Editing Michael Strank

{{Short description|United States Marine Corps sergeant (1919–1945)}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = Michael Strank
| native_name_lang = rue
| native_name   = Михал Стренк
| birth_name    = Mykhal Strenk
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1919|11|10}}
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1945|03|01|1919|11|10}}
| birth_place   = [[Jarabina]], [[Czechoslovakia]] (present-day [[Slovakia]])
| death_place   = [[Iwo Jima]], [[Bonin Islands]], [[Japanese Empire]] {{KIA}}
| placeofburial = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
| image         = Michael Strank.jpg
| caption       = Michael Strank, U.S. Marine Corps in 1939
| allegiance    = [[United States]]
| branch        = [[United States Marine Corps]]
| serviceyears  = 1939–1945
| rank          = [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]]
| commands      = 
| unit          = [[2nd Battalion, 28th Marines]],<br />[[5th Marine Division]]
| battles       = '''[[World War II]]'''
* [[Pavuvu]]
* [[Bougainville campaign|Battle of Bougainville]]
* [[Solomon Islands campaign]]
* [[Battle of Iwo Jima]] {{KIA}}
| awards        = [[File:Bronze Star ribbon.svg|23px|border]] [[Bronze Star]] (1+1[[V Device|"V"]])<br />[[File:Purple Heart ribbon.svg|23px|border]] [[Purple Heart]]<br />[[File:Combat Action Ribbon.svg|23px|border]] [[Combat Action Ribbon]]
| laterwork     = 
}}
'''Michael Strank''' (November 10, 1919{{spaced ndash}}March 1, 1945, born '''Mykhal Strenk'''){{efn|{{langx|rue|Михал Стренк|{{transliteration|rue|Mykhal Strenk}}}}, [[Anglicisation of names|{{small|anglicized}}]]: ''Michael Strank''}} was a [[United States Marine Corps]] sergeant who was [[killed in action]] during the [[Battle of Iwo Jima]] in [[World War II]]. He was one of the Marines who raised the second [[Flag of the United States|U.S. flag]] on [[Mount Suribachi]] on February 23, 1945, as shown in the iconic photograph ''[[Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima]]'' by photographer [[Joe Rosenthal]]. Of the six Marines depicted in the photo, Strank was the only one to be correctly identified from the beginning; the other five were either assigned the wrong locations ([[Ira Hayes]] and [[Franklin Sousley]]), or, were given the names of Marines who were not in the photo.

The first flag raised over Mount Suribachi at the south end of Iwo Jima was deemed too small. Later that day, Strank, a rifle company squad leader in the [[5th Marine Division (United States)|5th Marine Division]], was ordered up the mountain with three Marines to raise a larger flag. The photograph of the second flag-raising became famous and was widely reproduced. The second flag raising was also filmed in color.<ref name="youtube.com">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOy6yRAB6BY You Tube, Smithsonian Channel, 2008 Documentary (Genaust films) "Shooting Iwo Jima"] Retrieved March 14, 2020</ref> Before Iwo Jima, Strank served with the [[Marine Raiders]] in the Battle of [[Bougainville campaign|Bougainville]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Scannell-Upshur/Sergeant-Michael-Strank/|title=Marine Corps University > Research > Marine Corps History Division > People > Who's Who in Marine Corps History > Scannell - Upshur > Sergeant Michael Strank|website=www.usmcu.edu}}</ref>

The [[Marine Corps War Memorial]] in [[Arlington, Virginia]], was modeled after Rosenthal's photograph of six Marines raising the second flag on Iwo Jima.

