Description:

Bradley John 1923 - 1994 Iwo Jima flag raiser John Bradley signed Mint 9 check, PSA/DNA slabbed along with ship photo

April 28, 1983 check #669 from the Fidelity Savings Bank in Antigo, Wisconsin signed by "John H. Bradley", written out to the order of the "Wis. Public Service Corps" in the amount of "73 88/100". Yellow check with "Bradley Rentals" letterhead, marked verso and perforated as cashed. Graded by PSA/DNA as Mint 9 and contained within 9.5" x 4.5" slab. Also comes with a 5.25" x 7.5" black and white glossy military photo of U.S.S LST-764 unloading personnel and equipment at Iwo Jima during the February-March 1945 battle for the island. This 327' 2,100 tons vessel participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, offloading troops, tanks, and munitions to American forces attempting to occupy the strategically important island. A typewritten caption verso reads in part "... Jima Beach Coverage ... BEACH 1 ... 2 - 24 - 45 ... ComPhibGrpTwo". In very good to fine condition with expected wear. Several patches verso indicate photo was once mounted on other support, like in a scrapbook.

Iwo Jima was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Over 110,000 U.S. forces, mostly Marines, fought against about 20,000 Japanese entrenched in camouflaged caves and trenches. 80% of Japanese combatants were killed or missing by the end of battle. About 6,000 American troops were killed and 20,000 wounded.

The American flag was actually raised twice during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The first flag raising occurred at 8 AM on February 23, 1945 when a 40-man combat patrol was dispatched to climb up the east slope of Mount Suribachi to seize the crest. On top, Marines and Navy corpsmen John Bradley and Gerald Ziehme found a steel pipe to attach the flag unto. Seeing the raising of the national colors immediately caused loud cheering from the Marines, sailors, and Coast Guardsmen on the beach below. After the flag was raised, Bradley pitched in to help better position the flagstaff.

The second flag raising memorialized by the Pulitzer prize winning photo was executed with a larger flag so that it could be seen more easily from surrounding areas. Marine Sgt. Michael Strank was ordered to ascend Mount Suribachi to raise the replacement flag and retrieve the first flag. Our check signer John Bradley was awarded both the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart for his service at Iwo Jima.

The photo was taken on February 24, or D-5, the day after a small group of Marines and Navy corpsmen raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi. On this date, the LST-764 began unloading non-essential battle supplies. The ship made thirty beachings in 81 days, continuing well after the battle ended, to supply the American garrison there. Post-battle beachings were hazardous as the beaches were strewn with wreckage, as seen here. In the foreground, a War Hawk tank is shown parked near mangled wreckage.

This photo testifies to the enormous military manpower successfully harnessed during epic World War II battles like Iwo Jima.

The check is slabbed and graded by PSA/DNA as Mint 9.

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Shipping

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June 14, 2017 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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