Film tells about life of WWII hero

Staff report

WARREN

The Carpatho-Rusyn Society is sponsoring a film documentary on the life of Sgt. Michael Strank, who organized and physically raised an American flag over the island of Iwo Jima with five other Marines on Feb. 23, 1945. They were immortalized in a Pulitzer Price winning image by photographer Joe Rosenthal.

The battle for Iwo Jima killed 7,000 soldiers – the worst battle in the history of the Marines.

The film will be shown at 2 p.m. Sunday at Sts. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church Social Hall, 180 Belvedere NE.

Call Jim Basista at 330-544-0107 or Mike Vasilchek at 330-508-4226 for information. Everyone is welcome, and there is no admission charge.

Strank was born in Slovakia of Carpatho-Rusyn ethnicity and immigrated to America with his parents to the Johnstown, Pa., area.

He enlisted in the Marines before the start of the war and was an experienced soldier and leader of young recruits, being called “an old man” and a motivator of men. He died Mar. 1, 1945, of battle wounds – just days after the flag raising – at age 24.

Vasilchek represents legions of Rusyns who, like him, left their Carpathian Mountains homeland ready to begin a new life in America.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, also of Rusyn descent, narrates the film made by veterans and local people who knew Vasilchek in the Johnstown area.