Harold G. Schrier

Infobox Military Person
name= Harold G. Schrier
born= birth date|1916|10|17
died= death date and age|1971|6|3|1916|10|17
placeofbirth= Corder, Missouri
placeofdeath= Bradenton, Florida
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1936-Unknown
rank= Colonel
commands=
unit=
battles= World War II
*Battle of Midway
*Battle of Guadalcanal
*Battle of New Georgia
*Battle of Bougainville
*Battle of Iwo JimaKorean War
*Battle of Pusan Perimeter
*Battle of Inchon
*Battle of Chosin Reservoir
awards= Navy Cross Legion of Merit Silver Star Purple Heart
laterwork=

Colonel Harold George Schrier (October 17, 1916 - June 3, 1971) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps, recipient of the Navy Cross, the nation's second highest award for valor, and a combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He is most noted for being one of the six Marines who raised the first American flag on Mount Suribachi, during the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945.

Biography

Early life

Schrier was born in Corder, Missouri. He attended high school in Lexington, Missouri. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on November 12, 1936. After training in San Diego, California, he was sent to China to guard the US embassy in Beijing. He also served in Tientsin and Shanghai. He became a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in August 1940.

Schrier volunteered to join the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion in 1942. He fought at Midway and Guadalcanal and was commissioned in the field on February 28, 1943. He was awarded the Legion of Merit during the campaign in New Georgia, for a reconnaissance patrol on Vangunu, and he later fought in Bougainville.

Pacific campaign

He returned to the U.S. to become an infantry instructor at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in February 1944, but returned to the Pacific with Company "E" (Easy Company), 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines in September 1944. A First Lieutenant, he was Executive Officer of Easy Company. On February 23, 1945, Captain Dave E. Severance, the commander of Easy Company, ordered Schrier to take a patrol to raise an American flag at the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, to signal to others that it had fallen. He led a 40-man combat patrol up the mountain. After a fire-fight, a 54-by-28 inch (137-by-71 cm) flag was raised, and photographed by Staff Sergeant Louis R. Lowery, a photographer with "Leatherneck" magazine. [http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003131-00/sec4a.htm#flag Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima] , by Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Retired), 1994, from the National Park Service.] [http://www.iwojima.com/raising/lflagi.gifPicture of the first flag raising] ] [http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003131-00/index.htm Image of the first flag being lowered as the second flag is raised] , Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 112718.] Others present at this first flag raising included Corporal Charles W. Lindberg, Platoon Sergeant Ernest I. Thomas, Jr., Sergeant Henry O. "Hank" Hansen, Private First Class Louis C. Charlo, and Private First Class James Michels. [Bradley, James. Flags of Our Fathers, p. 205] However, this flag was too small to be seen easily from the nearby landing beaches. This first flag was later replaced by a larger flag, the raising of which became famous due to a photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal.

Later in February 1945, he became commander of Company "D". He was awarded the Navy Cross for the first flag raising, and later a Silver Star for his actions on Iwo Jima on March 24, 1945 in leading the defense against a fanatical Japanese attack.

After the Second World War

He served in San Diego from July to October, 1945, then in Seal Beach, California, in Samar, Philippines, and in Yokosuka, Japan. He returned to the US in 1949, and appeared as himself in the 1949 film "Sands of Iwo Jima".

He was sent to fight in the Korean War with the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in July 1950. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions in August and September 1950, as Adjutant during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. He was wounded during the breakout from Chosin Reservoir, and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was promoted to Major in May 1951.

He retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel. He died at Bradenton, Florida. He is buried in Mansion Memorial Park, Ellerton, Florida.

He was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon with 1 star and the Drill Instructor Ribbon.

Navy Cross citation

For his actions on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, Schrier was awarded the Navy Cross. His citation reads: [cite web|url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/03_wwii-nc/nc_06wwii_usmcR.html
accessdate=2007-01-18
title=Navy Cross Awards to members of the U.S. Marines in World War II
publisher=HomeofHeroes.com]

Portrayal in film

In the 2006 film "Flags of Our Fathers", Schrier was played by actor Jason Gray-Stanford.

ee also

*Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
*Battle of Iwo Jima

Notes

References

*findagrave|6210584 Retrieved on 2007-01-18

*imdb name|id=0775387|name=Harold G. Schrier