James Michels

Private First Class James R. Michels (January 18, 1918 – January 10, 1982) was a former United States Marine who was part of the combat patrol that climbed up Mount Suribachi and raised the first American flag, during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, on February 23, 1945.

Biography
James Michels was born in Riverside, Cook County, Illinois, in 1918.

Michels joined the United States Marine Corps during World War II.

He took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima which began on February 19, 1945. On February 23, 1945, while serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, he was part of a 40-man combat patrol that climbed Mount Suribachi to help capture the summit and raise the American flag to signal the mountain was captured.

He was immortalized in SSgt. Lou Lowery's photograph of the first American flag raising over Iwo Jima.

He returned to and lived in Riverside, Illinois after the war. He died there on January 10, 1982.