Raymond Lee Armstrong (1920 - 1997)

Born 5 Apr 1920 in Hilltop, Ok

Ancestors

Died 30 Mar 1997 at age 76 in Pampa, Tx

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Biography

Raymond Lee Armstrong was in the US Naval regiment during the invasion Iwo Jima during World War II, On the morning of 19 Feb 1945. He was at point and survived the invasion to securie the island. He was in the 5th division, ordered to capture Mount Surbachi. They reached the base of the mountain on the afternoon of February 21 and, by nightfall the next day, had almost completely surrounded it. On the morning of February 23, Marines of Company E, 2nd Battalion, including Raymond, started the tortuous climb up the rough terrain to the top. At about 10:30 am men all over the island were thrilled by the sight of a small American flag flying from atop Mount Suribachi.

That afternoon, once the slopes were clear of enemy resistance, a second larger flag was raised by five Marines and a Navy hospital corpsman. Only then were the photographers allowed to go onto the secured shore, to photograph the recreation of planting of the flag. This was when they took one of the most iconic photos of the war.

Sources

• Story told personally by Raymond Armstrong

• Detail: Year: 1940; Census Place: Carson, Texas; Roll: T627_4001; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 33-10A Title: 1940 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publisher: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Publisher Date: 2012 Publisher Location: Provo, UT, USA http://interactive.ancestry.com/2442/m-t0627-04001-00450/155669953

• Title: Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Author: Ancestry.com Publisher: Ancestry.com Operations Inc Publisher Date: 2006 Publisher Location: Provo, UT, USA http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=4876&h=3678090&ssrc=pt&tid=68007008&pid=46178979503&usePUB=true

• Title: U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2 Author: Ancestry.com Publisher: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Publisher Date: 2010 Publisher Location: Provo, UT, USA http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1732&h=137599439&ssrc=pt&tid=68007008&pid=46178979503&usePUB=true

• Title: U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 Author: National Cemetery Administration Publisher: Ancestry.com Operations Inc Publisher Date: 2006 Publisher Location: Provo, UT, USA http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8750&h=3517418&ssrc=pt&tid=68007008&pid=46178979503&usePUB=true

• Title: U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 Author: Ancestry.com Publisher: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Publisher Date: 2011 Publisher Location: Provo, UT, USA http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2441&h=9168175&ssrc=pt&tid=68007008&pid=46178979503&usePUB=true

• Title: U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 Author: Ancestry.com Publisher: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Publisher Date: 2015 Publisher Location; Provo, UT, USA http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60901&h=26014346&ssrc=pt&tid=68007008&pid=46178979503&usePUB=true

• Detail: Number: 452-18-9147; Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: Before 1951 Title: U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current Author: Ancestry.com Publisher: Ancestry.com Operations Inc Publisher Date: 2011 Publisher Location: Provo, UT, USA http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=3693&h=1686322&ssrc=pt&tid=68007008&pid=46178979503&usePUB=true

• Title: Web: Texas, Find A Grave Index, 1761-2012Author: Ancestry.comPublisher: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.Publisher Date: 2012Publisher Location: Provo, UT, USA http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=70580&h=1020094&ssrc=pt&tid=68007008&pid=46178979503&usePUB=true http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=ARM&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSsr=5561&GRid=24200916&