Colonel Dave E. Severance
This week, Gene Pell speaks to retired Marine Corps Colonel Dave E. Severance. After seeing combat as a platoon leader in the South Pacific during World War II, he was promoted to company commander of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines. On February 23, 1945, men of E Company scaled Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima, taking the mountain and raising the American flags. The second flag raising was immortalized by Joe Rosenthal in the most famous photograph of World War II. Col. Severance went on to serve as a Marine Aviator in Korea, earning the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross.