Raymond Jacobs

Raymond Jacobs (January 24, 1926–January 29, 2008) was a United States Marine Corps Private First Class, a Radioman with the 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines of the 5th Marine Division (Iwo Jima), and later a news reporter. Although not officially confirmed, Jacobs maintained that he was the last surviving member of the original party of Marines who raised the first flag on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945 during the Battle of Iwo Jima. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7227947.stm Last Iwo Jima flag veteran dies] , BBC, February 5, 2008.]

Biography

Raymond Jacobs was born in 1926 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He served during World War II as a radio operator in the Pacific Theatre. Awarded the Purple Heart, he was honorably discharged in 1946. He was called up during the Korean War in 1951 before retiring as a sergeant.

Jacobs worked as a reporter, anchor, and news director for KTVU in Oakland, California for 34 years before retired in 1992. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/06/BA2BURVDK.DTL Raymond Jacobs - ex-KTVU news director, Iwo Jima vet] , The San Francisco Chronicle, February 6, 2008.]

Photo claim

Jacobs spent his later years working to prove that he was the radio operator photographed by Louis R. Lowery, (a photographer with "Leatherneck" magazine), standing beneath the first American flag raised by Marines on Mount Suribachi. [http://carol_fus.tripod.com/marines_hero_ray_jacobs.html America's Greatest Generation: Marine Heroes: Raymond Jacobs] .] He even disputed the official identifications in the picture and asserted that it should be: PFC James Robeson (lower left corner), Lt. Harold Schrier (sitting behind his legs), PFC Raymond Jacobs (carrying radio), Sgt Henry Hansen (cloth cap), unknown (lower hand on pole), Sgt Ernest Thomas (back to camera), Phm2c John Bradley (helmet above Thomas), PFC James Michels (with carbine), Cpl Charles Lindberg (above Michels).

Many veterans have questioned Jacobs' claim as his face is not visible in Lowery's most widely circulated photograph. Jacobs' claim was based on other photographs taken at the flagraising by Lowery which he asserted show him. The man with a radio on his back in the most famous of Lowery's photographs had usually been identified as PFC Gene Marshall, a radio operator with the 5th Marine Division who died in 1987. The other men involved in the raising have all died. Annette Amerman, a historian with the Marine Corps History Division, said "there are many that believe" Jacobs was the radioman. "However, there are no official records produced at the time that can prove or refute Mr. Jacobs' location."

Raymond Jacobs died of natural causes at a hospital in Redding, California, on January 29, 2008, at the age of 82. [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iByZqL5xFZfrdXIvRjyf77JW0qiwD8UJMOGG0 Last Marine in Iwo Jima Photo Dies at 82] , AP, February 5, 2008.]

ee also

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

References

External links

* [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iByZqL5xFZfrdXIvRjyf77JW0qiwD8UJMOGG0 Last Marine in Iwo Jima Photo Dies at 82] , Associated Press, February 4, 2008.
* [http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2008/02/05/05/950-313560-258836.standalone.prod_affiliate.58.jpgRaymond Jacobs in 2005 identified himself in a photo as the Marine radioman (picture)] , Associated Press archives.

Persondata
NAME = Jacobs, Raymond
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = United States Marine Corps radio operator and later a news reporter
DATE OF BIRTH = January 24, 1927
PLACE OF BIRTH = Bridgeport, Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH = January 29, 2008
PLACE OF DEATH = Redding, California