MARINE42
10-14-2006, 07:50 PM
Harlon Block
Harlon Block was born at Yorktown, Texas, on November 6, 1924. He graduated from Weslaco High School in 1943. Block was inducted into the Marin Corps through the Selective Service System at San Antonio on February 18, 1943. He was assigned to the Parachute training school in San Antonio on April 14. He qualified as a parachutist and he was promoted to private first class. He saw combat as a rifleman in the Bougainville campaign. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on October 27, 1944. When Harlon's mother saw the Flag Raising Photo in the Newspaper she said that her boy was in it. This was dismissed because it was supposed to be Harry Hansen. It was later confirmed that it was Harlon Block in the photo. On March 1, Block was killed as his division was attacking toward Nishi Ridge. The body was buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima Plot 4, Row 6, Grave 912. The body was later returned to the States for private burial. He was buried beside the Iwo Jima Monument in Harlingen, Texas.
Purple Heart
Presidential Unit Citation with one star
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars
The World War II Victory Medal
Harlon Block was born at Yorktown, Texas, on November 6, 1924. He graduated from Weslaco High School in 1943. Block was inducted into the Marin Corps through the Selective Service System at San Antonio on February 18, 1943. He was assigned to the Parachute training school in San Antonio on April 14. He qualified as a parachutist and he was promoted to private first class. He saw combat as a rifleman in the Bougainville campaign. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on October 27, 1944. When Harlon's mother saw the Flag Raising Photo in the Newspaper she said that her boy was in it. This was dismissed because it was supposed to be Harry Hansen. It was later confirmed that it was Harlon Block in the photo. On March 1, Block was killed as his division was attacking toward Nishi Ridge. The body was buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima Plot 4, Row 6, Grave 912. The body was later returned to the States for private burial. He was buried beside the Iwo Jima Monument in Harlingen, Texas.
Purple Heart
Presidential Unit Citation with one star
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars
The World War II Victory Medal