Last man in iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising photo di

[Capper]

REDDING, California (AP) -- Raymond Jacobs, believed to be the last surviving member of the group of Marines photographed during the original U.S. flag-raising on Iwo Jima during World War II, has died at age 82.

The iconic image of U.S. Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi in February 1945.

Jacobs died January 29 of natural causes at a Redding hospital, his daughter, Nancy Jacobs, told The Associated Press.

Jacobs had spent his later years working to prove that he was the radio operator photographed looking up at an American flag as it was being raised by other Marines on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945.

Newspaper accounts from the time show he was on the mountain during the initial raising of a smaller American flag, though he had returned to his unit by the time the more famous AP photograph was taken of a second flag-raising later the same day.

The radioman's face isn't fully visible in the first photograph taken of the first flag-raising by Lou Lowery, a photographer for Leatherneck magazine, leading some veterans to question Jacobs' claim. However, other negatives from the same roll of film show the radioman is Jacobs, said retired Col. Walt Ford, editor of Leatherneck.

"It's clearly a front-on face shot of Ray Jacobs," Ford said.
Annette Amerman, a historian with the Marine Corps History Division, said in an e-mailed statement "there are many that believe" Jacobs was the radioman. "However, there are no official records produced at the time that can prove or refute Mr. Jacobs' location."

Jacobs was honorably discharged in 1946. He was called up during the Korean conflict in 1951 before retiring as a sergeant, his daughter said.
Jacobs retired in 1992 from KTVU-TV in Oakland, where he worked 34 years as a reporter, anchor and news director.

Last man in iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising photo dies

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Capper

Jacobs retired in 1992 from KTVU-TV in Oakland, where he worked 34 years as a reporter, anchor and news director.

How odd. I distinctly remember watching Jacobs on TV when I used to watch KTVU when I lived in Hayward as a kid. I had no idea that he was part of the Mount Suribachi summit team.

[Quakindude]

Man, those guys are amongst a quickly disappearing breed that knew what real adversity is all about. And how to overcome it.

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Man, those guys are amongst a quickly disappearing breed that knew what real adversity is all about. And how to overcome it.

Those guys of the "greatest generation" were passing at a rate of 1,000 a day years ago. Today the number is around 2,000 per day. Considering most WW II veterans are well in their 80s to early 90s.

My dad was a Marine Corps veteran of the Pacific Campaign to include places like Iwo, Tarawa and Guadacanal. He passed in 1999 at age 77. When we think of the sacrifice that generation made it is incredible.

Ron

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by Reloadron

Those guys of the "greatest generation" were passing at a rate of 1,000 a day years ago. Today the number is around 2,000 per day. Considering most WW II veterans are well in their 80s to early 90s.

My dad was a Marine Corps veteran of the Pacific Campaign to include places like Iwo, Tarawa and Guadacanal. He passed in 1999 at age 77. When we think of the sacrifice that generation made it is incredible.

Ron

Yep. After spending 12 months in Iraq, we were all humbled a couple weeks after our return. One of our pilots had his grandfather show up and address the company about coming home from war. Our one year over there was put into a very stark contrast to this man's 3.5 years of continuous participation in WWII. No leaves, spoke to his wife once by phone and letters were typically months old by the time he got them.

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Yep. After spending 12 months in Iraq, we were all humbled a couple weeks after our return. One of our pilots had his grandfather show up and address the company about coming home from war. Our one year over there was put into a very stark contrast to this man's 3.5 years of continuous participation in WWII. No leaves, spoke to his wife once by phone and letters were typically months old by the time he got them.

Yeah, my time in Nam was nothing compared to what these guys endured. I was never a big Tom Brokaw fan in journalism, but his book "Yhe Greatest Generation" really sums up what those veterans did and the sacrifice made. I can't begin to immagine a combat tour of 3.5 years. Yes, without the things we have today.

Ron

[Jokerswild]

WWII vets like my dad really had a tough time when it came to not hearing from family and the length of time served. I remember my dad was really saddened by the fact his mother died just before he returned and he never had a chance to see her again but there were thousand of soldiers that went through that and much much more to preserve our way of life. This is no different than what our military does today. It's just as hard for soldiers today as it was then and maybe more so since there's not a clear cut enemy that your fighting.

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

WWII vets like my dad really had a tough time when it came to not hearing from family and the length of time served. I remember my dad was really saddened by the fact his mother died just before he returned and he never had a chance to see her again but there were thousand of soldiers that went through that and much much more to preserve our way of life. This is no different than what our military does today. It's just as hard for soldiers today as it was then and maybe more so since there's not a clear cut enemy that your fighting.

I think a big difference is the ability to communicate. Looking at WW II a single letter could take months to reach a troop. Units were forever moving and mail traveled very slowly around the globe. The mass communication that exist today did not exist. Thus the situation your and my dads shared.

Korea, was likely about the same. However when I was in Nam mail averaged about a week and though phone contact was not common it did exist. We could not only send pictures easily but cassett tapes were popular. Today, things have changed considerably. Communication exist. War will never be a country club but it has improved as to troops ability to hear from home and keep in touch with loved ones.

Still, I will always hold what I call the greatest generation in the highest. They endured hardship like I never knew and did it with class. Those guys who raised that flag on Iwo did so at a very high cost.

Hey, do you remember Victory At Sea?

Ron

Ron

[Jokerswild]

Victory at Sea is as old as I am.

Your right about the communication.

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

Victory at Sea is as old as I am.

Your right about the communication.

When I was a kid in the early 50s, Victory at Sea was mandatory Sunday afternoon TV.

Some time ago Kathy bought me the 4 DVD set. Some incredible film footage of WW II.

Ron