My Iwo Jima Saga
By Col. Dave E. Severance, USMC (Retired)
The authorized, first-hand account by the commander of the company that raised two American flags atop Mount Suribachi during the World War II battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945 — a bloody battle that was immortalized in the world famous, Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Joe Rosenthal that helped inspire a war-weary nation to victory. Col. Dave E. Severance, USMC (Retired), spent much of his life preserving the truth about that seminal battle against those who would fabricate and perpetuate their own made-up roles in being a part of its history. He did so out of a deep sense of obligation to protect and defend his men and their true role in history — especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
$20.00
"This compelling, first-hand account from the company commander of the Marines of E/2/28 and the famous flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima is an important contribution to our history. The voices of those who served and sacrificed are quickly disappearing."
— Ray Elliott (Publisher/Author at Tales Press), Urbana, IL
About the Author
Col. Dave E. Severance, USMC (Retired)
Dave E. Severance (1919-2021) joined the Marine Corps in 1938. He was a lieutenant leading a platoon in combat on Bougainville in 1943. The following year, he was promoted to captain and commanded Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines during the 1945 battle of Iwo Jima. A 40-man patrol from his company made its way atop Mount Suribachi on the island, where two small groups were involved in raising the American flag on the fifth day of a grueling 36-day battle. A photo of the second flag raised was made famous by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal because of its inspirational impact on the nation.
After World War II, Severance flew fighter aircraft during the Korean War, completing 69 missions and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was promoted to colonel in 1962 and retired in 1968 as assistant director of personnel at Marine headquarters. He served as a consultant for the 2006 film about the Iwo Jima flag-raising, "Flags of Our Fathers," directed by Clint Eastwood.
Read an Excerpt
The raising of the flag seemed to trigger an immediate response from several Japanese concealed in a nearby cave. As they burst out of the cave, firing and throwing several grenades, they were taken under fire by Marines who were in their defensive positions, and the Japanese were killed. Unfortunately, one of the grenades landed near Sgt. Lowery, who took evasive action. He jumped over the crest of the volcano and slid 20 to 30 feet down the slope. He broke his camera, but fortunately saved his film.
Col. Johnson was elated that his troops had reached the summit of Mount Suribachi without a blood bath. He ordered a platoon from Fox Company to re-enforce the Easy Company patrol, and later had Capt. Naylor take the remainder of Fox Company to reinforce the Suribachi patrol and clean out the southern crest of the volcano.
At about the same time 1st Lt. Schrier’s patrol was climbing the volcano, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith, USMC, were leaving the command ship, the USS Eldorado, enroute to the beach. Either shortly before they reached the beach, or just after setting foot ashore, they spotted the small flag being raised. Secretary Forrestal turned to Gen. Smith and said, “Holland, that flag up there means a Marine Corps for another 500 years.”