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The last thing he did was turn on his flashlight.

posted by LockeProposal on TheGrittyPast

[The following is in regards to the Battle of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.]

Rain and chilly winds buffeted the troops that day. Bill Genaust, who had recorded the replacement flagraising with color film and who had asked Rosenthal, “I’m not in you way, am I, Joe?” walked into a “secured” cave to dry off. The last thing he did was turn on his flashlight. He was thirty-eight and left behind a wife of seventeen years. His body was never recovered.

Source:

Bradley, James, and Ron Powers. “Like Hell with the Fire Out.” Flags of Our Fathers. Bantam Dell, a Division of Random House, Inc., 2006. 235. Print.

Further Reading:

William Homer "Bill" Genaust

Joseph John Rosenthal

Battle of Iwo Jima / Operation Detachment

[**The following is in regards to the Battle of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.**] >Rain and chilly winds buffeted the troops that day. Bill Genaust, who had recorded the replacement flagraising with color film and who had asked [Rosenthal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Joe_Rosenthal%2C_1990.jpg), “I’m not in you way, am I, Joe?” walked into a “secured” cave to dry off. The last thing he did was turn on his flashlight. He was thirty-eight and left behind a wife of seventeen years. His body was never recovered. __________________________ **Source:** Bradley, James, and Ron Powers. “Like Hell with the Fire Out.” *Flags of Our Fathers*. Bantam Dell, a Division of Random House, Inc., 2006. 235. Print. __________________________ **Further Reading:** [William Homer "Bill" Genaust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Genaust) [Joseph John Rosenthal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Rosenthal) [Battle of Iwo Jima / Operation Detachment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Iwo_Jima)

1 comments

[–] smallpond 0 points (+1|-1)

Really lacking some detail here... the wikipedia page fills in the gaps:

Genaust was reported missing in action on March 3, 1945, after he was shot in a large cave at or around Hill 362-A, located on the northern part of Iwo Jima. On March 4, he was ruled killed in action.[3]:324[9] After talking with two photographers at Iwo Jima, Genaust's friend Lt. Col. Donald L. Dickson offered the following account of Genaust's death in a letter to his widow:

As I understand it, a group of Marines were clearing caves of die-hard Japs. Grenades were thrown in one cave and it was believed all the enemy were killed. The Marines wanted to double check and asked Bill if they could borrow his flashlight. Bill said he would go in with them. They crawled in and Bill flashed his light around. There were many Japs still alive and they immediately opened fire. Bill dropped without a sound. As the bearer of the light he had been the first target for a number of bullets. I feel sure he never knew what happened to him. The Marines forced the Japs deeper into the cave but could not get them out. More men would have been killed in carrying out of the narrow cave Bill's lifeless body. TNT charges were quickly placed at the cave mouth and exploded. The whole cave mouth was blocked with earth from the explosion and Bill's body was completely buried by it.[10]