Ernest I Jr Thomas
| Ernest I. Thomas Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 10, 1924 Tampa, Florida |
| Died | March 3, 1945 Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands |
| Status | KIA |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Platoon Sergeant |
| Service number | |
| Unit | Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division |
| Commands held | |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards | Navy Cross, Purple Heart |
| Relations | |
| Later work | |
Ernest Ivy "Boots" Thomas Jr. (March 10, 1924 – March 3, 1945) was a United States Marine who helped raise the first U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945.
Born in Tampa, Florida, Thomas enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 27, 1942, trained at Parris Island, and later served as an instructor at Camp Lejeune before joining Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines.
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.
Legacy
Thomas was killed by enemy sniper fire on March 1, 1945. Initially buried on Iwo Jima, he was reinterred in Monticello, Florida, in 1948.