Description:

Hayes Ira 1923 - 1955 Iwo Jima flag raiser Ira Hayes's ALS penned ONE day before the bombing of Hiroshima.

2pp ALS penned in red ink with versos blank, 7.25" x 10.5". Dated "August 5th, 1945", and signed by Ira Hayes as "Ira H. Hayes". Near fine with expected folds.

An incredibly personable letter penned by Iwo Jima flag raiser Ira Hayes only one day before the bombing of Hiroshima, and mere days before the climactic conclusion of World War II.

Ira Hayes addresses this letter to his "Parent's and Brother's". His letter is written conversationally, and the occasional grammatical and spelling errors recreate his unique epistolary voice:

"Well here I am again writing another letter to you", Hayes begins. "I wrote to Mr. Johnson of Tucson + told him I really was grateful for the plaque he gave to you folk's in my behalf ... I'm kinda mad but I guess Leonard is busy + hasn't much time to write. But I think he should at least write one letter. But I don't think there is much to worry about. Cause he just came over. And where ever his headed for, his about there by now + you should be hearing from him soon. Yes, I have been getting letter's from people but some I don't answer ... I hope you don't blame me".

Only months prior, Hayes fought along U.S. Marines at the bloody Battle for Iwo Jima. Hayes, along with other members of the 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Division, took the crest of Mount Suribachi and there raised the U.S. flag. Hayes's platoon endured heavy casualties. The Marines had advanced inch by inch under heavy fire from Japanese artillery and infantry. Many of the Japanese defenders were never seen and remained underground until they were blown apart by a grenade or rocket, or incinerated by a flame thrower. Japanese kamikaze flyers slammed into the Allied naval fleet around Iwo Jima. The Marines on the island continued their bloody advance across the island, responding to Kuribayashi's lethal defenses with remarkable endurance. On February 23, the strategically significant crest of 550-foot Mount Suribachi was taken, and the next day the slopes of the extinct volcano were secured. Only 200 of the original 22,000 Japanese defenders were captured alive. More than 6,000 Americans died taking Iwo Jima, and some 17,000 were wounded.

Of the six flag-raisers - only three, Hayes, Gagnon, and Schultz (Navy corpsman John Bradley was incorrectly identified in the Rosenthal flag-raising photo) survived the battle. Hayes, a Pima Native American, fought on the island until it was secure. His Easy Company had many casualties, and Hayes was one of only five Marines of his forty-five-person platoon to survive. Ira Hayes and the other flag raisers became symbols of heroism.

Ira H. Hayes (1923-1955) was a shy child who almost never spoke unless spoken to. He was the oldest of six children, but one of the last two to survive. He was a a voracious reader. His shyness made it difficult to endure the national fame he gained after raising the second American flag on Mount Suribachi. He toured with the other surviving flag members in order to sell war bonds before returning to service.

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