Iwo Jima, 1945
Scott Postage Catalog #929

Iwo Jima
First Day Cover 1945

Iwo Jima
First Day Cover 1945

This stamp is based on the famous photo of the flag being raised at Iwo Jima. The date was February 23, 1945. The six men planting the flag in the photo were Mike Strank from Pennsylvania, Harlon Block from Texas, Franklin Sousley from Kentucky, John Bradley from Wisconsin, Rene Gagnon from New Hampshire and Ira Hayes from Arizona. Strank, Harlon, and Sousley died in combat.

This event is honored and commerorated annually by the Ira H. Hayes American Legion, Post 84 on the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton, Arizona, Leonard Enos, Commander.

Ira H. Hayes was a full blooded Pima Indian, and was born on the Gila River Indian Reservation, just a few miles south of Chandler, Arizona, on January 12, l923. Ira H. Hayes died close to his home on January 24, 1955.