Harold G. Schrier

Harold G. Schrier
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1936-Unknown
Rank	Colonel
Battles / wars	World War II Battle of Midway Battle of Guadalcanal Battle of New Georgia Battle of Bougainville Battle of Iwo Jima Korean War Battle of Pusan Perimeter Battle of Inchon Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Awards	Navy Cross Legion of Merit Silver Star Bronze Star Purple Heart

File:Harold G. Schrier.JPG

LTC Schrier's Awards and Decorations

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 New Georgia Campaign, for a reconnaissance patrol on Vangunu, and he later fought in Bougainville.

Pacific campaign

1st Lt. Schrier with Ernest Ivy Thomas, Jr. (both seated) on Mount Suribachi at the first flag raising

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. 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. 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, 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:

The Navy Cross is presented to Harold George Schrier, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Executive Officer of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 23 February 1945. On the morning of 23 February when his combat team had advanced to the base of Mount Suribachi after four days of severe fighting, First Lieutenant Schrier volunteered to lead a forty-man patrol up the steep slopes of the mountain. Quickly organizing his patrol and placing himself at its head, he began the torturous climb up the side of the volcano, followed by his patrol in single file. Employing the only known approach, an old Japanese trail, he swiftly pushed on until, covered by all the supporting weapons of his battalion, he gained the top of the mountain despite hostile small-arms and artillery fire. Forced to engaged the remaining enemy in a sharp fire fight, he overcame them without loss in his patrol and occupied the rim of the volcano. Although still under enemy sniper fire, First Lieutenant Schrier, assisted by his Platoon Sergeant, raised the National Colors over Mount Suribachi, planting the flagstaff firmly on the highest knoll overlooking the crater, the first American flag to fly over any land in the inner defenses of the Japanese Empire. His inspiring leadership, courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Portrayal in film

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

See also

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

References

• Harold G. Schrier at Find a Grave Retrieved on 2007-01-18

• Harold G. Schrier at IMDb