It has been 62 years since that fateful day when a group of brave United States Marines raised an American flag on Mount Suribachi, creating one of the most recognized images in American history. Over the years, there has been some dispute as to the identity of one of the men in the photo, a radio operator who was looking up at the flag as it was raised. Whoever this man was would have been the last surviving member of that group of US Marines.

The past few years have been years essential to solving this mystery, and Raymond Jacobs, a Marine, Sergeant, and reporter,  has claimed the title. His claim as been disputed by many who say while he was present for an early flag raising; he was already back at his unit by the time the famous photograph was taken. The ambiguity arises from the angle of the radioman’s face, which partially obscures his features. If Jacobs’ claim is true, than his passing January 29^th would mark the end of the Iwo Jima era, as all other raisers have since passed on.