Ira Hayes

[jobee]

Ira Hayes participated in the battle for the island of Iwo Jima, beginning on February 19, 1945, and was among the group of Marines that took Mount Suribachi four days later, on February 23, 1945. The raising of the second American flag on the mountain by five Marines and a Navy Corpsman was immortalized by photographer Joe Rosenthal and became an icon of the war. Overnight,[ Hayes was at the back of the line of marines ]became a national hero, along with the two other survivors of the famous photograph, Rene Gagnon and John Bradley. Hayes's story drew particular attention because he was Native American.

Ira Hayes -reluctant hero

1923----- 1955.

nancy and jobe gave birth to a son
a true american from the pima kingdom
the first of eight was shy and reserved
quiet- solemn- a man of few words

his mother nancy a woman of god
presbytarian doctrines not sparing the rod
to pheonix school he eventually went
till zeros attacked and tempers were vent

this spurred young ira to quit his school
america made to look a fool
his tribe approved his will to fight
he packed his bags and took the next flight

to the marine hq. he reported next
passed his medical and initative test
fit as a fiddle and ready to go
this pima indian was ready to show

into training with zeal and zest
his wily frame passing the test
paratroop wings he had in mind
exuding courage of a special kind

his wings he got no problem at all
chief falling cloud stood proud and tall
the south pacific his next port of call
where japanese soldiers were standing tall

iwo jima was the next acid test
where men would clash to see who was best
the dying game became common call
but american troops again stood tall

on mount suribachi they raised their flag
from that moment on ira began to sag
dont make me a hero because of this
many of my buddies I’m starting to miss

but hero they made him against his will
the moment he scrambled down the hill
president truman he met for a pat on the back
but ira's mind was on iwo jimas attack

his conscience eventually beat him down
he loathed and detested the heros crown
demon drink consumed his mind
changing his character to an insipid kind

in ‘55 not far from his home
ira hayes made his last pleafull moan
they found him dead in a rainy street
this gutsy soldier had beat a retreat

but even dead the public cried
another american hero has died
amongst the great his body does lie
at arlington cemetary they said goodbye.JB