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We are asking for information about all World War II veterans who may have been at the flag-raising on Iwo Jima.

We do know that Charles Kirkpatrick, Sr., of Tyrone, was there that momentous day.

Jim Heaton, who lives on Cameron Avenue shares his story with us. He was on the Navy Ship, the AKA61, the USS Muliphan, which took ammo, tanks, and other supplies to the invasion forces at Iwo Gima and Okinawa. He joined the ship in New York City, and sailed south, through the Panama Canal, to Hawaii, then to Saipan, Guam, the Johnson Islands, and was off the shore of Iwo Jima. One day, as he was off duty, and as the shop was anchored, waiting for instructions, he decided to go up to what is called "The Flying Bridge", which is the highest part of the ship's superstructure, and took a pair of observation glasses. He was looking at all of the island, and settled on the highest point, which is Mt. Surabachi, and he immediately noticed that something seemed to he happening.

It was an amazing and astounding coincidence that, at that very second, the group of GI's were atop the mountain, and in the act of putting up the American Flag, the scene that has been memorialized in so many ways since then. For a Tyrone man, who just happened to be looking at the right direction at the exact moment, it was a marvelous thing. Keep in mind there was no hostile fire on the ship at that time, so he was not taking a risk. We proudly salute Jim Heaton, who has a wonderful memory from a time so many years ago. We ask if anyone else knows of a family member who had the seme privilege, please call the radio station. 814 684 3200

My father in law Alton Eugene Grazier (now passed on to Glory) told of seeing the flag raising at Iwo Jima. He was aboard the Destroyer USS Terry. Earlier, he had been on the Aircraft Carrier Saratoga at the Marianas Turkey Shoot. He had been at an observation post and was just relieved to take a shower and rest. The carrier took a hit right where he had been standing a few minutes before. aircraft carrier Saratoga. He spoke of an harrowing incident where he was being sent ashore as a Pharmacist Mate in a Landing Craft which was hit by enemy fire and only he survived by the grace of God. He lived in Tyrone after the war and later moved near Martinsburg PA where he taught school at Spring Cove Central High School. He passed away in 2004. He lost a brother Harold Grazier when the troop ship Leopoldville was torpedoed on Christmas Eve 1944 while trying to supply fresh troops to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. Another brother George still living in Tyrone served in the Korean Action, but was never sent to Korea. There are two sisters living in Tyrone also, who may remember other stories from the war.

Jim and Alicia Grazier Canner

WELCOME HOME, MEMBERS OF STRYKER BRIGADE

Lt. Col Sam Hayes III, Hon. Sam Hayes, Jr., and Missy Kissel,

who organized the giant celebration

Sheridan Troop Members Bama Miller, Pete Spinelli, Alex Catich, and Jim Morrissey

Thanks to Virgie Werner for these photos from the "Welcome Home" Parade