Harold G. Schrier

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Harold G. Schrier
Born (1916-10-17)October 17, 1916
Corder, Missouri
Died June 3, 1971(1971-06-03) (aged 54)
Bradenton, Florida
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1936-Unknown
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars

World War II

Korean War

Awards Navy Cross
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart Medal
Combat Action Ribbon (2)

Harold George Schrier (October 17, 1916 – June 3, 1971) was a United States Marine Corps career officer. He served during World War II and the Korean War, and was a recipient of the Navy Cross, the nation's second highest military award for valor. He is best known for being the Marine officer who led a 40-man patrol to the top of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima to capture the summit and raise the United States flag on February 23, 1945.

Early years

Harold Schrier was born in Corder, Missouri. He attended high school in Lexington, Missouri.

U.S. Marine Corps

Schrier enlisted in the Marine Corps on November 12, 1936. After recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, he was sent to China as a US Embassy guard in Beijing. He also served in Tientsin and Shanghai. In August 1940, he became a drill instructor at the recruit depot in San Diego.

World War II

Schrier served on Midway Island at the beginning of World War II. He saw action as a rifle company platoon sergeant with the 5th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Guadalcanal from August 1942 to February 1943. On February 28, he received a field commission as a second lieutenant and joined a Marine Raider unit. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his reconnaissance patrolling on Vangunu island in the New Georgia Campaign. He later saw action on Bougainville.

Lowery's most widely circulated picture of the first flag on Mount Suribachi: Left to right: Pfc. Raymond Jacobs (radio), Sgt. Henry Hansen (cap), Platoon Sgt. Ernest Ivy Thomas, Jr. (sitting), unidentified Marine with right hand holding pole, PhM2c John Bradley (right hand holding pole), Pfc. James Michels (holding carbine), and Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg (standing). Left to right (not visible or clearly show according to Jacobs):[1] Pfc James Robeson (lower left corner; not visible in this cropped version of the photo) and Lt. Harold Schrier (sitting behind Jacob's legs).
In February 1944, he returned to the United States to become an infantry instructor at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. He was assigned next to be the executive officer of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. In September, the 5th division was sent to Hawaii for further training. In January 1945, the 5th division left for the assault and capture of Iwo Jima.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Company E and Schrier landed on the beach near Mount Suribachi on February 19, 1945. On February 23, 1945, Schrier volunteered to lead a 40-man combat patrol up to the top of 556-foot Mount Suribachi, and raise an American flag at the summit to signal that the mountaintop was captured. About 10:20 to 10:37 a.m., a flag measuring 54-by28 inches (137-by-71 cm) taken from the attack transport USS Missoula by the battalion adjutant[2] was raised with the flagstaff firmly planted on top of Mount Suribachi. The American flag and flagstaff raising and planting was photographed by Marine Staff Sergeant Louis R. Lowery, a photographer with Leatherneck magazine who accompanied the patrol .[3][4][5] Other members of Company E present at the flag raising included, Marine Platoon Sgt. Ernest I. Thomas, Jr., Sgt. Henry O. "Hank" Hansen, Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg, Pfc. James Michels, Pfc. Raymond Jacobs (Company F), Pfc. Louis Charlo, and Navy PhM2c John Bradley.[6]

The American flag raised on Mount Suribachi was considered too small to be seen easily from the nearby landing beaches and ships. It was replaced shortly before 1 p.m. on the same day, by a larger American flag with a heavier and longer flagstaff, the raising of which became famous due to a photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal. Schrier, who took the patrol up Mount Suribachi and was in charge of both of the flag raisings, was awarded the Navy Cross.

Schrier became the commander of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines after the flag raisings. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal[7] for leading a successful counterattack against a large number of fanatical Japanese soldiers who attacked the rear position of his lightly manned command post on March 24, 1945.

Post World War II

Schrier served in San Diego from July to October, 1945, then in Seal Beach, California, Samar, Philippines, and in Yokosuka, Japan. In 1949, he returned to the United States and was assigned as a technical advisor (appeared as himself) in the motion picture movie that year, Sands of Iwo Jima, starring John Wayne.

Korean War

The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, and Schrier was sent to Korea with the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in July 1950. He received the Bronze Star Medal[7] for his actions in August and September 1950, as Adjutant during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. While serving as the company commander of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, he was wounded in the neck by enemy small arms fire during an all-night hill fight at Hill 1520 in North Korea, on December 1, 1950. He was evacuated to Japan.

Post Korean War

Schrier was Marine Corps Recruiting officer in Birmingham, Alabama and a Provost Marshall at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. He retired from the Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel.

Death

He died at Bradenton, Florida and is buried in Mansion Memorial park in Ellenton, Florida.

Military decorations and awards

Lt. Col. Schrier's military service ribbons.

Harold Schrier received the following military awards:

Navy Cross

Schrier's Navy Cross citation reads: [8]

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to
FIRST LIEUTENANT HAROLD G. SCHRIER
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For extraordinary heroism as Executive Officer of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 23 February 1945. On the morning of 23 February when his combat team had advanced to the base of Mount Suribachi after four days of severe fighting, First Lieutenant SCHRIER volunteered to lead a forty-man patrol up the steep slopes of the mountain. Quickly organizing his patrol and placing himself at its head, he began the tortuous climb up the side of the volcano, followed by his patrol in single file. Employing the only known approach, an old Japanese trail, he swiftly pushed on until, covered by all the supporting weapons of his battalion, he gained the top of the mountain despite hostile small arms and artillery fire. Forced to engage the remaining enemy in a sharp fire fight, he overcame them without loss in his patrol and occupied the rim of the volcano. Although still under enemy sniper fire, First Lieutenant SCHRIER, assisted by his Platoon Sergeant, raised the National Colors over Mount Suribachi, planting the flagstaff firmly on the highest knoll overlooking the crater, the first American flag to fly over any land in the inner defenses of the Japanese Empire. His inspiring leadership, courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
JOHN L. SULLIVAN
Secretary of the Navy

Portrayal in films

Capt. Harold G. Schrier, USMC as Lieutenant Harold Schrier, USMC.

Lieutenant Schrier, USMC, was played by actor Jason Gray-Stanford.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "America's Greatest Generation: Marine Heroes: Raymond Jacobs". World War II Stories — In Their Own Words. October 3, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-19. 
  2. ↑ "The Man Who Carried the Flag on Iwo Jima", by G. Greeley Wells, New York Times, October 17, 1991, p. A-26
  3. ↑ Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima, by Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Retired), 1994, from the National Park Service.
  4. ↑ Picture of the first flag raising
  5. ↑ Image of the first flag being lowered as the second flag is raised, Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 112718.
  6. ↑ Bradley, James. Flags of Our Fathers, p. 205
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 SECNAVINST 1650.1H, P. 1-22, 2006
  8. ↑ "Navy Cross Awards to members of the U.S. Marines in World War II". HomeofHeroes.com. Archived from the original on 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2007-01-18. 

References

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