== Early life ==
Michael Strank was born in a [[Rusyns|Rusyn]] family in the Prešov village of Orjabyna in [[Czechoslovakia]] (present-day [[Jarabina]] in the [[Stará Ľubovňa]] district), [[Prešov Region]] of northeastern [[Czechoslovakia]] (now in [[Slovakia]]). His two brothers, Petro and John, and his sister Mary were born in the United States to Vasil Strenk (later, in the U.S., known as Charles Strank) and Marta Grófiková, [[Rusyns|Rusyn]] immigrants. In his application for American citizenship, Vasil Strenk's father indicated the nationality of his family as [[Ruthenians|Ruthenian]].<ref>{{cite news |date= 19 November 2017|title= Honoring Our Veterans Film Documentary On Life Of Sergeant Michael Strank "Our Flag Still Waves"|url= https://c-rs.org/event-2727204|publisher= Carpatho-Rusyn Society}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 4 November 2019|title= Events to mark 100th anniversary of Iwo Jima flag raiser Michael Strank's birth|url= https://www.tribdem.com/marine-sgt-michael-strank-memorial-park/image_a00d2200-fec3-11e9-a890-3b1416dfe86a.html|publisher= The Tribune-Democrat|location= Johnstown, Pennsylvania}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Marine Sergeant Michael Strank Awarded Certificate of US Citizenship|url= http://www.rusynacademy.sk/english/en_history.html|publisher= Academy of Rusyn Culture in the Slovak Republic}}</ref> Vasil Strank moved to [[Franklin borough, Cambria County, Pennsylvania|Franklin Borough]] (near [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]], United States), found work in the coal mines for the [[Bethlehem Steel Corporation]], and brought his family to [[Pennsylvania]] three years later, when he could pay for their voyage. Strank attended the public schools of Franklin Borough and graduated from Franklin Borough High School in 1937. He joined the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], served for 18 months, and afterwards became a Pennsylvania state highway laborer.

== U.S. Marine Corps ==
Strank enlisted in the Marine Corps at [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] for four years service on October 6, 1939. He was assigned to the [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island]] in [[South Carolina]]. He completed recruit training in December and was transferred to Headquarters Company, Post Troop and then to Provisional Company W at Parris Island, on January 17, 1941. Private First Class Strank sailed for [[Guantánamo Bay]], [[Cuba]], arriving on January 23, 1941. He was reassigned to Headquarters Company, [[3rd Battalion, 7th Marines|3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment]], 1st Marine Brigade (on February 1, the 1st Marine Brigade was redesignated the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]]). On April 8, now assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, he returned to the United States and was sent back to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. He was promoted to [[Corporal#United States|corporal]] on April 23, 1941. In September, Cpl. Strank moved with the 1st Marine Division to [[New River (eastern North Carolina)|New River (North Carolina)]] ([[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune|Camp Lejeune]]), which is where he was stationed when the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] occurred.

=== World War II ===
[[File:Marine-raiders.jpg|thumb|Members of the 3rd Marine Raiders in front of a captured Japanese dugout on [[Cape Torokina]] at [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]].]]
On January 26, 1942, Cpl. Strank was promoted to [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]].<ref name="auto"/> On March 21, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines was detached from the 1st Marine Division and attached to the newly created [[3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade|3rd Marine Brigade]]. In early April, he was sent with the battalion to [[San Diego, California]] and deployed on April 12 (sailed April 13) to [[Samoa]] arriving in [[American Samoa]] on April 28;<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web | url=https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20the%207th%20Marines%20%20PCN%2019000308200_1.pdf | title=A brief history of the 7th marines | website=www.marines.mil}}</ref> the 7th Marines were ordered to Samoa. On May 31, his battalion was transferred to [[Wallis (island)|Wallis (Urea) Island]].<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/> In August, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines was detached from the 3rd Marine Brigade and reassigned to the 1st Marine Division; also during August, the [[22nd Marine Regiment (United States)|22nd Marine Regiment]] relieved the 7th Marines which were ordered to reinforce Marine units fighting on Guadalcanal; a battalion of the 22nd Marines relieved the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines on Urea.<ref name="auto1"/> In September, after a short time with the 22nd Marines, Sgt. Strank was transferred to the newly organized [[Marine Raiders|3rd Marine Raider Battalion]] under the command of Lieutenant Colonel [[Harry B. Liversedge]]; D Company, 3rd Raider Battalion was organized on Urea and joined the rest of the 3rd Raider Battalion at [[Pago Pago]], [[American Samoa]] on December 21. In January and February 1943, the 3rd Raiders were sent to [[Espiritu Santo]] ([[Frank Rennie|Camp Rennie]]), [[New Hebrides|New Hebrides, Islands]] and [[Guadalcanal]], [[British Solomon Islands]].

