Harold Pie Keller – A Modest Hero Of Iwo Jima

Harold Pie Keller – A Modest Hero Of Iwo Jima

Harold “Pie” Keller was born on August 3, 1921, in Brooklyn, Iowa. He served as a United States Marine during World War II and became a part of one of the most iconic moments in American military history. A quiet man from Iowa was captured in an unforgettable photograph from World War Two. Meet Harold Pie Keller – A Modest Hero Of Iwo Jima

Harold “Pie” Keller served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Before the Battle of Iwo Jima, Keller participated in other significant battles in the Pacific Theater, including the Battles of Saipan and Tinian. These battles were crucial in the island-hopping campaign that aimed to capture strategic islands and bring the Allies closer to Japan.

Keller’s claim to fame is his role in raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima, an event immortalized in one of the most famous photographs of the war.

Raising The Flag On Iwo Jima

Keller was one of the six Marines who raised the second, larger flag on Mount Surbachi on February 23, 1945. Joe Rosenthal’s photograph quickly became a symbol of hope and determination for the American public. However, Keller’s role in this historic moment was not widely recognized for many years. The image captured the strength and bravery of the Marines, but the identities of the men were not immediately clear, leading to confusion and misidentification over the years.

Misidentified

It took 71 years for Keller to be fully acknowledged as one of the flag raisers.     Initially, three of the men in the photograph were misidentified. It wasn’t until 2016, after extensive research and analysis by historians and forensic experts, that Keller’s participation was officially confirmed. The delay in recognition was due to the battle’s chaotic nature, the rapid personnel turnover, and the lack of comprehensive records at the time. Initially, Marine hero Rene Gagnon had been misidentified as one of the men raising the flag in the famous photograph. Gagnon was involved in the events of that day, but further investigation revealed that he was not one of the men in the picture taken by Joe Rosenthal.

Harold Pie Keller – A Modest Hero Of Iwo Jima

 The identification of Harold “Pie” Keller as one of the flag raisers in the iconic Iwo Jima photograph was the result of extensive research by amateur historians, including Eric Krelle and Stephen Foley. FBI and forensic experts confirmed their detailed analysis of photographs and testimonies. As a result, the Marine Corps corrected the historical record. This recognition came as a posthumous honor, as Keller had passed away in 1979.

After the iconic flag-raising event on Iwo Jima, Keller continued his service in the Marines until the end of World War II.

After the war, Harold “Pie” Keller returned to a quiet life in Iowa. He worked for the Maytag Corporation as a foreman and was known for his humility and dedication to his family and community. He also served for a period as fire chief. Despite his significant contribution to one of the war’s most memorable events, Keller rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. Such was his humility that Harold Keller never told his family that he had helped raise the flag on Iwo Jima. His family only learned about his role in this historic event many years after his death when the corrected identification was made public in 2016. Keller’s humility and reluctance to speak about his wartime experiences contributed to the mystery and eventual revelation of his participation in one of the most iconic moments of World War II. He was a beloved figure in his hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, where a memorial plaque now honors his service and heroism. This plaque serves as a reminder of Keller’s bravery and the lasting impact of his actions during one of the most pivotal battles of World War II.

A Statue And A Lasting Memory

 My son attends Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Along with my friend, history teacher Matthew Gauza, we spotted a sign on Route 80 identifying the town of Brooklyn, Iowa. We then spotted a sign indicating the memorial for Mr. Keller. I immediately looked him up, and Matthew and I were intrigued by the fantastic story.

On a subsequent trip, I had the opportunity to visit Brooklyn, “The Community of Flags.” It is a lovely and welcoming community of about 1,400 people. I stood before the statue of Harold “Pie” Keller and marveled once again at the Greatest Generation. Mr. Keller was loved in his hometown, not because he was a war hero but because he was a good, kind, hard-working, family-oriented man of tremendous dignity and warmth. There should be more memorials to men like him.