thedrifter
02-04-09, 08:50 AM
Sousley tribute is Feb. 22
Written by Danetta Barker
Tuesday, 03 February 2009
By Danetta Barker
Editor
A service to honor Pvt. Franklin Sousley USMC will be held at the VFW Post 1834 at 3 p.m. Feb. 22 with a service to follow at 4 p.m. at Elizaville Cemetery.
Just a few weeks before the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima a young Marine wrote home to give an account of life in the Corps. Marching, shooting, training, vaccinations and more training had prepared Franklin Sousley for the battle of his life. He had no idea the battle, the photo and the story would live long after the red-haired Marine said goodbye to this world.
Sousley was one of five Marines and one Navy Corpsman who raised the American Flag on Mount Siribachi after the battle of Iwo Jima. The photo of the Marines hoisting a pole with a flag tied to it was taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal was sent around the world. The image immediately became the battle cry for a war weary nation and an icon of the United States Marine Corps.
Sousley grew up on the ridges of Hilltop in Fleming County. His mother Goldie price had remarried after the death of Sousley’s father. Sousley took on the role of man of the house at a tender age. The hard work of a tobacco farm didn’t stop the young man from having fun. According to relatives, Sousley and his gang were a hard working, hard playing bunch that loved to pull a good prank now and then.
“He had a lot of fun an according to letters he wrote home, he was a dies man,” said nephew Dwayne Price.
Sousley and friends tied a goat to the porch of Hilltop store, a tale that still gets laughs from those who remember. Sousley was known to attend dances at school and social events at churches where he often flirted with the girls. Even the photo of him in his dress blues shows a cocky young man with a lopsided grin.
Sousley graduated from Fleming County High School and went to work in Ohio before joining the Marines. He left Camp Pendleton, Calif. for the Pacific Theater. His company, E Company, nicknamed Easy Company, landed on the volcanic island that lies 660 miles south of Tokyo.
The battle that began Feb. 19 ended 72 hours later with the flag raising over the tiny island. Sgt. Michael Strank, Cpl. Harlon H. Block, Pfc. Franklin R. Sousley, Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon, Pfc. Ira Hayes, and PhM. 2/c John H. Bradley, USN were the men who raised the second flag because the first flag was taken down to keep as a memorial to the battle.
Sousley wrote home to his mother to look for a picture of him. He thought the second picture, a posed shot of the six men, would be the one his mother would see. However the first shot taken in split second because Rosenthal thought he missed the flag raising was the one that went to newspapers around the world. The photo doesn’t show the faces of the men, only the determination to raise an American flag and declare a mountaintop a battle won.
Every year men of the Marine Corps League gather at the Franklin Sousley VFW Post 1834 to pay tribute to the Marine who didn’t come home. The ceremony includes Iwo Jima survivors Troy Bowling, Paul Frederick, Joe Lane and “Doc” George Marsh.
Louis Dowdy, commandant of the league with speak as will Danny “Greasy Belcher, executive director of Task Force Omega.
At Elizaville Cemetery where Sousley is buried a flag raising will be held along with remarks from Mackenzie Purvis. The Marine Corps League Honor Guard will give a rifle salute. Billy McFarland will play taps and Chris Paul will play bagpipes.
Ellie
Written by Danetta Barker
Tuesday, 03 February 2009
By Danetta Barker
Editor
A service to honor Pvt. Franklin Sousley USMC will be held at the VFW Post 1834 at 3 p.m. Feb. 22 with a service to follow at 4 p.m. at Elizaville Cemetery.
Just a few weeks before the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima a young Marine wrote home to give an account of life in the Corps. Marching, shooting, training, vaccinations and more training had prepared Franklin Sousley for the battle of his life. He had no idea the battle, the photo and the story would live long after the red-haired Marine said goodbye to this world.
Sousley was one of five Marines and one Navy Corpsman who raised the American Flag on Mount Siribachi after the battle of Iwo Jima. The photo of the Marines hoisting a pole with a flag tied to it was taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal was sent around the world. The image immediately became the battle cry for a war weary nation and an icon of the United States Marine Corps.
Sousley grew up on the ridges of Hilltop in Fleming County. His mother Goldie price had remarried after the death of Sousley’s father. Sousley took on the role of man of the house at a tender age. The hard work of a tobacco farm didn’t stop the young man from having fun. According to relatives, Sousley and his gang were a hard working, hard playing bunch that loved to pull a good prank now and then.
“He had a lot of fun an according to letters he wrote home, he was a dies man,” said nephew Dwayne Price.
Sousley and friends tied a goat to the porch of Hilltop store, a tale that still gets laughs from those who remember. Sousley was known to attend dances at school and social events at churches where he often flirted with the girls. Even the photo of him in his dress blues shows a cocky young man with a lopsided grin.
Sousley graduated from Fleming County High School and went to work in Ohio before joining the Marines. He left Camp Pendleton, Calif. for the Pacific Theater. His company, E Company, nicknamed Easy Company, landed on the volcanic island that lies 660 miles south of Tokyo.
The battle that began Feb. 19 ended 72 hours later with the flag raising over the tiny island. Sgt. Michael Strank, Cpl. Harlon H. Block, Pfc. Franklin R. Sousley, Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon, Pfc. Ira Hayes, and PhM. 2/c John H. Bradley, USN were the men who raised the second flag because the first flag was taken down to keep as a memorial to the battle.
Sousley wrote home to his mother to look for a picture of him. He thought the second picture, a posed shot of the six men, would be the one his mother would see. However the first shot taken in split second because Rosenthal thought he missed the flag raising was the one that went to newspapers around the world. The photo doesn’t show the faces of the men, only the determination to raise an American flag and declare a mountaintop a battle won.
Every year men of the Marine Corps League gather at the Franklin Sousley VFW Post 1834 to pay tribute to the Marine who didn’t come home. The ceremony includes Iwo Jima survivors Troy Bowling, Paul Frederick, Joe Lane and “Doc” George Marsh.
Louis Dowdy, commandant of the league with speak as will Danny “Greasy Belcher, executive director of Task Force Omega.
At Elizaville Cemetery where Sousley is buried a flag raising will be held along with remarks from Mackenzie Purvis. The Marine Corps League Honor Guard will give a rifle salute. Billy McFarland will play taps and Chris Paul will play bagpipes.
Ellie