This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: DAMNIMCOOLTOM Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.montana.counties.missoula/1323.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: http://www.missoula.com/news/node/1413 Louis Charlo, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Antoine Charlo of Evaro, was 18 the day he climbed the 566-foot mountain. He'd enlisted in the Marines in November 1943 and left for boot camp the following month. He'd been overseas roughly seven months at the time of his death. The initial news account after Charlo was killed said he "shared with three other Marines the distinction of being the first Americans to scale Mount Surabachi." Charlo wrote his last letter home from the base of the mountain, the story reported. A letter written by his platoon leader, Ray Whelan, in 2004, said Charlo was advancing in an area called the Meat Grinder on March 2 when a friend was hit. "Chief went out to him and managed to get him on his shoulder and was well back to cover when he was hit by machine gun fire. They both were killed," Whelan wrote to Charlo's cousin, Roger Shourds of Polson. http://www.fortmissoula.org/exhibits/ww/ussmissoulaproject.shtml PFC Charlo, serving as radioman, helped raise the first flag, which was supplied from the USS Missoula. Hours later a senior officer directed that it be replaced by a larger flag more visible to ships off shore. Iwo Jima was finally secured on March 17, 1945. Sadly, PFC Charlo was killed in action on March 2, 1945, by a Japanese sniper's bullet. Charlos' remains were returned to Montana in 1948. He is buried in St. Ignatius. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.