As a member of the 3rd Raiders using 10-man rubber boats in their first offensive action,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003130-00/sec11.htm|title=From Makin to Bougainville: Marine Raiders in the Pacific War (New Georgia)|website=www.nps.gov}}</ref> Sgt. Strank (D Company) participated in the unopposed landing operations and occupation of [[Pavuvu]] ([[Operation Cleanslate]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://codenames.info/operation/cleanslate/|title=Cleanslate &#124; Operations & Codenames of WWII|website=codenames.info}}</ref> in the [[Russell Islands]] from February 21 to March 18, 1943. On March 19, the battalion left the island and returned to Guadalcanal and Espiritu Santo (Camp Rennie) on March 20. On May 1, D Company was designated as M Company, 3rd Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, [[I Marine Amphibious Corps|1st Marine Amphibious Corps]].

On November 1, 1943, the 2nd and 3rd Raider Battalions spearheaded the initial invasion of [[Bougainville campaign|Bougainville]] by the [[3rd Marine Division]]. Sgt. Strank, M Company, 3rd Raiders, landed on Green Beach #2 at [[Cape Torokina]] and participated in the seizure and occupation of [[Battle of Empress Augusta Bay|Empress Augusta Bay]] ([[Landings at Cape Torokina|Operation Cherryblossom]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://codenames.info/operation/cherryblossom/|title=Cherryblossom &#124; Operations & Codenames of WWII|website=codenames.info}}</ref> On January 12, the 3rd Raiders were removed from the combat zone and returned to Guadalcanal, arriving on January 14. On February 1, the 1st Marine Raider Regiment was redesignated the [[4th Marine Regiment]]. The 3rd Raider Battalion was disbanded and designated the [[3rd Battalion, 4th Marines|3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment]]. On February 14, Sgt. Strank was sent to San Diego and allowed a leave to visit his family.

==== Battle of Iwo Jima ====
Sgt. Strank returned to duty in San Diego and was assigned to Second Platoon, Company E, [[2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment]], [[5th Marine Division (United States)|5th Marine Division]] at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton]], as a squad leader. He was sent to [[Hawaii]] with his unit after extensive training, and began more training and preparation for the invasion of [[Battle of Iwo Jima|Iwo Jima]].

==== First flag-raising ====
[[File:Iwo Jima Suribachi DN-SD-03-11845.JPEG|thumb|right|Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima]]
Sgt. Strank took part in the Second Battalion, [[28th Marine Regiment (United States)|28th Marines]], amphibious assault landing on Green Beach at the southern part of Iwo Jima near Mount Suribachi on February 19, 1945. The mission of the 28th Marines that day was to isolate Mount Suribachi, which it accomplished. The next day, the regiment secured the southern end of the island. Their mission afterwards, was to capture Mount Suribachi. After heavy opposition, the 28th Marines surrounded the mountain by the evening of February 22. On the morning of February 23, Lieutenant Colonel [[Chandler W. Johnson]], commander of the Second Battalion, 28th Marines, ordered E Company's executive officer, First Lieutenant [[Harold G. Schrier|Harold Schrier]], to take a platoon-sized patrol up 556-foot high Mount Suribachi to seize and occupy the crest, and if possible, raise the battalion's American flag to signal the summit was secure. E Company's commander, Captain [[Dave Severance]], assembled a 40-man patrol for the mission from the remainder of his Third Platoon and other members from the battalion.

