Charles W. Lindberg
Encyclopedia
Charles W. "Chuck" Lindberg (June 26, 1920 - June 24, 2007) was a United States Marine
who was part of the first raising of the U.S. flag
on Iwo Jima
during the Battle of Iwo Jima
in World War II
. He was the last undisputed surviving member of the two flag raisings.
, Chuck Lindberg enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Shortly after joining the Marine Corps, Lindberg volunteered for the Marine Raiders
, an elite special operations group. While a member of the 2nd Raider Battalion, Lindberg first saw combat during the "Long Patrol" on Guadalcanal
. Lindberg and the 2nd Raiders also saw combat during the Bougainville Campaign. After Bougainville, Lindberg returned to the States and was assigned to the new 5th Marine Division.
operator, and his fellow Marines of 3rd Platoon, Easy Company, 28th Regiment landed with the fifth wave on the beaches of Iwo Jima. Lindberg earned the Silver Star
two days later when he participated in a major assault against enemy fortifications and blockhouses at the base of Mount Suribachi.
The famous photograph
taken by Joe Rosenthal
actually captured the second flag-raising event of the day. A U.S. flag
was first raised atop Suribachi soon after it was captured early in the morning (around 10:20) of February 23, 1945. Captain Dave E. Severance, the commander of Easy Company (2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division), ordered First Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier
to take a patrol to raise an American flag at the summit to signal to others that it had fallen. 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, and Private First Class James Michels
. However, this flag was too small to be seen easily from the nearby landing beaches, and the second, larger, flag was raised four hours later simultaneous with the lowering of the first flag. It was the photograph of this second flag being raised that was seen around the world. Lindberg also stated that his battalion commander, Colonel Chandler E. Johnson, ordered the first flag replaced and safeguarded because he was worried someone would take it as a souvenir.
on March 1, 1945, Corporal Lindberg was evacuated from the island to recuperate. When he was honorably discharged in 1946, Lindberg returned home to Grand Forks, North Dakota, married, moved to Richfield, Minnesota
, raised two daughters and three sons, and worked as an electrician
for 39 years.
Proud of his military service, he often spoke of his role in the first flag raising, only to have his account called into question, until the facts became known to the general public. Later in life, he often spoke at schools, sharing his memories of his wartime service with the children. He returned to Iwo Jima in 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the battle.
In a tribute to Lindberg, KARE TV
ran the following report:
, Lindberg was played by Alessandro Mastrobuono. Lindberg is the only character to appear in both Flags and its companion film, Letters from Iwo Jima
, although in Letters he is uncredited and simply seen in the same shot of both films, rushing towards a bunker with a flamethrower.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
who was part of the first raising of the U.S. flag
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
during the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was the last undisputed surviving member of the two flag raisings.
Before Iwo Jima
A native of Grand Forks, North DakotaGrand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
, Chuck Lindberg enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Shortly after joining the Marine Corps, Lindberg volunteered for the Marine Raiders
Marine Raiders
The Marine Raiders were elite units established by the United States Marine Corps during World War II to conduct amphibious light infantry warfare, particularly in landing in rubber boats and operating behind the lines...
, an elite special operations group. While a member of the 2nd Raider Battalion, Lindberg first saw combat during the "Long Patrol" on Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
. Lindberg and the 2nd Raiders also saw combat during the Bougainville Campaign. After Bougainville, Lindberg returned to the States and was assigned to the new 5th Marine Division.
Iwo Jima
Chuck Lindberg, now a flamethrowerFlamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
operator, and his fellow Marines of 3rd Platoon, Easy Company, 28th Regiment landed with the fifth wave on the beaches of Iwo Jima. Lindberg earned the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
two days later when he participated in a major assault against enemy fortifications and blockhouses at the base of Mount Suribachi.
