thedrifter
02-25-07, 05:40 AM
Honoring fallen heroes
By Apryl Blakeney
ablakeney@morganton.com
Sunday, February 25, 2007
DREXEL - Clyde Baird can see Mount Suribachi from his living room. His miniature replica depicts the war time photograph taken from Iwo Jima, Japan.
Clyde reconstructed the famous scene in honor of fallen service members, like his big brother.
At exactly 2 p.m. Friday afternoon, Clyde planted the American flag into the rocky soil, just like the marines did 62 years ago during World War II.
At roughly 2 p.m. on Feb. 23 1945, they raised the flag at the highest point on Iwo Jima, Mount Suribachi.
To duplicate the volcanic mount, Clyde hauled in two truck loads of dirt with grey rock to his property on Baird Circle Drive.
The color guard officiated the flag raising ceremony and friends and family showed up to share stories about Clyde's brother, Rondall M. Baird.
Rondall was killed at Iwo Jima on March 4, 1945. The Marine was just 18 years old but with the responsibilities of a husband, father, son and big brother.
Clyde was 10 years old when war took away his role model. But he remembers his sibling perfectly.
"He was a wonderful big brother, with brown eyes and beautiful wavy hair," Clyde says, choking back the tears. "And a heart equally as kind. He never once told me 'little brother you are in the way.'"
Rondall's childhood friend shares a similar story. But he also remembers his pal as a clever boy.
"He had two trees in his yard and he named one 10 and the other 11," says Joe Byrd. "That way if he came home late he could walk through the trees and tell his parents he came home between 10 and 11."
Those trees were on the same property where the replica now sits; the same property where Rondall grew up. Clyde and his other two brothers say the replica will stay there indefinitely.
"It honors our brother," says Lloyd Baird, "but it also gives our kids a physical reminder, so this day will never be forgotten."
The soldiers captured Suribachi just four days after the battle began. But the island was not secured until 31 days later on March 26.
Three days after that. the Baird family received a black telegram from Western Union. It began "We deeply regret to inform you that your son ..."
Rex Baird says his brother's last two weeks were hell on earth. That's why the family prefers to remember him as the handsome young man who loved fishing and his country.
Ellie
By Apryl Blakeney
ablakeney@morganton.com
Sunday, February 25, 2007
DREXEL - Clyde Baird can see Mount Suribachi from his living room. His miniature replica depicts the war time photograph taken from Iwo Jima, Japan.
Clyde reconstructed the famous scene in honor of fallen service members, like his big brother.
At exactly 2 p.m. Friday afternoon, Clyde planted the American flag into the rocky soil, just like the marines did 62 years ago during World War II.
At roughly 2 p.m. on Feb. 23 1945, they raised the flag at the highest point on Iwo Jima, Mount Suribachi.
To duplicate the volcanic mount, Clyde hauled in two truck loads of dirt with grey rock to his property on Baird Circle Drive.
The color guard officiated the flag raising ceremony and friends and family showed up to share stories about Clyde's brother, Rondall M. Baird.
Rondall was killed at Iwo Jima on March 4, 1945. The Marine was just 18 years old but with the responsibilities of a husband, father, son and big brother.
Clyde was 10 years old when war took away his role model. But he remembers his sibling perfectly.
"He was a wonderful big brother, with brown eyes and beautiful wavy hair," Clyde says, choking back the tears. "And a heart equally as kind. He never once told me 'little brother you are in the way.'"
Rondall's childhood friend shares a similar story. But he also remembers his pal as a clever boy.
"He had two trees in his yard and he named one 10 and the other 11," says Joe Byrd. "That way if he came home late he could walk through the trees and tell his parents he came home between 10 and 11."
Those trees were on the same property where the replica now sits; the same property where Rondall grew up. Clyde and his other two brothers say the replica will stay there indefinitely.
"It honors our brother," says Lloyd Baird, "but it also gives our kids a physical reminder, so this day will never be forgotten."
The soldiers captured Suribachi just four days after the battle began. But the island was not secured until 31 days later on March 26.
Three days after that. the Baird family received a black telegram from Western Union. It began "We deeply regret to inform you that your son ..."
Rex Baird says his brother's last two weeks were hell on earth. That's why the family prefers to remember him as the handsome young man who loved fishing and his country.
Ellie