Last of raisers of first U.S. flag over Iwo Jima dies
{{date|June 26, 2007}}

The last surviving Marine of those who raised the [[w:Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima|first U.S. flag over Iwo Jima]] during World War II, [[w:Charles W. Lindberg|Charles "Chuck" Lindberg]], passed away at the Fairview Southdale Hospital in [[w:Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis, Minnesota]] on Sunday.
[[Image:First Iwo Jima Flag Raising.jpg|thumb|Photograph by [[w:United States Marine Corps|USMC]] Combat Photographer [[w:Louis R. Lowery|Sgt Lou Lowery]] of the first flag over Iwo Jima (Lindbergh standing on extreme right, behind crouched Marine)]]

Lindberg attended two memorial dedications in recent weeks, and was himself honored at the unveiling of the [[Minnesota World War II Memorial dedicated|Minnesota World War II Memorial]] at the State Capitol on June 9. Earlier this month on [[w:Memorial Day|Memorial Day]], Lindberg was in attendance at the 'Honoring All Veterans Memorial' in the town of [[w:Richfield, Minnesota|Richfield]], where he resided since 1951.

Lindberg was hospitalized on June 10, and was aged 86 at his passing. The cause of his death is not presently known.

In his memory, local television station WCCO-TV will air its documentary of his actions, "The Last Flagraiser", over the next two Sundays at 11:00 AM .

[[Image:MN WWII dedication panels.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Dedication event at the Minnesota state capitol where Lindberg was honored, and a veteran memorial was dedicated on June 9 {{Image source|[[commons:User:SEWilco|SEWilco]].}}]]
Lindberg fought during WWII with the 3rd Platoon, known as Easy Company, in the 28th Regiment of the Marine Corps. After the war, he advocated to set the historical record straight on the group who planted the first flag on top of Iwo Jima, a key island in the Pacific Ocean during the war, which Japan has recently renamed ''Iōtō''.

Awarded the [[w:Silver Star|Silver Star]] and the [[w:Purple Heart|Purple Heart]] for his military service, Lindberg was among a group of Marines who first reached the summit of the volcanic island's highest point called [[w:Iwo Jima|Mount Suribachi]].
[[Image:MtSuribachi2.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Mount Suribachi]]
The Pulitzer Prize winning photograph taken by [[w:Joe Rosenthal|Joe Rosenthal]] pictured at Wikipedia's [[w:Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima|Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima]] was presumably taken 4 hours after the U.S. force took control of the island's high point.

==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Japan changes Iwo Jima's name|date=June 22, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Minnesota World War II Memorial dedicated|date=June 9,2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_6227944 
|title=Raising the first Iwo Jima flag
|author=David Hanners of Pioneer Press
|pub=TwinCities.com
|date=June 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://wcco.com/local/local_story_176094650.html
|title='Last Flagraiser' Dies At 86
|author=
|pub=WCCO TV
|date=June 25, 2007}}

==External links==
*[http://carol_fus.tripod.com/marines_hero_ray_jacobs.html World War II stories in their own words]

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[[Category:Obituaries]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Minnesota]]
[[Category:World War II]]
The last surviving Marine of those who raised the first U.S. flag over Iwo Jima during World War II, Charles "Chuck" Lindberg, passed away at the Fairview Southdale Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday.
USMC Combat Photographer Sgt Lou Lowery of the first flag over Iwo Jima (Lindbergh standing on extreme right, behind crouched Marine)

Lindberg attended two memorial dedications in recent weeks, and was himself honored at the unveiling of the Minnesota World War II Memorial at the State Capitol on June 9. Earlier this month on Memorial Day, Lindberg was in attendance at the 'Honoring All Veterans Memorial' in the town of Richfield, where he resided since 1951.

Lindberg was hospitalized on June 10, and was aged 86 at his passing. The cause of his death is not presently known.

In his memory, local television station WCCO-TV will air its documentary of his actions, "The Last Flagraiser", over the next two Sundays at 11:00 AM .

Dedication event at the Minnesota state capitol where Lindberg was honored, and a veteran memorial was dedicated on June 9 
Lindberg fought during WWII with the 3rd Platoon, known as Easy Company, in the 28th Regiment of the Marine Corps. After the war, he advocated to set the historical record straight on the group who planted the first flag on top of Iwo Jima, a key island in the Pacific Ocean during the war, which Japan has recently renamed Iōtō.

Awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his military service, Lindberg was among a group of Marines who first reached the summit of the volcanic island's highest point called Mount Suribachi.
Mount Suribachi
The Pulitzer Prize winning photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal pictured at Wikipedia's Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima was presumably taken 4 hours after the U.S. force took control of the island's high point.
Obituaries Politics and conflicts North America United States Minnesota World War II