James R. Michels
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps

James R. Michels was born on 18 January 1918 in Riverside, IL.

Michels was one of the six Marines who raised the first American flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima on 23 February 1945. This flag was later replaced by the flag in the famous flag raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press.

Death and Burial

James R. Michels died on 17 January 1982 in Riverside, IL. He is buried at the Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside, IL.