The patrol left the base of Mount Suribachi at about 8:30&nbsp;a.m. Once Lt. Schrier was on top with his men after some occasional sniper fire and a brief firefight at the rim of the crater, he and his men secured the top. After a Japanese steel pipe was found, Lt. Schrier and two other Marines attached the flag to it. The flagstaff was then taken to the highest position on top and raised by Lt. Schrier, Platoon Sgt. [[Ernest Ivy Thomas|Ernest Thomas]], Sergeant [[Henry Oliver Hansen|Henry Hansen]],<ref>[http://ruralfloridaliving.blogspot.com/2012/07/famous-floridian-friday-ernest-ivy.html Rural Florida Living. CBS Radio interview by Dan Pryor with flag raiser Ernest "Boots" Thomas on February 25, 1945 aboard the] [[USS Eldorado (AGC-11)|USS ''Eldorado'']]: "''Three of us actually raised the flag''"</ref> and Corporal [[Charles W. Lindberg|Charles Lindberg]] at about 10:30&nbsp;a.m.<ref name="auto2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXAmygEACAAJ&q=iwo+jima+monuments|title=Iwo Jima Monuments, The Untold Story |last=Brown|first=Rodney |year=2019|publisher=War Museum|accessdate=16 March 2020|isbn=978-1-7334294-3-6}}</ref> Seeing the raising of the [[National colours|national colors]] immediately caused loud cheers from the Marines, sailors, and Coast Guardsmen on the beaches at the southern end of Iwo Jima and from the men on the ships near the beaches. The men at, around, and holding the flagstaff were photographed several times by Marine Staff Sergeant [[Louis R. Lowery]], a photographer with [[Leatherneck magazine|''Leatherneck'' magazine]] who accompanied the patrol up the mountain. Platoon Sgt. Thomas was killed in action on Iwo Jima on March 3 and Sgt. Hansen was killed on March 1.

==== Second flag-raising ====
[[File:Moments after the second flag raising, February 1945.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Marine Corps photo of the two flags on [[Mount Suribachi]]]]
[[File:Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, larger - edit1.jpg|thumb|Second flag-raising photograph]]
[[File:Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima (color).ogg|thumb|Marine Sergeant [[Bill Genaust]]'s color film of the second flag raising<ref name="youtube.com"/> ]]
[[File:USMC-00932.jpg|thumb|Strank is fifth from left in [[Joe Rosenthal]]'s "Gung Ho" photo.<ref name="Investigating Iwo">{{cite book |editor-last=Robertson |editor-first=Breanne |date=2019 |title=Investigating Iwo: The Flag Raisings in Myth, Memory, and Esprit de Corps |url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Investigating%20Iwo_WEB3.pdf |location=Quantico, Virginia |publisher=Marine Corps History Division |pages=243, 312 |isbn=978-0-16-095331-6 }}</ref>]]
In order for the American flag to be seen more by the thousands of Marines fighting on the other side of Mount Suribachi where most of the Japanese soldiers were located, it was decided that a larger flag should replace the battalion's flag on Mount Suribachi. Captain Severance ordered Sgt. Strank to ascend Mount Suribachi with three Marines from his rifle squad in Second Platoon and raise the replacement flag. Sgt. Strank then ordered Corporal [[Harlon Block]], Private First Class [[Ira Hayes]], and Private First Class [[Franklin Sousley]] to go with him up Mount Suribachi with communication wire (or supplies). Private First Class [[Rene Gagnon]], the Second Battalion's runner (messenger) for E Company, was ordered to take the replacement flag up the mountain and return with the first flag.

Once Sgt. Strank's team was on top, Pfc. Hayes and Pfc. Sousley found a Japanese steel pipe to attach the flag to. After the two Marines took the pipe to Sgt. Strank and Cpl. Block near the first flag, the flag was attached to the pipe. As the four Marines got into position to raise the flagstaff, Sgt. Strank and Cpl. Block called out to two nearby Marines to help them raise the heavy flagstaff. Then, under Lt. Schrier's orders, the second flag was raised at approximately 1 p.m. by Sgt. Strank, Cpl. Block, Pfc. Hayes, Pfc. Sousley, Pfc. [[Harold Schultz]], and Pfc. [[Harold Keller]],<ref name="marines.mil">[http://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/810457/usmc-statement-on-iwo-jima-flagraisers/ USMC Statement on Marine Corps Flag Raisers], Office of U.S. Marine Corps Communication, 23 June 2016</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/warrior-iconic-iwo-jima-flag-raising-photo-was-misidentified-marines-n1064766|title=Marines correct 74-year-old Iwo Jima error|website=NBC News|date=16 October 2019 }}</ref> as the original flag came down. Pfc. Schultz and Pfc. Keller were members of Lt. Schrier's patrol. In order to keep the second flagstaff in a vertical position in the high winds on the summit, rocks were immediately added to the base of the flagstaff by Pfc. Schultz and Pfc. Keller, and another Marine. Three [[Guy-wire|guy-ropes]] were then tied to the flagstaff to stabilize it. The six Marine flag-raisers were photographed in action by [[Associated Press]] photographer [[Joe Rosenthal]] and by Marine motion picture cameraman Sergeant [[Bill Genaust|William (Bill) Genaust]] (later killed in action) in color. After the second flag-raising, Rosenthal photographed sixteen Marines including Sgt. Strank and two Navy corpsmen around the base of the flagstaff. Rosenthal's black-and-white flag-raising picture, which appeared in newspapers on February 25, 1945, was later titled ''[[Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima]]''. It became the most copied photograph in Marine Corps history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pulitzer/rosenthal.html|title=Fifty Years Later, Iwo Jima Photographer Fights His Own Battle|first=Mitchell|last=Landsberg|year=1995|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=September 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905115709/http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pulitzer/rosenthal.html|archive-date=September 5, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy}}</ref>

