He sent runners back to the beach to find a larger flag.

One was located on a transport ship — a flag roughly four feet ten inches by eight feet, roughly twice the size of the first.

A five-man patrol — Sergeant Michael Strank, Corporal Harlon Block, Private First Class Rene Gagnon, Private First Class Ira Hayes, and Private First Class Franklin Sousley — plus Navy pharmacist’s mate John Bradley, was assigned to take the larger flag to the top and raise it.

They carried the heavy metal pipe that would serve as the flagpole.