Ernest Ivy Thomas, Jr.

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. 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 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.Ernest Thomas was born in Tampa, Florida, and moved with his family to Monticello, Florida as a child. He was attending Tri-State University, studying aeronautical engineering, when in early 1942 he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps. 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