Each month, the Defense Department and the nation honor the contributions and sacrifices Americans have made, particularly through military service and beyond.
November is a time to honor the courage and service of Americans who have shaped the nation, particularly through military excellence and sacrifice.
On February 23, 1945, Marine Corps Pfc. Ira Hayes, a 22-year-old from Arizona’s Pima community, earned lasting recognition as one of six Marines immortalized in the iconic photograph and film of the flag-raising atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, a strategic island in the Western Pacific during World War II.
Hayes stands at the far left in the image, his hands straining toward the flagpole, a testament to his resolve. A member of the 5th Marine Division, he landed on Iwo Jima on February 19. After four grueling days of combat, his unit seized the 554-foot summit, silencing Japanese positions that had dominated the island—a critical step in the warfighting effort. Three of his fellow flag-raisers fell in the battle.
Hayes pressed on, embodying the warrior ethos, until Iwo Jima was secured on March 26, 1945, contributing to a victory forged through readiness and tenacity.
Post-battle, Hayes supported the Seventh War Loan drive, selling war bonds to reduce the war’s financial burden, and met President Harry S. Truman at the White House on April 20, reflecting his commitment to national unity of purpose.
When World War II ended, Hayes, now a corporal, served on occupation duty in Japan, maintaining readiness until his honorable discharge on December 1, 1945.
In 1949, Hayes portrayed himself in a brief role in Sands of Iwo Jima, alongside John Wayne, showcasing his legacy of service.
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Hayes passed away in January 1955 and rests in Arlington National Cemetery, his contributions enduring.
His story inspired later portrayals, including the 1961 film The Outsider with Tony Curtis and the 2006 Clint Eastwood-directed Flags of Our Fathers, where Adam Beach played Hayes, cementing his place in history as a Marine of exceptional merit.