Editing Ernest I Jr Thomas (section)

== Flag raising on Mount Suribachi ==
On February 23, 1945, Thomas was among the patrol that reached the summit of Mount Suribachi and helped raise the first flag; he was credited on the radio for the action and was interviewed about it aboard ship shortly afterward. Days earlier, on February 21, he had taken command of his platoon after his officer was wounded and directed tank and rifle fire against Japanese positions at the base of the mountain — action for which he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.