Ira Hayes was a Native American and a United States Marine who fought in World War II. He was one of the six flag raisers who were captured in the famous photograph of Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal. The image became a symbol of American victory and patriotism, but for Hayes, it also brought unwanted fame and attention. He struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism after the war, and died of exposure and alcohol poisoning at the age of 32. This article will explore the life and death of Ira Hayes, and how his legacy has been commemorated in art and culture.
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Early Life and Military Service
Ira Hayes was born on January 12, 1923, in Sacaton, Arizona, to Nancy and Jobe Hayes. He was an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, a tribe of the Akimel O’odham (Pima) people. He grew up in a poor and rural environment, where he learned to farm and hunt. He was a quiet and shy child, but also a voracious reader and a good student. He attended a boarding school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he faced discrimination and assimilation pressures. He graduated from high school in 1941, and worked as a carpenter before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1942, following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Hayes volunteered to become a Paramarine, an elite unit of paratroopers. He was the first Pima to receive his paratrooper wings, and earned the nickname “Chief Falling Cloud”. He was deployed to the Pacific theater, where he fought in several battles, including Vella Lavella, Bougainville, and Iwo Jima. He was wounded twice, and received several medals and commendations for his bravery and service.
The Flag Raising on Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the bloodiest and most strategic campaigns of the Pacific War. The island, located close to the Japanese mainland, was heavily fortified and defended by the Japanese forces. The Americans wanted to capture it as a base for air raids and emergency landings. The battle lasted from February 19 to March 26, 1945, and resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties and nearly 22,000 Japanese deaths.
On February 23, 1945, Hayes was part of a patrol that was ordered to climb Mount Suribachi, the highest point on the island, and raise an American flag. The first flag that was raised was deemed too small and replaced by a larger one. Hayes and five other Marines, namely Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, Michael Strank, Rene Gagnon, and John Bradley, were involved in the second flag raising, which was captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal. The photograph, which showed the six men raising the flag against the sky, became an instant sensation and an iconic image of the war. It was widely reproduced and used for propaganda and fundraising purposes. It also inspired the creation of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, which was modeled after the photograph.
The Aftermath of the War
Hayes and the other two surviving flag raisers, Gagnon and Bradley, were identified and sent back to the United States to participate in the Seventh War Loan drive, a campaign to sell war bonds to the public. They were hailed as heroes and celebrities, and received a lot of media attention and public admiration. However, Hayes was uncomfortable with the fame and the glory, and felt guilty for leaving his comrades behind. He also suffered from nightmares and flashbacks of the war, and turned to alcohol to cope with his trauma. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, then known as “combat fatigue” or “shell shock”.
Hayes tried to resume a normal life after the war, but he faced many difficulties and challenges. He had trouble finding and keeping a steady job, and he was often discriminated against for being a Native American. He also had several run-ins with the law, and was arrested several times for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. He attempted to re-enlist in the Marines, but was rejected due to his alcoholism. He also tried to reconnect with his family and his tribe, but he felt alienated and isolated. He was ashamed of his addiction and his failure to live up to his image as a hero.
The Death of Ira Hayes
On January 23-24, 1955, Hayes attended a ceremony in Sacaton, Arizona, to honor the memory of another Pima war hero, Mathew B. Juan, who was the first Arizonan killed in World War I. Hayes drank heavily at the event, and later hitchhiked to a nearby town, Bapchule, where he continued to drink with some friends. He passed out in a ditch, and was found dead the next morning. The cause of death was exposure and alcohol poisoning. He was 32 years old.
Hayes was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on February 2, 1955. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including his family, his tribe, his fellow Marines, and several dignitaries. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a wreath and a letter of condolence to his mother. Hayes was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for his service in Iwo Jima.
The Legacy of Ira Hayes
Ira Hayes has been commemorated and remembered in various forms of art and culture, both before and after his death. In 1949, he portrayed himself in the movie Sands of Iwo Jima, starring John Wayne. In 1955, he was the subject of a biographical article by journalist William Bradford Huie, which was later adapted into a movie, The Outsider, starring Tony Curtis, in 1961. In 1964, he was immortalized in a song, “The Ballad of Ira Hayes”, written by Peter La Farge and popularized by Johnny Cash. In 2006, he was portrayed by Adam Beach in the movie Flags of Our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood.
Ira Hayes remains a controversial and complex figure in American history. He was a hero and a victim, a patriot and a rebel, a warrior and a peacemaker. He was a man who sacrificed his life for his country, but also suffered from its injustice and indifference. He was a man who raised the flag on Iwo Jima, but also died in a ditch in Arizona. He was a man who was proud of his Native American heritage, but also struggled with his identity and his place in society. He was a man who was haunted by the war, but also inspired by its spirit. He was a man who was Ira Hayes.
