Sherman Bruce Watson

WATSON, BUTTERMORE, BYAK, SCARFF

Posted By: Linda Watson Byak (email)
Date: 7/2/2007 at 15:04:25

The First Flag-Raising On Iwo Jima

"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue!" (Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, 16 March 1945)

Early on the 23rd of February 1945 a small patrol from Company F, 2d Battalion, started to reconnoiter suitable routes to scale the slopes of Mount Suribachi. The patrol leader, Sergeant Sherman Watson, reported as he went along that the Japanese were holed up. Lieutenant Colonel Chandler W. Johnson, the Battalion commander, decided to send a 40-man combat patrol (remnants of the 3rd Platoon of Company E, and a handful of men from battalion headquarters) under command of First Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier, the Company E executive officer, to seize and occupy the crest. Sergeant Louis R. Lowery, a photographer from Leatherneck magazine, attached himself to the patrol to record in detail the attempt against Suribachi.
After Lieutenant Colonel Johnson had outlined the mission, he handed Lieutenant Schrier a flag to be raised if the patrol gained its objective. This small (54 by 28 inches) flag had been brought ashore from the attack transport Missoula by First Lieutenant George G. Wells, the battalion adjutant.

The patrol reached the rim of the crater at about 1015. As the Marines scrambled over the lip, a small defending force challenged the patrol and a short, hot fight developed. Even while this skirmish was in progress, some of the men located a length of Japanese iron pipe, secured the small American flag to one end and First Lieutenant Harold Schrier, platoon commander, Sergeant Ernest I. Thomas, platoon sergeant, Corporal Charles W. Lindberg, and Private First Class James R. Michels raised the Star and Stripes at 1020*. It was an inspiring sight for thousands of Americans on Iwo Jima as the flag waved bravely from the summit.

Corporal Charles W. Lindberg, the sole member of this first flag raising still alive in 1994, later remembered the event like this: "We found a water pipe, tied the flag to it and put it up. Then all hell broke loose below. Troops cheered, ships blew horns and whistles and some men openly wept. It was a sight to behold...something a man doesn't forget**."

In addition to Corporal Lindberg, those who took part in this flag raising were First Lieutenant Schrier, Platoon Sergeant Ernest I. Thomas Jr., Sergeant Henry O. Hansen, Private First Class Louis C. Charlo and Private First Class James Michels. The event was photographed by Sergeant Lowery.

* 28th Marines War Diary, in 5th Marine Division War Diary. Feb 45

(Unit Historical Report File, Marine Corps Historical Archives).
** Quoted in Danny J. Crawford's, "The Flag Raising of Mount Suribachi," Marines, Vol 17, No. 2, Feb 1988, p.28

Lockridge Man Seeks Sheriff Nomination. Sherman Watson, Lockridge, veteran of World War II announced today he will seek nomination for county sheriff on the Republican ticket during the June primaries. He will oppose Thomas Howell, incumbent, who will be seeking re-election.

Mr. Watson was born and reared in Round Prairie township near Glasgow, and is a life-long resident of Jefferson county. He attended grade school at Glasgow and graduated fro the Fairfield high school.

He joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and served for three and a half years. He participated in three major campaigns in the Pacific war theater, and led the first patrol up Mt.Surabachi on the Iwo Jima to plant the firs American flag. He was wounded during the Iwo engagement and was awarded the purple heart.

He was with the marine paratroopers during he invasion of Guadalcanal and Bougainvillea and served wit the 5th Marine Division during the Iwo campaign.

Since his separation from the service he was engaged in business at Lockridge with the late W.C. Rauscher selling farm implements. Mr. Rauscher passed away recently and his estate is now being settled.

Sherman was a courageous man that served his country during World War II. After leaving the Marine Corps he returned to Iowa where he had a number of different jobs before becoming an iron worker. This would lead to a successful career in construction. He worked as a project superintendent on many important projects including the Garrison Dam (ND), Dias Island Tunnel(Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), Monticello Dam (Winters, California), St. Lawrence Seaway(Ogdensburg, NY), the Niagara Power Project (Buffalo,NY), the Grand Island Bridge (Buffalo, NY), the Platt-Winner Bridge(Platte SD), and the Peace River Dam (Hudson Hope, British Columbia). After leaving Peter-Kewit Sons Engineering, he and Bettie moved to Houston, Texas where he served as Vice-President of Mesaba Service and Supply Co., importing and exporting heavy machinery around the world.

Sherman and Bettie retired to Lakeland, Florida. After retiring Sherman enjoyed working in his yard, reading, especially poetry,