It was the fifth day of our battle with Iwo Jima. I was still manning the phones at a debarkation station, and boats continued to depart with troops and vehicles, returning with wounded. We knew we would eventually gain the victory but progress was slow. Therefore we were thrilled when someone yelled, "The flag is up on Mount Suribachi!" A tussle for binoculars ensued as a cheer could be heard throughout the ship.
A few minutes later someone called out that the flag was no longer up, but only moments later the flag was flying again.
It was some time before we on the Pickens understood that Joseph Rosenthal made several pictures of the flag raising, and it was the first that became so revered and was later the model for the stature in the nation' capital.
About that same time a boat officer showed me a clipping a friend in Seattle had sent of one of our boats landing Marines. On the boat's bow were the words "PA 90, Boat 10." With the clipping was a note saying "I know where you were February 19."
It was much later that I learned that famed photographer Rosenthal traveled aboard our ship. Some became friends with him, especially our ship photographer Mark White.
A few minutes later someone called out that the flag was no longer up, but only moments later the flag was flying again.
It was some time before we on the Pickens understood that Joseph Rosenthal made several pictures of the flag raising, and it was the first that became so revered and was later the model for the stature in the nation' capital.
About that same time a boat officer showed me a clipping a friend in Seattle had sent of one of our boats landing Marines. On the boat's bow were the words "PA 90, Boat 10." With the clipping was a note saying "I know where you were February 19."
It was much later that I learned that famed photographer Rosenthal traveled aboard our ship. Some became friends with him, especially our ship photographer Mark White.
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