Photo: Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, by Joe Rosenthal / The Associated Press
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the famous raising of the United States flag above Mt. Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima. The battle had officially commenced on February 19, 1945, following months of extensive air and naval bombardment of the island. After five weeks of bloody struggle, U.S. Marines secured the island which would provide valuable airfields to aid in aerial bombardments of the main islands of Japan.
What was Theta Chi’s involvement at Iwo Jima? While our members may not have raised the flag, Theta Chi members were involved throughout the campaign and its aftermath. Through research using The Rattle, we are able to share the stories of the following brothers, these heroes, that all participated in this battle. While The Rattle provides our best history of Theta Chi members and events, Fraternity records are incomplete. There are many more members that likely participated in the preparation, actual invasion, and aftermath. In the future, with additional research, we hope to discover and identify their names and stories and provide due recognition.
Theta Chi members who gave their lives during the Battle of Iwo Jima include:
Lt. Thomas J. Kinney, Alpha Chi/Syracuse 1942, USMC, died on Iwo Jima. He was survived by a wife and a baby daughter who was less than a year old. He is remembered as an outstanding football player at Syracuse, where he was captain during his senior year. He was also a letterman in track.
Lt. Paul Melvin Williams, Alpha Psi/Maryland 1943, USMC, was killed in action at Iwo Jima on March 9, 1945. He was a member of the first graduating class of Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. and served as Vice President of the senior class. Williams went on active duty with the Naval Reserve from October 23, 1941 - April 18, 1942. He enlisted with the Marines on July 1, 1943 and served until May 23, 1944 when he was commissioned as an officer.
A letter from one of his comrades, Lieutenant Theo. J. Toft, to his sister in Arlington, Virginia, was passed on to Melvin's father:
"April 9, 1945
I've been with this man for quite some time and saw him shortly before he was killed. I can truthfully say he was one of the finest boys I've ever known - brilliant, conscientious, and very considerate of his men, absolutely unafraid and very brave.
What I want his father to know is that he did not suffer at all. In the first place, he was doing a very fine job. He couldn't have been doing any better. The Colonel said he was doing a splendid piece of work. He was on the front line, leading a platoon, observing and directing heavy weapon fire all at the same time. A sniper bullet hit him in the head and killed him instantly. A man beside him told me that he slumped down and didn't move a finger - instantaneous death! And, believe me, that was easy compared to some. That's exactly the way I'd want it if one nicked me.
I would like to say that I didn't fight any harder or better than the rest of them, but was just a little more fortunate. Anyway, I'm not a hero. Paul Williams is a true hero. I feel his loss greatly."
Lt. (jg) William Walter Fearn, Beta Gamma/North Dakota 1941, USN, went missing from the USS Pensacola off the coast of Iwo Jima after being hit by enemy shore batteries on the morning of February 17. The Pensacola took six hits from enemy shore batteries as her guns covered operations of onshore minesweepers. He was declared KIA one year later on February 23, 1946. Fearn and two other officers along with 14 other men were killed from the bombardment; another five officers and 114 men were injured.
Other Theta Chi members currently known to have participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima and events that followed include:
Maj. Charles D. Gray, Alpha/Norwich 1930, USMC, was awarded a Gold Star in June 1945, in lieu of a second
Bronze Star, for "meritorious achievement on Iwo Jima." He had received the Bronze Star for his outstanding service at Saipan and Tinian in December, 1944. He had entered the service in June 1942 and received special training in photographic interpretations. He was in combat action in the Marshalls and Marianas. Following participation in the Iwo Jima campaign, Major Gray was detached from the 4th Division to do special intelligence work.
Lt. Cmdr. Leonard C. Bastian, Delta/RPI 1937, USN, served in the Civil Engineering Corps of the Navy. During the early days of the war, Lt. Cmdr. Bastian engaged in the organization and outfitting of the Navy's famous "Seabees." He later served on the staff of Admiral Nimitz and supervised engineering installations and construction activities at Pelelieu, Guam, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.
