Bradley’s appearance in the photo came into question after Stephen Foley, an amateur historian in Ireland, noticed some discrepancies while analyzing the photo during his recovery from an operation. He and Eric Krelle, a Marine historian from Nebraska started probing the photo, leading the Marine Corps to open its own investigation in May.
Foley and Krelle said the man believed to be Bradley was wearing a cartridge belt with ammunition pouches and wire cutters — which a Navy corpsman would not have had. They also said photos from the same day showed Bradley in different clothing.
Foley and Krelle were the first to say Schultz was the sixth man. After questions about the photo arose two years ago, Bradley’s son admitted he was no longer sure if his father was there. He said his father was involved in a different flag-raising, and may have mistakenly believed for the rest of his life he was in the Iwo Jima image.
A documentary about the photo probe, "The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima," will debut on the Smithsonian Channel July 3.
>>Foley and Krelle said the man believed to be Bradley was wearing a cartridge belt with ammunition pouches and wire cutters — which a Navy corpsman would not have had. <<
First aid pouches are worn on cartridge belts of that time. He may have carried more than one because of Iwo Jima’s terrain. Standard corpsman’s gear would have been too bulky.
Not saying anything one way or another; but there might have been a good reason.
I thought corpsmen could carry, for self defense proposes only.
“wearing a cartridge belt with ammunition pouches and wire cutters — which a Navy corpsman would not have had”
And they don’t carry rifles either. Except when they do....That’s always a dicey bet. In combat zones, especially of that intensity people carry things they shouldn’t have, do things they shouldn’t do, wear things they pick up.
It happens. And Corpsmen aren’t always particularly happy to stand out visually.