This auction is for one of the rarest Battle of Iwo Jima combo signed items in the hobby. The limited edition #22/75 combo signed 12x36 inch photograph is autographed by ten veterans (including Colonel Dave Severance who was the Commanding Officer) of the Battle of Iwo Jima who served with Easy Company which was the Flag Raising Unit. All the veterans who signed this photograph (appear in the photo) and served with all six of the Flag Raisers from boot camp through the Battle of Iwo Jima. You will receive the exact same signed photograph that appears in the scan of this auction. This item has one of the only known in uniform photographs of Flag Raiser Harold Schultz.

This truly is a museum quality piece in fact two of these autographed prints are currently displayed in Museums. There are only 75 of these hand autographed photographs in the hobby. PLEASE NOTE I ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL OF THESE LIMITED EDITION COMBO SIGNED PHOTOS AVAIABLE. I AM CLOSE TO BEING PERMANTLY SOLD OUT. The scans do not do justice to how remarkable this signed 12x36 inch photo looks in-person. If you read the book “Flags of our Fathers” or view the film many of the veterans who autographed this photograph are mentioned.

This combo autographed 12x36 inch photograph is JSA authenticated #PP44316. This combo autographed 12x36 inch photograph has been authenticated by the most prestigious and respected authentication company in the hobby JSA. Autographed items that have been authenticated by JSA adds an additional value to all signed items that bare the JSA authentication process. Also included with the autographed photograph are the photo of the veterans autographing the photograph, flyer from the event and a sheet that details the names of the veterans in the photograph.

I organized an event in 2010 with six Iwo Jima Easy Company veterans including Colonel Dave Severance at the Air & Space Museum and later did private signs with four other Easy Company veterans who were unable to attend the event. These combo signed 12x36 inch photograph is of the WWII USMC 5th Marines Division, 28th Regiment, Easy Company who were the Flag Raising Company. The photograph was taken before Easy Company deployed from the United States. Three the Flag Raisers Harlon Block, Rene Gagnon Harold Schultz (the Flag Raiser who had been misidentified for years appear in this photograph). There are very few photographs in existence of Flag Raiser Harold Schultz and Donald Ruhl Medal of Honor Recipient KIA both appear in this photograph. All ten of the Iwo Jima veterans who signed the 12x36 inch photograph appear in the photograph as well.

The photograph is signed by the following ten WWII Iwo Jima 5th Marine Division, 28th Marines, Easy Company veterans:

-Colonel Dave Severance (Deceased) WWII Battle of Iwo Jima COMMANDING OFFICER OF ALL SIX OF THE FLAG RAISERS. During the Battle of Iwo Jima he was the Captain of the 5th Marines Division, 28th Regiment, Easy Company who were the Flag Raising Unit. Colonel Severance was prominently written about in John Bradley’s book “Flags of Our Fathers”. In the film "Flags of Our Fathers" Severance was played by Neal McDonough (McDonough played Buck Compton in the miniseries Band of Brothers). Colonel Severance is a recipient of the Silver Star (3rd highest military decoration). Korea flew 62 missions as a fighter pilot. Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals for actions during Korea. This veteran is mentioned many times in the book “Flags of Our Fathers.”  Prior to the Battle of Iwo Jima Colonel Severance served with the ELITE Paramarines during the Bougainville Campaign. Colonel Severance was the Commanding Officer of all six of the veterans who appeared in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph. Colonel Severance served as the Commanding Officer of Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served as the Commanding Officer of all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

-Ralph “Pee Wee” Griffiths (Deceased) WWII USMC 1943-1946 Battle of Iwo Jima, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company, Griffiths joined the USMC when he was 17 years old. He served with all six Flag Raisers and was wounded (temporarily blinded hit in the face and shoulder) on March 1st by the same shell that killed Flag Raiser Mike Strank. Purple Heart Recipient. Griffiths was initially turned down to enlist because he weighed four pounds under the

requirement of the USMC. Griffiths stuffed himself with bananas to reach the required USMC weigh requirements.

-Melvin Duncan (Deceased) WWII USMC Battle of Iwo Jima, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company. Duncan witnessed Harlon Block (one of the Flag Raisers) being killed. When Mike Strank (one of the Flag Raisers) who killed Duncan cradled Strank in his arms “if there had been some way I could have died in his place, I would have done it” (Quote from James Bradley’s Flags Of Our Fathers”, D-Day+36. He served in the same company (Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC) and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served with all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

-John Scheperle (Deceased) WWII USMC 1944-1946, Battle of Iwo Jima, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company, 2 Purple Hearts, D-Day+6 wounded in action. He served in the same company (Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC) and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served with all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

-Robert Galloway (Deceased) WWII USMC 1943-1946, Battle of Iwo Jima, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company, Purple Heart Recipient D-Day+25 wounded in action. He served in the same company (Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC) and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served with all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

-William Wayne (Deceased) WWII USMC 1944-1946, Battle of Iwo Jima, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company, Purple Heart Recipient D-Day+3 wounded in action. He served in the same company (Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC) and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served with all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

-Edward Blankenberger (Deceased) WWII USMC Paramarine 1944-1946, Bougainville, Battle of Iwo Jima, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company, Bronze Star, Purple Hearts. He served in the same company (Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC) and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served with all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

-Marvin Burdine (Deceased) WWII USMC Battle of Iwo Jima D-Day+23, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company, Purple Heart. (I made a 16 hour round trip to obtain Burdine). He served in the same company (Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC) and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served with all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

-Jesse Boatright (Deceased) WWII USMC Battle of Iwo Jima, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company, Purple Hearts. He served in the same company (Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC) and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served with all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

-Robert Radebaugh (Deceased) WWII USMC Paramarine 1944-1946, Bougainville, Battle of Iwo Jima, 5th Marine Division, Easy Company. He served in the same company (Easy Company, 5th Marine Division, USMC) and personally knew all with all six of the veterans who appear in the famous Battle of Iwo Jima Flag Raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23rd, 1945. He served with all six of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers from boot camp in San Diego through the Battle of Iwo Jima. The six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers who appear in the famous photograph are: Harlon Block (KIA), Franklin Sousley (KIA), Michael Strank (KIA), Harold Schultz (was not identified as one of the Flag Raisers until 2016), Harold Keller and Ira Hayes.

THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC COMBO HAND AUTOGRAPHED 12x36 INCH PHOTOGRAPH. This is one of the last remaining autographs that I have available of him. I am close to being permanently sold out. Do not miss out on your chance to add this remarkable collectable to your collection. I ONLY SELL AUTHENTIC HAND AUTOGRAPHED MEMORABILIA. I do not sell reprints or facsimile autographs. When you bid on my items you get the real deal authentic hand autographed items. You will receive the same signed item that is pictured in the scan. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me. I combined S&H when multiple items are purchased. I currently have other rare autographed military and historical signed items available. Please take a look at my other auctions of rare military and historical autographed items.