On March 14, another American flag was officially raised up a flagpole by two Marines under the orders of Lt. Gen. Holland Smith during a ceremony at the [[V Amphibious Corps]] command post on the other side of Mount Suribachi where the [[3rd Marine Division (United States)|3rd Marine Division]] troops were located. The flag flying on the summit of Mount Suribachi since February 23 was taken down. On March 26, 1945, the island was considered secure and the battle of Iwo Jima was officially ended. The 28th Marines left Iwo Jima on March 27 and returned to Hawaii to the 5th Marine Division training camp. Lt. Col. Johnson was killed in action on March 2, Sgt. Genaust was killed on March 4, Sgt. Strank and Cpl. Block were killed on March 1, and Pfc. Sousley was killed on March 21.

On March 20, President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] ordered all the men in Rosenthal's photograph be sent to Washington, D.C. after the battle was over. Pfc. Gagnon arrived alone on April 7 and was questioned at Marine Headquarters by a public information officer about the identities of the six flag raisers. Pfc. Gagnon identified Navy [[Hospital corpsman|corpsman]] [[John Bradley (United States Navy)|John Bradley]] and Pfc. Ira Hayes as flag raisers in the photograph and they were sent for and arrived on April 19 and, they were separately questioned that day (Sgt. Strank, Cpl. Block, and Pfc. Sousley were killed on Iwo Jima). All three said they were in the photograph and raised the flag; on April 8, they had been named publicly by the Marine Corps as the surviving flag raisers. Over time it was discovered that all of the second flag-raisers were Marines and that three of the six Marines in Rosenthal's photograph were not correctly identified: Cpl. Block was not recognized until January 1947, Pfc. Schultz was not recognized until June 2016,<ref name="marines.mil"/> and Pfc. Keller was not recognized until October 2019.<ref name="auto3"/> Cpl. Block was incorrectly identified in the photograph as Henry Hansen. Pfc. Schultz was identified as Pfc. Sousley in the photograph. In turn, Pfc. Sousley was identified as PhM2c. Bradley in the photograph. Pfc. Keller was incorrectly identified as Pfc. Gagnon in the photograph. Rosenthal did not take the names of any of the flag raisers in his photograph. Pfc. Schultz and Pfc. Keller did not ever claim publicly to be in Rosenthal's photograph or that they were flag-raisers.

==== Death and burial ====
On February 28, Sgt. Strank and E Company moved northward. Fighting was heavy, and both the Japanese and the American forces were taking heavy casualties. On March 1, Sgt. Strank's rifle squad came under heavy fire and took cover. While forming a plan of attack, he was killed by [[Friendly fire|friendly artillery fire]]. The shell that killed him was almost certainly fired from offshore by an American ship. Cpl. Harlon Block, Sgt. Strank's assistant squad leader, took command of the squad. Cpl. Block was killed later on the same day by a Japanese mortar shell. However, former Marine Ralph Griffiths of Second Platoon, Easy Company, said that Sgt. Strank and Cpl. Block were on both sides of him on March 1 and were killed by the same shell which wounded him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://taishawalker.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/iwo-jima-survivor-recalls-the-bloody-war/|title=Iwo Jima survivor recalls the bloody war|date=November 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://listen.sdpb.org/post/marine-veterans-recall-iwo-jima|title=Marine Veterans Recall Iwo Jima|first=Jim|last=Kent|website=listen.sdpb.org|date=22 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/nov/14/veteran-of-easy-company-recalls-rigors-of-iwo-jima/?print |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817022002/http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/nov/14/veteran-of-easy-company-recalls-rigors-of-iwo-jima/?print |archive-date=2016-08-17 |title=Veteran of Easy Company recalls rigors of Iwo Jima}}</ref> Sgt. Strank and the other Marines killed in action of the 28th Regiment were buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on the island with the last rites of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. Sgt. Strank (and possibly Cpl. Block) was the first person in Rosenthal's flag raising photograph to be killed. On January 13, 1949, his remains were reinterred in Grave 7179, Section 12, [[Arlington National Cemetery]].

Sgt. Strank's brother, Peter Strank, was serving aboard the aircraft carrier [[USS Franklin (CV-13)|''USS Franklin'']] in the [[South Pacific Area|South Pacific]] when Sgt. Strank was killed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33148-2005Feb17.html|newspaper= [[The Washington Post]]|date= February 18, 2005|title= The Shadow of Suribachi|first=Timothy |last=Dwyer}}</ref>

== Marine Corps War Memorial ==
[[File:USMC War Memorial Night.jpg|thumb|right|The [[USMC War Memorial|U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial]] in [[Arlington, Virginia|Arlington]], [[Virginia]]]]
The [[Marine Corps War Memorial]] in Arlington, Virginia, was dedicated on November 10, 1954.<ref>[http://www.barracks.marines.mil/History/MarineCorpsWarMemorial.aspx The Marine Corps War Memorial] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529091725/http://www.barracks.marines.mil/History/MarineCorpsWarMemorial.aspx |date=2016-05-29 }} Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.</ref> Sculptor [[Felix de Weldon]] was inspired to make the memorial after seeing Rosenthal's photograph of the second flag raising. De Weldon duplicated the flag raisers images and positions on the memorial from the photograph. Strank is depicted as the fourth bronze figure from the base of the flagstaff on the memorial with the 32-foot (9.8 M) bronze figures of the other five flag raisers depicted on the memorial. The Marine Corps announced on June 23, 2016, that [[Harold Schultz]] is now in back of Strank instead of [[Franklin Sousley]], who is now in front of Strank instead of [[John Bradley (United States Navy)|John Bradley]], who is no longer in the photograph.<ref name="marines.mil"/> The Memorial was turned over to the [[National Park Service]] in 1955.

During the dedication, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] sat upfront with [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Richard Nixon]], [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Charles Erwin Wilson|Charles E. Wilson]], [[United States Deputy Secretary of Defense|Deputy Secretary of Defense]] [[Robert B. Anderson (Texas politician)|Robert Anderson]], [[Deputy Secretary of the Interior|Assistant Secretary of the Interior]]  Orme Lewis, and General [[Lemuel C. Shepherd]], the 20th [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]].<ref name="auto2"/> 
Ira Hayes, one of the three surviving flag-raisers depicted on the monument, was seated together with John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, Mrs. Martha Strank, Ada Belle Block, and Mrs. Goldie Price (mother of Franklin Sousley).<ref name=mhmd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vgwrAAAAIBAJ&pg=4987%2C3731941 |newspaper=Reading Eagle|location=Pennsylvania|agency=Associated Press|title=Memorial honoring Marines dedicated |date=November 10, 1954|page=1}}</ref> Those giving remarks at the dedication included Robert Anderson, Chairman of Day; Colonel J.W. Moreau, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), President, Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation; General Shepherd, who presented the memorial to the American people; [[Felix de Weldon]], sculptor; and Richard Nixon, who gave the dedication address.<ref name=hpdrms>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cPNXAAAAIBAJ&pg=5563%2C2418577 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Marine monument seen as symbol of hopes, dreams |date=November 10, 1954 |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXAmygEACAAJ&q=iwo+jima+monuments|title=Iwo Jima Monuments, The Untold Story |last=Brown|first=Rodney |year=2019|publisher=War Museum|accessdate=22 March 2020|isbn=978-1-7334294-3-6}}</ref> Inscribed on the memorial are the following words:

:In Honor And Memory Of The Men of The United States Marine Corps Who Have Given Their Lives To Their Country Since 10 November 1775

== Military awards ==
Strank's military decorations and awards include:
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart BAR.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Ribbon, U.S. Navy Presidential Unit Citation.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Marine Corps Good Conduct ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|[[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Combat "V"]]
|[[Purple Heart Medal]]
|[[Combat Action Ribbon|Navy Combat Action Ribbon]]<ref>Combat Action Ribbon (1969), retroactive from December 7, 1941: Public Law 106-65, October 5, 1999, 113 STAT 588, Sec. 564, G</ref>
|-
|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Navy Presidential Unit Citation]] 
|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal]]
|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] w/ four {{frac|3|16}}" bronze stars<ref name="auto"/>
|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|}

==Legacy==
[[File:Raising-the-Flag.jpg|thumb|right|The six second flag-raisers:<br /> #1, Cpl. [[Harlon Block]] (KIA) <br /> #2, Pfc. [[Harold Keller]] <br /> #3, Pfc. [[Franklin Sousley]] (KIA) <br /> #4, Sgt. Michael Strank (KIA) <br /> #5, Pfc. [[Harold Schultz]] <br /> #6, Pfc. [[Ira Hayes]]]]
Strank was born on November 10, the Marine Corps birthday. The members of Strank's rifle squad idolized him (Cpl. Harlon Block for one followed his every instruction without question), and many men since who served with and alongside him have stated he had a way of setting them at ease, making them feel that ''he'' could help them survive the war. Of the men photographed raising the second flag on Mount Suribachi, Strank at age 25, was the oldest, and Harold Keller and him the most experienced in combat.

In interviews of former Marines conducted years later, many documented in the book ''[[Flags of Our Fathers]]'' written by [[James Bradley (American author)|James Bradley]] (son of corpsman John Bradley), he is described by men who served with him as "a Marine's Marine", a true warrior and leader, who led his men by example. Strank often told his men, "Follow me, and I'll try to bring you all safely home to your mothers." One former Marine who served with Strank stated, "He was the kind of Marine you read about, the kind they make movies about." Former Paramarine Lowell B. Holly, who served in Strank's squad on Iwo Jima and who was with Strank when he died, stated, "He was the best Marine I ever knew."

== U.S. citizenship ==
[[File:USMC-080729-M-8136F-003.jpg|thumb|Mary Pero, 75, was presented with her late brother's certificate of citizenship on July 29, 2008, at the Marine Corps War Memorial.]]
In 2008, Gunnery Sergeant Matt Blais, who was a Marine security guard in the American Embassy in Slovakia, discovered that Strank was not a natural-born U.S. citizen.  Strank had become a U.S. citizen after his father's naturalization in 1935, but had never received official documentation.<ref name=MCNews_Carfrey_20080730>{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/units/hqmc/Pages/IwoJimaflagraiserposthumouslyreceivescitizenshipcertificate.aspx|title=Iwo Jima flag raiser posthumously receives citizenship certificate|first=Bryan G.|last=Carfrey|work=Official U.S. Marine Corps Web Site|date=July 30, 2008|accessdate=November 1, 2008|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813092941/http://www.marines.mil/units/hqmc/Pages/IwoJimaflagraiserposthumouslyreceivescitizenshipcertificate.aspx|archive-date=August 13, 2008}}</ref>
GySgt. Blais petitioned the [[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]] on Strank's behalf and on July 29, 2008, Strank's youngest sister, Mary Pero, was presented with his certificate of citizenship in a ceremony at the [[Marine Corps War Memorial]].<ref name="MCNews_Carfrey_20080730"/><ref name=MCT_Bush_20080730>{{cite web|last=Bush|first=Joe|title=Citizenship granted to Iwo Jima flag raiser|work=Marine Corps Times|date=July 30, 2008|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/07/marine_iwojimacitizenship_072908w/|accessdate=July 31, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210045310/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/07/marine_iwojimacitizenship_072908w/|archive-date=February 10, 2009|df=mdy}}</ref>

== Monuments and memorials ==
Strank's public recognitions include:

* Sgt. Michael Strank statue: [[Marine Corps War Memorial]], Arlington, Virginia 
* Sgt. Michael Strank - Pennsylvania Historical Marker: Franklin Borough, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7722_Sgt_Michael_Strank|title=Sgt Michael Strank - Pennsylvania Historical Markers on Waymarking.com|website=www.waymarking.com}}</ref>
* Sgt. Michael Strank Marine Corps Reserve Center (NMCRC), [[Ebensburg, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=53OrnhSqr7YC&dq=strank+navy+marine+corps+reserve+center+ebensburg+pa&pg=RA3-PA8 | title=Continental Marine | year=2001 }}</ref> This building was opened in 1987 and later decommissioned in 2019.
* Sergeant Michael Strank Memorial Bridge: crosses Little Conemaugh River on PA 271 in East Conemaugh<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bridgehunter.com/pa/cambria/110271028000000|title=Sergeant Michael Strank Memorial Bridge|website=Bridgehunter.com}}</ref>
* Michael Strank mini-sculpture ([[English language|English]] spelling name and surname): located near school #4 in [[Uzhhorod]], [[Ukraine]] (installed on February 16, 2015, the 70th anniversary of liberation of the city at the end of [[World War II]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zaholovok.com.ua/sites/default/files/IMG_9722_1.jpg|title=A mini-sculpture of Michael Strenk in Uzhhorod, Ukraine}}</ref>
*[[Stara Lubovna|Stará Ľubovňa]], [[Slovakia]]

==Portrayal in film==
Strank is prominently featured in the 2006 movie ''[[Flags of Our Fathers (film)|Flags of Our Fathers]]''. In the movie, Sgt. Strank is played by [[Canadians|Canadian]] actor [[Barry Pepper]]. The movie is based on the 2000 [[Flags of Our Fathers|book of the same title]].

In 2016, [[Radio and Television of Slovakia]] filmed a documentary about Sgt. Strank called "Chlapec, ktorý chcel byť prezidentom" ("The boy who wanted to be a president"). It was aired for the first time on May 2, 2017.

In 2019, an English version of the documentary "Chlapec, ktorý chcel byť prezidentom" had premiered in the United States under the title, "The Oath".

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}

* [[Meliton Kantaria]] – Soviet flag raiser over the [[Reichstag (building)|Reichstag]] in [[Berlin]], 1945
* [[M.A. Yegorov|Mikhail Yegorov]] – Soviet flag raiser over the [[Reichstag (building)|Reichstag]] in [[Berlin]], 1945

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{external media
| float  = right
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMfD9OZhjcg Glory to the heroes! Michael 'Mykhal' Strank], YouTube video
}}
* [http://www.iwojima.com/raising/raisingc.htm The Flag-raisers on Iwojima.com]
* [http://www.efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=2005 eFilmCritic.com interview with Barry Pepper on playing Michael Strank in "Flags of Our Fathers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927112433/http://www.efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=2005 |date=2009-09-27 }}
* [http://uzhgorod.in/en/news/2015/iyun/the_story_continues_transcarpathian_michael_strank_goes_to_washington The story continues: Transcarpathian Michael Strank goes to Washington]
* [https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgZzdHJhbmsSB21pY2hhZWw-/ Arlington National Cemetery]

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[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1945 deaths]]
[[Category:American Eastern Catholics]]
[[Category:People from Stará Ľubovňa District]]
[[Category:People from Cambria County, Pennsylvania]]
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[[Category:Czechoslovak emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American people of Rusyn descent]]
[[Category:American people of Lemko descent]]
[[Category:American people of Ukrainian descent]]
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[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel killed in World War II]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps people]]
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[[Category:Battle of Iwo Jima]]
[[Category:People notable for being the subject of a specific photograph]]
[[Category:Bethlehem Steel people]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
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[[Category:Military personnel killed by friendly fire]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War II]]