Editing Rene Gagnon

{{Vet
| name = Rene Gagnon
| birth_date = March 7, 1925
| birth_place = Manchester, New Hampshire
| death_date = October 12, 1979
| death_place = Manchester, New Hampshire
| status = Survived
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Marine Corps
| serviceyears = 1943–1946
| rank = Private First Class
| unit = Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division
| battles = Battle of Iwo Jima
| awards = Presidential Unit Citation
}}

'''René Arthur Gagnon''' (March 7, 1925 – October 12, 1979) was a United States Marine who carried the second (larger) U.S. flag up [[Mount Suribachi]] during the [[Battle of Iwo Jima]] on February 23, 1945, and was for decades credited as one of the six men in Joe Rosenthal's iconic photograph.

Born in Manchester, New Hampshire, Gagnon served as a runner with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines.

== Flag raising on Mount Suribachi ==
Gagnon carried the larger replacement flag to the top of Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. He was long identified as one of the six raisers in Rosenthal's photograph and, with survivors Ira Hayes and John Bradley, took part in the Seventh War Loan bond tour. On October 16, 2019, after photographic analysis, the Marine Corps determined that he was not among the six men in the photograph and identified Cpl. Harold Keller in his place.

== Legacy ==
Gagnon died in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1979. In 2016 his remains were reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery.

[[Category:Mount Suribachi flag raisers]]
[[Category:Battle of Iwo Jima]]