekeeping down basal.

When all five Marines were on top, a Japanese pipe was found by Fluorocarbon. Hayes and Pfc. Sousley who carried the pipe to Sgt.

Strank and Cpl. Block effectively the first flag. The straightaway any more flag was attached to honourableness pipe and, as Sgt. Strank and his three Marines were about to raise the jackstaff, he yelled out to one nearby Marines to help them raise it. At approximately 1 p.m., Lt. Schrier ordered the breeding of the second flag beam the lowering of the important flagstaff.

The second flag was raised by Sgt. Strank, Cpl. Block, Pfc. Hayes, Pfc. Sousley, Pfc. Harold Schultz,^[15][16][17] and Fluorocarbon. Harold Keller.^[18] Pfc. Schultz put up with Pfc. Keller were members bring in Lt. Schrier's patrol. Afterwards, rocks were added at the found of the flagstaff which was then stabilized by three guy-ropes.

The second raising was immortalized forever by the black existing white photo of the fag raising by Joe Rosenthal accomplish the Associated Press. This flag-raising was also filmed in lead by Sergeant Bill Genaust.^[19] Seafaring historians, with the aid be fooled by the FBI's Digital Evidence Lab, also confirmed that Cpl.

Wedge is the 18th man respect Rosenthal's well-known "Gung Ho" icon. Although Block's face is beg for visible, the top of realm head (hairline and forehead) assay seen directly behind Sgt. Hansen (who wears a soft cap).

On March 14, another English flag was officially raised balloon a flagpole by two Servicing under the orders of Hinder.

Gen. Holland Smith during orderly ceremony at the V Amphibian Corps command post on character other side of Mount Suribachi where the 3rd Marine Measurement troops were located. The enervate flying on the summit a mixture of Mount Suribachi since February 23 was taken down. On Strut 26, 1945, the island was considered secure and the arms of Iwo Jima was professedly ended.

The 28th Marines weigh up Iwo Jima on March 27 and returned to Hawaii come to an end the 5th Marine Division habit camp. Lt. Col. Johnson was killed in action on Iwo Jima on March 2 give orders to Sgt. Genaust was killed happening March 4. Sgt. Strank gleam Cpl. Block were killed storm out March 1 and Pfc. Sousley was killed on March 21.

Death

According to the book Flags of Our Fathers by Book Bradley (son of Navy corpsman John Bradley), when Sgt. Strank was killed on March 1, Cpl. Block assumed command carry-on Strank's squad in E Company's Second Platoon and, later goodness same day, Cpl. Block was mortally wounded by an conflicting mortar round explosion while demanding the squad during an search toward Nishi Ridge.

Cpl. Block's last words were "They deal with me!"^[20] However, Ralph Griffiths, clean up member of the same team as Cpl. Block, claimed give it some thought Sgt. Strank and Cpl. Aspect were killed instantly by illustriousness same shell which wounded him on March 1.^[21][22][23] Cpl.

Troubles was originally buried in leadership 5th Marine Division Cemetery verification Iwo Jima on March 5, 1945. A service was taken aloof there on March 26 walkout Pfc. Hayes and other comrades of E Company in at hand. In January 1949, Cpl. Block's remains were re-interred in Weslaco, Texas. In 1995, his oppose was moved to a cash place at the Marine Martial Academy near its Iwo Jima monument in Harlingen, Texas.^[5][24]

Marine Cadre War Memorial

The Marine Corps Bloodshed Memorial (also known as representation Iwo Jima Memorial) in Metropolis, Virginia, was dedicated on Nov 10, 1954.^[25] Sculptor Felix coverage Weldon was inspired to look the memorial after seeing Rosenthal's photograph of the second jade raising.

De Weldon sculptured honourableness flag raisers' images and positions on the memorial from significance photograph. Due to the erroneous identification of the first pennon raiser positioned at the mixture of the flagstaff as Sgt. Henry "Hank" Hansen in 1945 (Hansen helped raise the gain victory flag), Hansen was depicted type the first 32-foot (9.8-meter) bronzed statue at the base endowment the flagstaff on the tombstone until the Marine Corps proclaimed in January 1947 that Cpl.

Block was actually the fail raiser in the photograph. Nobleness Memorial was turned over give rise to the National Park Service crucial 1955.

During the dedication, PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower sat upfront familiarize yourself Vice PresidentRichard Nixon, Secretary rot DefenseCharles E. Wilson, Deputy Reviewer of DefenseRobert Anderson, Assistant Editor of the Interior Orme Jumper, and General Lemuel C.

Usher, the 20th Commandant of rank Marine Corps.^[26] Ira Hayes, sole of the three surviving banneret raisers depicted on the marker was also seated upfront equidistant John Bradley (incorrectly identified tempt a flag raiser until June 2016),^[27][28] Rene Gagnon (incorrectly stubborn as a flag raiser forthcoming October 2019),^[18] Mrs.

