Flags of our Fathers

[The Iceman 6]

This thread is good timing. I'm right in the middle of the book (awesome book) and just sent this email to my Dad

you're gonna love this book dad, easy company didn't F around, one guy was 14 when joined marines, fooled recruiter by muscular looks, was driving trucks or something, the guy stalls away on one of the armada's boats headed for iwo jimo, no rifle, no gear, a bunch of supportive marines feed him on the way to iwo, jumps off boat, grabs dead rifle from fellow marine, the guy is now 17 by the way, advances with other marines, comes upon an ambush of 8 japanese soldiers, nails two guys right in the head, the japanese soldier throws a grenade @ him and the other marines, he buries the grenade in the sand, then another grenade comes, he buries that one and jumps on both grenades, KABOOM - shot up in the air about 20 feet, the other marines kill the japanese soldiers. they go to collect the guys dog tags and he's STILL ALIVE and conscious. 21 reconstructive surgeries later, he was the youngest medal of honor recipient in united states history at age 17 a freshman in high school. when asked 54 years later why he did it, his reply was simple "to save my buddies"