'Last Iwo Jima Flagraiser' Dies at 86
WCCO.com ^ | 6/25/07 | WCCO.com

Charles "Chuck" Lindberg, the last surviving flagraiser at Iwo Jima, passed away Sunday morning at Fairview Southdale Hospital.

Lindberg helped raise the first American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima. His accomplishment was later overshadowed when a replacement flag was raised a few hours later.

He was honored in February 2006 at a military ceremony marking the anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. He also recently attended a groundbreaking ceremony on Memorial Day at the site of a new veterans memorial in Richfield, Minn.

Lindberg's service and legacy as the last living flagraiser was the subject of an award-winning WCCO-TV documentary in 2005.

The funeral will be held later this week at Fort Snelling Chapel.

Lindberg was 86 years old.

Honors & Gratitude to the Marine, ALL OF THEM...

Semper Fi...

From a Soldier's Son, a Sailor's Brother & a Marine's proud Father.

Gods speed

quote:

Originally posted by Hercules1944:
http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/CharlesLindberg.htm

A piece of history is gone. The deeds of Charles Lindberg and his fellow Marines on Iwo Jima will live forever.

I personally got to shake that mans hand about 15 years ago. He was just about the most humble person one could ever wish to meet.

I think that a lot of arrogant folks learned humble in those days and places.
Of course the face of horror does one thing to one person and something else to another.
I guess that the story of Ira Hayes is always going to be the forefront of my image of the whole affair. His peoples suffered worse before he was even born.
Horror on a hill in the Pacific? What of the horror of the people being exterminated from the American plains?

Oh well, on a lighter note I think of how successful was Custer at finding Indians. He found a real bunch of them.
What made Iwo Jima so special anyway? A chance photograph? A staged photograph for the war bond propaganda?

(don't get me wrong - just because I say something is propaganda does not necessarily mean I am pro or con about it)
I guess there is a whole lot of WWII stuff that brings a lot to mind. Lot of stuff today would bring the past to mind.
I was born in Jan '45 so the war was pretty fresh in the minds of them who raised me.

Oh well, no matter. We will all be dead soon enough and folks who come after will argue the same old arguments again.

http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/CharlesLindberg.htm

A piece of history is gone. The deeds of Charles Lindberg and his fellow Marines on Iwo Jima will live forever.

I personally got to shake that mans hand about 15 years ago. He was just about the most humble person one could ever wish to meet.