Ira Hayes

Ira Hayes (January 12, 1923 ? January 24, 1955) was a Native American hero of World War II's Battle of Iwo Jima.

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Born on the Gila River Indian Reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona, a full-blooded member of the Pima nation, Hayes left school in 1942 to enlist in the Marines. Trained as a paratrooper, he was nicknamed Chief Falling Cloud. After bootcamp, Hayes was sent to the Pacific. He participated in the battle for the island of Iwo Jima, beginning on February 19, 1945, and was among the group of Marines that took Mount Suribachi four days later, on February 23, 1945. The raising of the American flag on the mountain by five Marines and a Navy Corpsman was immortalized by photographer Joe Rosenthal and became an icon of the war. Overnight, Hayes (who appears on the far left of the photograph) became a national hero, along with the two other survivors of the famous photograph, Rene Gagnon and John Bradley. Hayes's story drew particular attention because of his Native American background.

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January 12: January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 353 days remaining (354 in leap years)....

1923: 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar)....

January 24: January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 341 days remaining (342 in leap years)....

Ira Hayes related Images and Photos (experimental)

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Nate and Hayes 1983	Ohio St - Woody Hayes - Gridiron - DVD	Navajo Shepherdess. Ira Diamond Gerald Cassidy	Nevada City George 'Gabby' Hayes Roy Rogers Sally Payne 1941