_jr_ Posted October 22, 2005 Report Share Posted October 22, 2005 (edited) Written by Peter Lafarge, and recorded by Johnny Cash on 3/5/64, "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" reached #3 on the country charts. Ira Hayes was a Pima Indian, who joined the U.S.Marines, for two reasons. One, to be able to send money home to provide for his family, and two, to get off the Pima Indian Reservation in Sacator, Arizona. While serving in the Marines, Ira was in the South Pacific. On February 23, 1945, Ira jumped in to help out 5 other Marines in the task they were performing, and ended up becoming part of one of the most famous photographs in American history, taken by Joe Rosenthal: Ira is the one all the way in the back. His hands aren't touching the flagpole. Well, of the six men who raised the flag, three never left Iwo Jima. Franklin Sousley was killed March 21, 1945, by a Japanese sniper. He was 19 years old. Harlon Blockwas killed in combat on March 1, 1945. He was 20 years old. Michael Strankwas also killed in combat on March 1, 1945. He was 25 years old. Of the three who made it off Iwo Jima alive: All three were part of Bond Drive 7, (I think that's what it was called), and toured the U.S. , making apprearances. Rene Gagnon died 21 years later, at the age of 53, bitter about his lack of fame. He was the only one of the six men to actually trya nd cash in on his accidental fame, having parts in two war movies after WWII had ended. John Bradley, who's son wrote "Flags of our Fathers" (which I have read), was the only one of the remaining three, to live well into old age, passing away on January 11, 1994, of a stroke. Ira Hayes battled alcoholism, and struggled with the attention he recieved. died on January 24, 1955. He was found in a ditch, not far from an abandoned hut, where he reportedly played cards and drank the night before. The coroner's report concluded he died from exposure and too much alcohol. Ira Hayes' Life *on a side note, it's pretty tough to see all six men, sohere is a colorized photo, with each person's name assigned a different color. The Ballad of Ira Hayes Ira Hayes, Ira Hayes CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war Gather round me people there's a story I would tell About a brave young Indian you should remember well From the land of the Pima Indian A proud and noble band Who farmed the Phoenix valley in Arizona land Down the ditches for a thousand years The water grew Ira's peoples' crops 'Till the white man stole the water rights And the sparklin' water stopped Now Ira's folks were hungry And their land grew crops of weeds When war came, Ira volunteered And forgot the white man's greed CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war There they battled up Iwo Jima's hill, Two hundred and fifty men But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again And when the fight was over And when Old Glory raised Among the men who held it high Was the Indian, Ira Hayes CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war Ira returned a hero Celebrated through the land He was wined and speeched and honored; Everybody shook his hand But he was just a Pima Indian No water, no crops, no chance At home nobody cared what Ira'd done And when did the Indians dance CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war Then Ira started drinkin' hard; Jail was often his home They'd let him raise the flag and lower it like you'd throw a dog a bone! He died drunk one mornin' Alone in the land he fought to save Two inches of water in a lonely ditch Was a grave for Ira Hayes CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes But his land is just as dry And his ghost is lyin' thirsty In the ditch where Ira died Edited October 22, 2005 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD 55 Posted October 23, 2005 Report Share Posted October 23, 2005 I agree jr. Great ! I didn't know that he actually was one of the men in that famous photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcM Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 I saw a show on the History Channel about Ira Hayes. They did not get into how he died. It's depressing to hear how we treated our veterans who where not WASP's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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