Harry B. Liversedge
Marine general
Died when: 57 years 65 days (686 months)Star Sign: Libra
Brigadier General Harry Bluett Liversedge (September 21, 1894 – November 25, 1951), whose regiment figured in the historic raising the flag on Iwo Jima, was a United States Marine who died in 1951 after almost 25 years of service.
His last assignment was as director of the Marine Corps Reserve.The former Olympic track star was awarded his first Navy Cross while leading the crack 1st Marine Raider Regiment in the tough jungle fighting on New Georgia.
His second was for extraordinary heroism as commander of the 28th Marine Regiment at the Battle of Iwo Jima.The second citation states in part, "Landing on the fire-swept beaches 22 minutes after H-Hour, (the then) Colonel Liversedge gallantly led his men in the advance inland, executing a difficult turning maneuver to the south, preparatory to launching the assault on Mount Suribachi ..." Two decades prior, he had been a member of the Naval Academy track squads and participated in the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games.
He also figured prominently in football as a member of the championship Quantico Marines football teams of the early 1920s.