18 Facts About Harlon Block

Harlon Henry Block was a United States Marine Corps corporal who was killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.

Harlon Block subsequently became a Paramarine and participated in combat on Bougainville.

Harlon Block was not recognized as one of the second flag-raisers until the Marine Corps announced in January 1947 that he was in the photograph and Sergeant Henry Hansen was not.

Harlon Block is one of three Marines in the photograph who were not originally identified as flag raisers.

Harlon Block was born in Yorktown, Texas, the third of six children to Edward Frederick Harlon Block and Ada Belle Brantley, a Seventh day-Adventist family.

Edward Frederick Harlon Block was a World War I veteran and supported his family by working as a dairy farmer.

In hopes of improving the family, the Harlon Block family relocated to Weslaco, Texas, a city located in the Rio Grande Valley.

Harlon Block's father became a dairy farmer, and the children attended a Seventh-day Adventist private school.

Harlon Block was expelled in his freshman year when he refused to tell the principal which student had vandalized the school.

Harlon Block then transferred to Weslaco High School and was remembered as an outgoing student with many friends.

Harlon Block was assigned to Second Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California.

Harlon Block is the 18th man in Rosenthal's well-known "Gung Ho" photo.

Harlon Block assumed command of Strank's squad in E Company's Second Platoon and, later the same day, Cpl.

Harlon Block was mortally wounded by an enemy mortar round explosion while leading the squad during an attack toward Nishi Ridge.

Harlon Block was originally buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima on March 5,1945.

Harlon Block was questioned the same day by a Marine public information officer about all the identities of the flag raisers in the photograph.

Harlon Block is featured in the 2006 Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood film Flags of Our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood and produced by Eastwood, Spielberg, and Robert Lorenz.

Harlon Block's parents are portrayed by Christopher Curry and Judith Ivey.