A really neat and touching experience tonight.

David Graves · Post by **David Graves** » 27 Apr 2013 10:09 pm

I played a show tonight at the Corydon Jamboree in Indiana. I always like to acknowledge and Thank all the Veterans in the audience... past and present. Well, I came across the Johnny Cash song "That old ragged flag" and thought this would be a good song to dedicate to the veterans. The crowd loved it, but when we went on break I walked out into the audience to do my usual "Howdy and Shake" with the folks and this older gentleman with a tear in his eye Thanked me and shook my hand. He said "I remember that old flag very well." He was one of the Marines raising it up at Iwo Jima!! Talk about 'goosebumps". I felt so honored to shake his hand.

Todd Goad · Post by **Todd Goad** » 27 Apr 2013 11:28 pm

That's Awesome David...That's what life is all about!! This gave me "goosebumps" just reading it. Man wouldn't you like to have had the time to sit down and talk a while with this gentleman...You just never know who's life you might touch or may touch yours. Congrats on a great night.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 28 Apr 2013 7:57 am

I think the last of the flag raisers on Iwo Jima (John Bradley) died in '94???

http://www.iwojima.com/raising/raisingc.htm

David Graves · Post by **David Graves** » 28 Apr 2013 8:18 am

I did just read that the gentleman who provided that flag was named Alan Wood. He just passed away a few days ago on April 18th.

David Graves · Post by **David Graves** » 28 Apr 2013 8:26 am

Sonny, your right. From what I can find the original group in the picture are all gone now. Maybe this gentleman was part of the same group or squad there but not of the original 6 in the picture. It was a little hard to understand him as his voice has gone with age and health. Still, it was great to meet him and to hear a quick story of that day. I can't imagine what they went through.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 28 Apr 2013 9:25 am

We used to have a girl come and sit in and do "Ragged Old Flag" at Tar Heel Opry House in Jacksonville,N. C.(Camp LeJeune Marine Base). She would do it with only our drummer playing a military snare pattern. It was very moving.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 28 Apr 2013 9:45 am

Was at the barber's last week. Old guy got outa the chair and put on his weathered old cap. "D-Day Vet." So I talked to him for awhile. Paratrooper. He said they were supposed to be dropped in a plowed field, but actually were dropped into a swamp. He said, "It was FUBAR!"

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 28 Apr 2013 9:55 am

There were 2 flags raised on IwoJima. The most famous picture is of the 2nd flag raising. The first flag was smaller and the Marine commander wanted a bigger one up there so everyone could see it. That fellow might have helped raise the 1st flag.

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 28 Apr 2013 10:37 am

That is one lifelong memory made right there!!!>..

David Graves · Post by **David Graves** » 28 Apr 2013 11:03 am

Yeah Mickey, it is something I'll remember forever. I dont' care who you are.. if you can sing that song to a crowd without choking back tears... then you don't need to be singing it. I barely got through it. To top it off, I'd had a bad week with some health issues so I wasn't in the best of moods to start with and I was thinking " Can I even get through this song? Then I got the crowds extremely loud cheer and got to meet the gentleman and it all came together. Perfect!!

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 28 Apr 2013 4:48 pm

Ira Hayes was one of the Marines that raised the flag on Iwo Jima
i'm sure some know the song about him
Mike is correct, 2 flags were raised
The famous picture taken by Rosenthal actually captured the second flag-raising event of the day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_th ... n_Iwo_Jima

Good thread & actions David...

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 29 Apr 2013 7:00 am

I certainly didn't intend to be "contradictory",,,or take anything away from what I appreciate as a VERY touching moment,,,,I just remembered hearing some years back that the last flag raiser had passed away. I was in Home Depot a while back and a little, frail bent over gentleman with an "Iwo Jima survivor" cap on was there with his son. I asked if he was an Iwo survivor,,and asked if I could shake his hand,,,as he looked up I could see tears in his eyes (which almost brought them to mine!!!),,,his son hugged me and thanked me for recognizing his dad. Those moments CAN definitely be touching,,,,to say the least.

BTW,,,is anyone here old enough to remember,,,,"when the yanks raised the stars and stripes on Iwo Jima Isle,,,there were tears,,in their eyes though,,??????",,,(don't remember the rest,,??) Attitudes sure are different now than they were back then,,,people now don't know what a concentrated effort and contribution EVERY American, man, woman and child, Democrat/Republican, Black/White,,made to the war effort back then. I'm afraid that if that war had been fought with
"2013 Americans" we might all be speaking german,,,,or japanese,,,,,

Hey,,,just found this,,,,good ole youtube,,,LOL,,,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeG5Qq-sLg0

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 29 Apr 2013 7:21 am

FYI, there is a story in USA today about the death of one of his fellow soldiers that was there as well..Its seems a Marine asked him to "Find me the BIGGEST American Flag you can"....It was this flag that was the second flag raised on IWO....He was 90 years old when he passed...LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alan Wood, a World War II veteran credited with providing the flag in the famous flag-raising on Iwo Jima, has died. He was 90.

Wood died April 18 of natural causes at his Sierra Madre home, his son Steven Wood said Saturday.

Wood was a 22-year-old Navy officer in charge of communications on a landing ship on Iwo Jima's shores Feb. 23, 1945 when a Marine asked him for the biggest flag that he could find.

After five days of fighting to capture the Japanese-held island, U.S. forces had managed to scale Mount Suribachi to hoist an American flag.

Wood happened to have a 37-square-foot flag he had found months before in a Pearl Harbor Navy depot. .

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 29 Apr 2013 7:48 am

STARS & STRIPES ON IWO JIMA ISLE
Recorded by: Bob Wills
Also recorded by: The Sons Of The Pioneers

When The Yanks Raised The Stars & Stripes
On Iwo Jima Isle
Through the Blood and Tears they Won Through
Bless the Heart of each Yankee There
On Iwo Jima Isle
Resting 'neath a Blanket of Blue

High on the Hill Of Suri- Batchi
Flies Old Glory and She always Will
When The Yanks Raised The Stars & Stripes
On Iwo Jima Isle
There were Tears in their Hearts
Though they Smiled

When The Yanks Raised The Stars & Stripes
On Iwo Jima Isle
Ev'ry Heart could sing once Again
And the Sight of Old GLory
Over Iwo Jima Isle
Swelled the Hearts of our Fighting Men

2nd BRIDGE:
Long will it Wave o'er the Hilltops
As a Symbol of Heroes who Died
When The Yanks Raised The Stars & Stripes
On Iwo Jima Isle
There were Tears in their Hearts
Though they Smiled.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo0avSQ6pi4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5B8AUpqhzs

David Graves · Post by **David Graves** » 29 Apr 2013 10:11 am

Just the few short minutes that we shared were amazing to me. One thing that he said really made me think about how humble those men are and how bad the conditions were. He said, the one thing they all wanted the most was a good bath.. because the mud in that region just "burned" on your skin. They are all such Heros! I am in awe of them. God Bless them each and every one.

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 29 Apr 2013 5:06 pm

So many heroes that didn't make history as well. Don't want to drift from your topic, but I suspect that there were so many who did so much, but maybe they are lesser known?
Thank you all for your service. My dad was loaded in a "death train" by the Germans, liberated by the US Army. 60 plus years later, I met the soldiers who liberated those prisoners. Real Heroes.
Our country has no shortage of heroes, we owe them so much.

David Graves · Post by **David Graves** » 1 May 2013 6:35 am

You are so right Steve!! I'm a pilot and I attend a lot of airshows, Fly In's and aviation related events. I have met some of the most interesting people all of whom were Veterans. And, every single one of them are just so humble and the definition of a True Gentlman / Lady. "These people are my Heros"!
I can't tell you how many times I've came away from an airshow with tears in my eyes and a future luncheon date with a new friend. I love to hear their stories.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 1 May 2013 8:14 am

When I look over the white crosses at Arlington I get both very choked up and very thankful.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 1 May 2013 4:05 pm

Ray, i've felt exactly the same in the many cemeteries in Normandy

Craig Schwartz · Post by **Craig Schwartz** » 4 May 2013 4:53 pm

Wow, David I just heard that Cash song for the first time ever and it really choked me up, I`m really Proud of guys like you that have the guts to sing these great meaningful songs that come from the heart, I`m gonna suggest this song for my band, We can all help our country a little by playing these great songs from a live stage, They give people a good reason to fight for our country , And to keep One Nation Under GOD ever so valuable.

David Graves · Post by **David Graves** » 5 May 2013 1:42 pm

You are 100% correct Craig. All of the veterans past, present and future, have given us this luxury of freedom that we have today and I think it is a shame to "push them to the back burner". I hope your band does do this song. We need many many more supporters on issues like these. The crowds will love the song but I'll give you one warning..no matter how many times and places you sing this song.. it's gonna choke you up regardless. It's the toughest song I've ever sang because of holding back tears and emotions!! Good Luck and Thank you.

David Graves · Post by **David Graves** » 5 May 2013 1:48 pm

I thought I'd post the link to the song in case anyone hasn't heard it or can't find it. Thank you all for your replies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whmVGRSgAe8

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 5 May 2013 2:28 pm

I tried to get my brother to tell me stories of when he was in Korea but he just said it was to gruesome & it brought back to many bad memories for him.He was 93 when he died still carried shrapnel from a Korean grenade in his spine.Had to other brothers that served in that same war.So I can appreciate the fella you met & talked to Dave.I get tears welling up when I read stuff like this.
Thanks to all the veterans past & present we owe you a lot.

The Steel Guitar Forum

A really neat and touching experience tonight.

A really neat and touching experience tonight.

Thanks to all who has, are and will serve!!

Heroes