Ira Hayes at Iwo Jima, what is on his belt?

Modeling Subjects Figures and Misc.
1

I hope someone has an answer, I have done some net searching, to no joy. What is tucked into Ira Hayes belt at the flagrasing on top of Mt. Suribachi?. I had long presumed it was the flag tha had been removed, to be replaced with the larger flag that he and his mates were erecting. but I see no proof of this. It sort of looks like a kit bag but I know of no bag that size, other than a messengertype bag, or a medic bag.

Does anyone have info on this?

thanks much!

David

2

According to Bradley in the book “Flags of Our Fathers” it was a poncho and was instrumental in identifying him in the picture. IIRC, it was typical of Native American, or at l;east the Pima, to carry their ponchos in this manner.

3

I was just listening to Johnny Cash’s “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” a few minutes ago through my napster account. Something is telling me to go watch Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima for the rest of the evening.

Good night all

SST

4

And Good night Chesty wherever you are…uhoooo raaaahhhh!

5

It’s a poncho, lots of Marines carried a poncho this way when not carrying packs and stuff. It was also carried this way in boot camp sometimes, and this is up through the beginning of the vietnam war when we were still using WWII “782 gear” (packs,tents,poncho’s,cartridge belts,suspenders that kind of stuff) Colors? The usuall olive drab, but kind of semi-gloss as it was a rubberized or plasticized fabric. Add dirt and dust too, we used them for everything, ground sheet, shelter half (tents were heavyer and not as waterproof), sun shade (fade the O.D. color), blanket and oh yeah poncho.

happy modeling! oh, and when you wrap it around you cartridge belt it won’t be perfectly folded either. made a seat cushin too.

G.L.

6

thanks for the feedback everyone. Now I know what direction to head in!!!

David

7

What an awesome song! I always loved that one, and “Comanche”–man, that was some song-writing!

8

I read somewhere or other that the object in question was an American Indian blanket (a small one, presumably). Whenever the color movie of the scene runs on TV I try to remember to watch for any sign of bright color on that object. So far my eye hasn’t been quick enough to catch it - if it’s there.

The poncho identification may well be right, though.