• Mike Strank b. 1919 Jarabenia, Czechoslovakia, d. 1945 Iwo Jima

• Harlon Block b. 1924 Yorktown, Texas, d. 1945 Iwo Jima
• Franklin Sousley b. 1925 Hilltop, Kentucky, d. 1945 Iwo Jima
• Ira Hayes b. 1923 Sacaton, Arizona, d. 1955 Bapchule, Arizona
• Rene Gagnon b. 1925 Manchester, N.H., d. 1979 Manchester, N.H.
• John Bradley (Navy corpsman) b. 1923 Antigo, Wisconsin, d. 1994 Antigo, Wisconsin

Two of the men didn't make it off the island - it was a bloody and fierce battle. ("Manila John Basilone", Marine Medal of Honor recipient from his actions taking on 3,000 Japanese on Guadalcanal was another one who didn't make it off the island.) The corpsman was wounded. Bradley's son wrote a book that everyone should read, Flags of Our Fathers.

That was 65 years ago today.

Semper fi!