Lt. Paul F. Hines, Eta/Rhode Island 1942, USMC, served during the battle at Iwo Jima. The Rattle had a blurb printed by his mother stating that he had requested that she send him his copy of The Rattle. She also noted that the adjutant of his battalion was also a Theta Chi.
Lt. George W. Martin, Eta/Rhode Island 1943, USMC, received a Bronze Star for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. His citation from Maj. Gen. C.B. Kates read in part: "Numerous casualties to gunfire parties of battalion landing teams necessitated Lt. Martin's prompt reorganization of these teams. This he did in such a manner that naval gunfire was able to fire upon positions and guns of the enemy which had been retarding our advance. Though at times under heavy enemy fire, he co-ordinated and planned supporting and preparatory fires in a most efficient manner."
Lt. Oscar J. Morel, Eta/Rhode Island 1943, USMC, was wounded at Iwo Jima. He had previously received a Silver Star for gallantry in action in Saipan, a Bronze Star and a Presidential Citation.
Lt. Col. John E. Linch, Kappa/Pennsylvanian 1935, USMC, was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in action at Iwo Jima. The award was made to the officer "somewhere in the Pacific." The citation accompanying the award stated Colonel Linch demonstrated "exceptional qualities of leadership and professional knowledge that aided materially in the efficient functioning of his section." Col. Linch, in the Marine Corps Reserve since 1930, went on active duty as a 1st Lt. before the war. He was a member of the staff of the commanding general, 5th Amphibious Corps. The Rattle also noted that his wife was a major in the WAC.
Lt. Cmdr. Robert B. Patterson, Omega/Penn State 1930, USN, served on the USS Missouri during the first carrier attacks on Tokyo, the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns, and the final bombardment of the Japanese mainland. The Rattle noted that he was very disappointed in missing the formal Japanese surrender ceremonies - he had served on the Missouri as the assistant engineer officer until two weeks before the Japanese surrender, at which time he was detached and sent to the USS St. Louis to be the engineer officer.
Lt. H. Robert Bird, Alpha Zeta/Rochester 1943, USMC, went ashore on Iwo Jima on February 20. Remarkably, The Rattle reports that "one of his men was David Chenoweth, who helped to take Mt. Suribachi, and was slightly wounded by shrapnel." While not a Theta Chi, it is interesting to note that last November, news services were reporting that Chenoweth finally received his Purple Heart, nearly 70 years later.
Lt. Theodore D. Harmon, Jr., Alpha Sigma/Oregon 1942, USMC, served during the battle. Prior to the war, Harmon had been a frequent contributor to The Rattle providing updates on Alpha Sigma Chapter and its members. In 1941, he had served as acting managing editor for the University of Oregon's yearbook, The Oregana.
Major Douglas W. Polivka, Alpha Sigma/Oregon 1935, USMC, served with the headquarters of the 5th Amphibious Corps and participated in the Iwo Jima invasion. The 5th Amphibious Corps was cited by Admiral Nimitz for its heroic work. The Rattle also noted that Maj. Polivka had formerly served The Fraternity as a Deputy Regional Counselor.
Lt. David Paul Bailey, Jr., Alpha Omicron/Washington State 1940, USN, served on the same battleship for the duration of the war. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his time on the USS Tennessee. His citation, in part, read: "For meritorious service in connections with operations against the enemy during 32 months of sea duty in a battleship, including the naval victory of Suriago Strait. By his initiative, perseverance, outstanding ability, and the foresight with which he anticipated developments, he distinguished himself among the officers and men of his ship as secondary battery plotting room officer and assistant fire control officer. His knowledge and leadership enabled the Tennessee to carry out secondary battery bombardment, night illumination, and harassing missions at Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa in an excellent manner. He distinguished himself among those performing duties of a similar nature." In his 32 months service aboard the Tennessee, Bailey participated in 14 major operations.
We salute these brothers, these heroes, and all the men and women involved with the Battle of Iwo Jima, for what they did in service to their God, Country, and Fellow-man. We hope future research will uncover more stories of bravery and heroism at Iwo Jima – of those brothers that demonstrated leadership and extended An Assisting Hand.