| Ernest Ivy Thomas, Jr. | |
|---|---|
Thomas (sitting in front) with 1st Lt. Harold Schrier on Suribachi |
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| Nickname | Boots |
| Born | March 10, 1924 Tampa, Florida |
| Died | March 3, 1945 (aged 20) Iwo Jima |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942-1945 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines |
| Battles/wars | World War II *Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards | Navy Cross Purple Heart |
Platoon Sergeant Ernest Ivy "Boots" Thomas, Jr. (March 10, 1924–March 3, 1945) was one of the six United States Marines who raised the first American flag[1] on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his fearless leadership during an assault on Mount Suribachi three days earlier. Thomas was killed in action eight days after the first flag raising.
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Ernest Thomas was born in Tampa, Florida, and moved with his family to Monticello, Florida as a child.[2] He was attending Tri-State University, studying aeronautical engineering, when in early 1942 he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps.[3] Being color blind, in order to pass the medical test allowing him to enlist, he memorized the patterns provided by a man sitting next to him in the testing station.[4]
On February 19, 1945, Thomas was a platoon sergeant with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, and was part of the first wave of Marines who landed on Iwo Jima. On February 21, 1945, when the 28th Marines were attacking the base of Mount Suribachi, Thomas called for fire support and exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire, called for tank support to try to knock out a heavily fortified bunker at the base of Suribachi.[5] He was awarded a Navy Cross for his "initiative [and] fearless leadership" in the attack.[5] In the absence of his wounded platoon commander, Thomas led the combat patrol up the back side of Suribachi. When they got to the top, it was Thomas who managed to find a piece of Japanese water pipe that became the flag pole.[6]
He was later killed in action ten days after his Navy Cross action and eight days after the flag raising. He was buried at Roseland Cemetery in Jefferson County, Florida.[7]
For his actions on Iwo Jima on February 21, 1945, Thomas was awarded the Navy Cross. His citation reads:[5]
| “ | The Navy Cross is presented to Ernest I. Thomas, Jr., Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as a Rifle Platoon Leader serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marines, Fifth Marine Division, during action on enemy Japanese-held Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 21 February 1945. When his platoon leader was wounded, Platoon Sergeant Thomas assumed command and, before supporting tanks arrived to cover him, led his men in an assault on a fanatically defended and heavily fortified sector at the base of Mount Suribachi. With the tanks unable to proceed over the rough terrain beyond positions seventy-five to one hundred yards at the rear of our attacking forces, Platoon Sergeant Thomas ran repeatedly to the nearest tank and, in a position exposed to heavy and accurate machine-gun and mortar barrages, directed the fire of the tanks against the Japanese pillboxes which were retarding his platoon's advance. After each trip to the tanks, he returned to his men and led them in assaulting and neutralizing enemy emplacements, continuing to advance against the Japanese with a knife as his only weapon after the destruction of his rifle by hostile fire. Under his aggressive leadership, the platoon killed all the enemy in the sector and contributed materially to the eventual capture of Mount Suribachi. His daring initiative, fearless leadership and unwavering devotion to duty were inspiring to those with whom he served and reflect the highest credit upon Platoon Sergeant Thomas and the United States Naval Service. | ” |
A monument on U.S. Highway 90, Monticello, Florida honors Plt Sgt Thomas. It is inscribed with the following words:[2]
| “ | In recognition of Platoon Sergeant Ernest I. Thomas USMCR who on February 23, 1945, led his platoon to raise the first flag on Iwo Jima, the first Japanese territory taken in World War II. On March 3, eight days after the first flag raising and ten days after he earned the Navy Cross for heroism in action, he was killed leading his men in combat. March 10, 1924 - March 3, 1945. |
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In the 2006 film Flags of Our Fathers, Thomas was played by American actor Brian Kimmet.