European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes a a Page 9 this famous world world ii photograph of marines raising the american Flag on iwo Jima has fuelled a longtime controversy Over who is in the  resumes Over iwo Jima photo Portland Maine a a world War ii historian says the Marine corps treated a veterans family unfairly when it decided the former Marine Wasny to in a famous world War ii photograph of marines raising the . Flag on iwo Jima. The marines initially identified sgt. Henry Hansen of Somerville mass., As one of six men in the pulitzer prize winning photograph. But the corps changed its position two years later after another soldiers family complained. Both of the soldiers had died in the War. Professor Parker b. Albee a professor at the University of Southern Maine says his two years of Independent research indicates the marines investigation was not thorough enough. A i think the Marine corps should pursue the investigation and reopen the Case a Albee said. A a it a been gnawing at the family for three  but the Marine corps said Friday that it does no to see a need for another investigation. The photograph was taken by associated press photographer Joe Rosenthal on feb. 23,1945, As the marines raised the Flag atop mount Suribachi during one of the bloodiest Battles in the Pacific. Hansen was initially identified by one of the pictured survivors As the Man standing at the far right in the photo. Three of the six marines including Hansen were lifter killed in combat As japanese troops fought to maintain a hold on the strategic Island. Hansen smother Madeline Evelley joined the three survivors later that year at a War Bond rally where she was honoured and Given a copy of the photo. Two years later the Marine corps said the Man first thought to be Hansen was actually Cpl. Harlon h. Block of Weslaco Texas a Marine also killed in action. Stunned by the change Hansen smother wrote to the Marine corps commandant and to members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation seeking an explanation. The Marine corp told her it had conducted a thorough investigation but it never presented any evidence to Back up its finding Albee said. Evelley died convinced that her son was among the six in the picture. Her four surviving children also thought the marines investigation was unfair and passed their doubts to a third generation. Evelley a granddaughter Judy Galgay of Naples asked the professor to investigate. A this was always told to us As children growing up that the Man at the base of the Flag was our Uncle Henry a she said Friday. Albee said he combed through papers of the Hansen and Evelley families and other manuscripts and concluded the Marine corps investigation was neither fair nor thorough. One survivor Rene Gagnon of Manchester n.h., identified the other five marines in the picture when he was ordered Back to the United states in 1945. He said Hansen was among the five. But a year later blocks parents wrote to another survivor Ira Hayes of Sacaton ariz., saying they had heard the Marine identified As Hansen was actually their son. Hayes agreed triggering a second examination of the photograph. After Reading an affidavit from Hayes Gagnon and the third survivor a John Bradley of Antigo wis. A changed their stories and told a three member Board of officers that the Man May have been Block. Albee says Bradley and Gagnon May have been pressured into agreeing with Hayes. Gagnon has since died and Bradley does no to talk to reporters. Rosenthal who lives in san Francisco said the marines who raised the Flag dispersed after he shot the picture and he was not Able to get their names. Albee said he is not sure whether the Man whose identity is in dispute was Hansen Block or someone else. A it could be one of them or it could be neither of them a Albee said. He suggested that the matter be reopened and that investigators study other photographs taken about the same time by two still photographers and one with a movie camera. A the one Way to resolve it at this Point in time is through a careful study of the pictures which i am surprised they did no to do at the time a he said. Robert Aquilina assistant head of the reference Section at the Marine corps historical Center in Washington d.c., said the Marine corps made a mistake when it first said Hansen was in the photograph. A i think they made a Quick judgment that it was Hansen who was in the photo. Then they found out later that it was Block. My understanding is that Block was identified by the survivors a Aquilina said. But Albee says the marines evidence Wasny to convincing. A i have a feeling that they wanted a conclusion and Felt under pressure to know who it was a he said. A i wish they said it was unknown or had conducted the investigation thoroughly and fairly to a logical  Iran to stage its largest air sea Maneu vers Nicosia Cyprus apr Iran Smili with regards to the mass presence of for ducted by Iran since iraqis aug. 2 inva More than 600,000. Lary plans next month to launch the Lare Eien naval fleets a it quoted rear adm. Sion of Kuwait but this is by far the Lareth in n Nicosia Cyprus apr Iran a military plans next month to launch the largest joint air sea military exercise in its his Ead of the Navy said sunday. The Maneu vers to Start dec. 12 and last 10 Days will cover almost 12,000 Square Miles in the persian Gulf and Gulf of Uman and involve 50 warships As Well As several helicopters and hundreds of speedboats the official islamic Republic news Agency reported. A a a8ency> monitored in Nicosia said Sab Alan which was damaged w March 1988 by the . Fleet protecting merchant ships in the Region would take. Maneu vers. A he aim of the military games is to keep the armed forces ready in View of any unexpected situation in the Region with regards to the mass presence of foreign naval fleets a it quoted rear adm. Ali Shamkhani As saying. It appeared that the location of the Maneu vers near Iran a Southern islands would not conflict with the dozens of ships that Are part of the multinational Force enforcing . Sanctions against Iraq. The Navy commander said the Maneu vers code named Piroozi or Victory would include amphibious operations and landings the Rescue of a a captured ships and underwater defense against frogman. Weapons to be used include surface to surface missiles and air to surface missiles anti submarine and surface to air a bombs a the news Agency said. Smaller naval exercises have been con ducted by Iran since iraqis aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait but this is by far the largest. Last december Iran conducted a we Klong military practice operation in the Gulf that officials said was the largest in 10 years. Those Maneu vers covered More than 7,500 Square Miles and included 10,000 it personnel participating in amphibious Andings and electronic warfare operations to test coordination with the revolutionary guards officials said at the time. Shamkhani did not say How Many troops would take part next month. The Navy has an estimated 14,500 members including air and Marine personnel while the air Force and army total More than 600,000. The 350,000-Strong revolutionary guards were formed during the islamic revolution As an ideologically reliable Force to counter the army inherited from the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. They were constantly at Odds with the regular armed forces during the eight year War with Iraq. President Hashemi a Sfanjani has merged the defense ministry and the revolutionary guards to streamline the Chain of command and improve coordination. Shamkhani said last years Maneu vers were intended to determine if the regular armed forces could be coordinated with the guards to repel threats against Iran