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Harlon Henry Block

Harlon Henry Block

Male 1924 - 1945  (20 years)  Submit Photo / DocumentSubmit Photo / Document


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  • Name Harlon Henry Block 
    Born 6 Nov 1924  Yorktown, Dewitt, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Military Service U.S. Marine Corps, WWII Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Block joined the Marine Corps in February 1943. He became a Paramarine and participated in combat on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. The Paramarines were disbanded in 1944. He was then assigned to the 5th Marine Division and, was with them at the Battle of Iwo Jima.

    On February 23, 1945 a platoon size patrol took Mount Suribachi and raised the battalion's flag as a signal the summit was secure.

    Lieutenant Colonel Chandler W. Johnson decided that a larger flag should be taken up the mountain because the battalion's flag was too small to be seen.

    Sergeant Michael Strank and three Marines were ordered to accomplish that task. Strank subsequently ordered three other Marines including Corporal Block to accompany them. No photos were taken of the first flag raising. When the second one went up Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press took what became one of the most iconic photographs of World War II. Block was not immediately recognized as one of the second flag-raisers. In January 1947 a Marine Corps investigation determined that he was in the photograph and another man had mistakenly been identified as one of the flag raisers.

    Sergeant Strank was killed on March 1, 1945. Corpral Block assumed command of Strank's squad, later the same day, Corporal Block was mortally wounded by an enemy mortar round explosion while leading the squad during an attack. 
    The Arizona Daily Star, Monday, February 26, 1945.
    The Arizona Daily Star, Monday, February 26, 1945.
    The Arizona Daily Star, Monday, February 26, 1945.
    Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, Monday, February 26, 1945.
    Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, Monday, February 26, 1945.
    Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, Monday, February 26, 1945.
    Harlon Henry Block.
    Harlon Henry Block.
    Harlon Henry Block.
    Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.
    Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.
    Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. Corporal Block is the first Marine on the right side of the photo.
    Marine Corps War Memorial.
    Marine Corps War Memorial.
    The United States Marine Corps War Memorial is located in Arlington County, Virginia. It was modeled after the photograph of the flag raising at Iwo Jima.
    Iwo Jima Flag.
    Iwo Jima Flag.
    On November 13, 2006 the flag from the photograph, tattered by the high winds at Mount Suribachi, was enshrined at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.
    Flag raising on Iwo Jima.
    Flag raising on Iwo Jima.
    Flag raising on Iwo Jima. Newsreel footage. Silent. No audio. Runtime 6 minutes 8 Seconds.
    Died 1 Mar 1945  Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japan Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Marine Military Academy, Harlingen, Cameron, Texas, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Harlon Block Grave Site.
    Harlon Block Grave Site.
    Harlon Block Grave Site.
    Siblings
    1. Daniel Corwin Block,   b. 6 Oct 1930, McAllen, Hidalgo, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Oct 1985, Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California Find all individuals with events at this location
     
    Person ID I56211  Nagel
    Last Modified 8 Aug 2021 

    Father Edward Frederick Block, Jr,   b. 12 Apr 1896, Nopal, DeWitt, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 May 1968, Weslaco, Hidalgo, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Ada Belle Brantley,   b. 20 Dec 1896, DeWitt County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Jun 1980, Calimesa, Riverside, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Family ID F16431  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart