This story was written what seems a million years ago.
It only matters to honor that six young men raised the second flag on Iwo Jima. It was simply the U.S. Marine Corps.
Through the fog of war though, as Mustang of Fix Bayonets told me several times, facts are lost, clouded by pressure of the times, sentiment and politics. As examples, Pfc. Rene Gagnon and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John Bradley were misidentified as being in the iconic Joe Rosenthal photo. Only Pfc. Ira Hayes was correctly identified.
Factually, Pfc. Harold Schultz – who quietly passed away in Los Angeles in 1995 – was one of the six flag raisers. He kept silent. If my failing memory serves me correctly, Mustang has a signed photograph from Pfc. Harold Schultz.
I believe he was the last living person who was atop Mt. Suribachi in 1945. So sad…
But USMC Sgt. William Homer Genaust filmed the iconic second flag raising atop Mt. Suribachi in 1945 alongside Joe Rosenthal. He never got to see his work. He is still there, unrecovered after being KIA in a cave.
Honor their memories.
Masako and Spam Musubi 
An apt reminder in these days, Koji.
Amen, G.P.
My photograph of Iwo Jima is signed by (then) Corporal Charles Lindberg, Koji-san. Lindberg passed away in 2007.
I recently read this article…
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/sake-master-atsuo-sakurai-arizona-united-states-180978576/
Not only was it interesting, but I learned that the steamed rice that turns starch into sugar is called ‘koji’.
I hope your health is improving, my friend. Please keep me in touch.
Happy to see you coming around wordpress once again, Koji. Has there been any improvement with your eyes?
I was wondering if you heard that the Montevideo Maru has been found?
Stay well, my friend.