Raising the first flag
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.The photograph was extremely...
taken by Joe Rosenthal
Joe Rosenthal
Joseph John Rosenthal was an American photographer who received the Pulitzer Prize for his iconic World War II photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, taken during the Battle of Iwo Jima. His picture became one of the best-known photographs of the war.-Early life:Joseph Rosenthal was born on...
actually captured the second flag-raising event of the day. A U.S. flag
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
was first raised atop Suribachi soon after it was captured early in the morning (around 10:20) of February 23, 1945. Captain Dave E. Severance, the commander of Easy Company (2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division), ordered First Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier
Harold G. Schrier
Colonel Harold George Schrier 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...
to take a patrol to raise an American flag at the summit to signal to others that it had fallen. After a fire-fight, a 54-by-28 inch (137-by-71 cm) flag was raised, and photographed by Staff Sergeant Louis R. Lowery
Louis R. Lowery
Louis R. "Lou" Lowery was a United States Marine Corps photographer best known for taking the first flag-raising photograph on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945...
, a photographer with Leatherneck magazine
Leatherneck Magazine
Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines is a magazine for United States Marines. It was first published as a newspaper by off-duty Marines at Marine Corps Base Quantico in 1917, and was originally named The Quantico Leatherneck...
. Others present at this first flag raising included Corporal Charles W. Lindberg, Platoon Sergeant Ernest I. Thomas Jr., Sergeant Henry O. "Hank" Hansen, and Private First Class James Michels
James Michels
Private First Class James R. Michels was one of the six United States Marines who raised the first American flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945.-Biography:...
. However, this flag was too small to be seen easily from the nearby landing beaches, and the second, larger, flag was raised four hours later simultaneous with the lowering of the first flag. It was the photograph of this second flag being raised that was seen around the world. Lindberg also stated that his battalion commander, Colonel Chandler E. Johnson, ordered the first flag replaced and safeguarded because he was worried someone would take it as a souvenir.
Post-war and later life
After being shot in the arm by a Japanese sniperSniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
on March 1, 1945, Corporal Lindberg was evacuated from the island to recuperate. When he was honorably discharged in 1946, Lindberg returned home to Grand Forks, North Dakota, married, moved to Richfield, Minnesota
Richfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,439 people, 15,073 households, and 8,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,993.9 people per square mile . There were 15,357 housing units at an average density of 2,226.9 per square mile...
, raised two daughters and three sons, and worked as an electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
for 39 years.
Proud of his military service, he often spoke of his role in the first flag raising, only to have his account called into question, until the facts became known to the general public. Later in life, he often spoke at schools, sharing his memories of his wartime service with the children. He returned to Iwo Jima in 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the battle.
In a tribute to Lindberg, KARE TV
KARE
KARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
ran the following report:
- At Fort Snelling, Friday, June 29th, 2007 the nation bid farewell to a true World War II hero. Marine Chuck Lindberg was laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
- The thundering jet fighters and some vintage WWII planes flew overhead to pay tribute. And it was well deserved.
- Lindberg was the last survivor of the first flag-raising on Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi. But his moment was overshadowed by a second flag-raising. He spent a lifetime correcting the record.
- Still, on this Friday at Fort Snelling, there was no doubt about history's record.
- During the ceremony one of Lindberg's daughters, Diane Steiger said, "The angels needn't worry tonight, another Marine has arrived. Our hero has gone home, the heavens are safer tonight."
Portrayal in films
In the 2006 film Flags of Our FathersFlags of Our Fathers (film)
is a 2006 American war film directed, co-produced and scored by Clint Eastwood and written by William Broyles, Jr. and Paul Haggis. It is based on the book of the same name written by James Bradley and Ron Powers about the Battle of Iwo Jima, the five Marines and one Navy Corpsman who were involved...
, Lindberg was played by Alessandro Mastrobuono. Lindberg is the only character to appear in both Flags and its companion film, Letters from Iwo Jima
Letters from Iwo Jima
is a 2006 war film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood, and starring Ken Watanabe and Kazunari Ninomiya. The film portrays the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers and is a companion piece to Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers, which depicts the same battle from the...
, although in Letters he is uncredited and simply seen in the same shot of both films, rushing towards a bunker with a flamethrower.
See also
- List of U.S. Marines
- Last Iwo Jima Flag Raiser and IBEW Member Charles Lindberg Dies