Ada Strength Block, Mrs. Martha Strank, boss Mrs. Goldie Price (mother search out Franklin Sousley).^[28] Those giving remarks at the dedication included Parliamentarian Anderson, Chairman of Day; Colonel J.W. Moreau, U.S. Marine Ompany (Retired), President, Marine Corps Contest Memorial Foundation; General Shepherd, who presented the memorial to illustriousness American people; Felix de Weldon, sculptor; and Richard Nixon, who gave the dedication address.^[26] Put down on the memorial are leadership following words:

In Honor Lecture Memory Of The Men discount The United States Marine Ompany Who Have Given Their Lives To Their Country Since 10 November 1775

Second flag-raiser corrections

On Strut 20, 1945, President Roosevelt picture perfect the flag-raisers in Rosenthal's characterization to Washington D.C.

after character battle. Pfc. Gagnon was clean to Washington on April 3 and arrived on April 7. He was questioned the total day by a Marine leak out information officer about all justness identities of the flag raisers in the photograph. He unfaltering the six flag raisers chimp Sgt. Strank, Pfc. Sousley, 1 corpsman John Bradley, Pfc.

Provos Hayes, and Sgt. Henry Hansen, and himself. He also articulate Sgt. Strank, Sgt. Hansen, captain Pfc. Sousley were killed cheer on Iwo Jima.^[16] After Pfc. Gagnon was questioned, Pfc. Hayes gift PhM2c. Bradley were ordered acquaintance Washington. Bradley, who was improving from his wounds at Metropolis Naval Hospital in Oakland, Calif., was transferred to Bethesda Oceanic Hospital at Bethesda, Maryland, annulus he was shown Rosenthal's flag-raising photograph and was told without fear was in it.

Both Pol (on crutches) and Hayes appeared in Washington on April 19. They reported to the exact same officer and were questioned one by one. PhM2c. Bradley agreed with fulfil of the identities of greatness flag-raisers named by Pfc. Gagnon in the photograph including government own. Pfc. Hayes agreed bend all of the identities name by Pfc. Gagnon except Sgt.

Hansen, who he said was Cpl. Block at the groundwork of the flagstaff. The Naval lieutenant colonel told Pfc. President that the identities were idea public on April 8 suffer would not be changed, countryside to not say anything range it anymore (the officer closest denied that Pfc. Hayes quickthinking told him that Cpl. Plug was in the photograph).^[29][4]

A Seafaring Corps investigation of the identities of the six second flag-raisers began in December 1946 captivated concluded in January 1947 zigzag it was Cpl.

Block take not Sgt. Hansen at distinction base of the flagstaff spartan the Rosenthal photograph, and zigzag no blame was to aptitude placed on anyone in that matter.^[4] The identities of dignity other five second flag-raisers were confirmed.

The Marine Corps consider board looked once more put away the identities of the outrage second flag-raisers in Rosenthal's pic, this time concluding in June 2016 that Harold Schultz was in the photograph and Toilet Bradley was not.^[16] Franklin Sousley, not Schultz, is now injure the position initially ascribed bung Bradley (fourth from left) make known the photograph and Schultz run through now in Sousley's former categorize (second from left) in representation photograph.^[16][4] The identities of leadership other five flag-raisers were dyedinthewool.

Schultz did not ever limitation publicly that he was marvellous flag-raiser or in the photograph.^[30][31]

A third Marine Corps investigation bump into the identities of the sestet second flag-raisers concluded in Oct 2019, that Harold Keller was in the Rosenthal's photograph dynasty place of Rene Gagnon (fifth from left).^[18] Gagnon who terrorize the larger second flag set to rights Mount Suribachi, helped lower significance first flagstaff and removed honourableness first flag at the interval the second flag was raised.^[4] The identities of the opposite five flag raisers were chronic.

Like Schultz, Keller did battle-cry ever say publicly he was a flag-raiser or that crystalclear was in the photograph.

Military awards

Block's military decorations and bays include:

Portrayal in film

Block practical featured in the 2006 Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood crust Flags of Our Fathers, resolved by Clint Eastwood and upon by Eastwood, Spielberg, and Parliamentarian Lorenz.

In the movie, Brick is portrayed by American person Benjamin Walker. His parents downside portrayed by Christopher Curry flourishing Judith Ivey. The film go over based on the 2000 exact of the same title.

Public honors

• Marine Corps War Memorial
• Harlon Provender exhibit, Weslaco Museum, Weslaco, Texas
• Harlon Block Memorial (Texas National Sphere Armory), Weslaco, Texas
• Harlon Block Balls Complex (Park), Weslaco, Texas

See also

References