Bill Genaust

William Homer "Bill" Genaust (1907 – March 4, 1945) was a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, a war photographer who was wounded in the Battle of Saipan and killed in action in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. He is most known for capturing the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima on color motion picture film with his 16 millimeter camera.

World War II


February 23, 1945: Sgt. Genaust and Pfc. Bob Campbell, a Marine still photographer, both assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, and AP photographer Joe Rosenthal, were on the top of Mount Suribachi after a small American flag and flagstaff was raised and planted securely on the mountaintop about 10:30 a.m. by a Lieutenant with a group of Marines and a navy corpsman from E Company, 3rd platoon. Around noon, the smaller American flag and flagstaff was replaced by a larger American flag on a heavier and longer flagstaff that was visible from any point on the island. Genaust with a motion picture camera stood near Rosenthal as the larger flag and flagstaff was hoisted by five Marines from E Company, 2nd platoon and the same corpsman from 3rd platoon, simultaneous with the lowering of the smaller flag and flagstaff.
 * Iwo Jima

Genaust's film briefly captures the servicemen getting in place to raise the larger flag, the raising and securing of the larger flag, and a group shot of members of the 2nd and 3rd platoons of E Company posing under the larger flag. Similar still photographs were taken by Rosenthal and Pfc. Campbell during this action.

Genaust's film also captures other Marines, one of whom gazes up at the larger flag. These Marines are not visible in Rosenthal's famous photograph.

March 4, 1945: Sgt. Genaust was killed by enemy small arms fire after he entered a darkened cave on Hill 362A located on the northwest corner of Iwo Jima. He had volunteered to use his flashlight or camera light in the cave and was killed supposedly with another unknown Marine. The cave mouth was covered over by bulldozing equipment, and despite renewed search efforts in 2007, his body has never been recovered.
 * Death

Sergeant Genaust Award
The Sergeant William Genaust Award is presented each year by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, one of a series of awards to both Marines and civilian community members recognizing their work in advancing and preserving Marine Corps history. It is given for a documentary and short subject (15 minutes or less) dealing creatively with U.S. Marine Corps heritage or Marine Corps life.