Greeley Wells: Always Carry a Flag

Changing The World
Greeley Wells: Always Carry a Flag

George ""Greeley"" Wells (1920-2014). Image source: Wells family.

Image source: Wells family.

Image source: Wells family.

Greeley Wells and Barbara Blossom, daughter of George and Louise Ball Blossom. Image source: Wells family.

Greeley Wells and Barbara Blossom, daughter of George and Louise Ball Blossom. Image source: Wells family.

Image source: Wells family.

Image source: Wells family.

Image source: USMC press office.

Image source: USMC press office.

As a young Marine during World War II, George “Greeley” Wells drove his family from Lake Forest to California to begin training for the Pacific Campaign. Unfortunately, he checked in with his unit a day late. Displeased with his tardiness, his commander said “You will be my adjutant and you will rue the day. Report on time tomorrow.”In his reading of the Marine Corps manual, Greeley Wells noted that an adjutant was to always carry a flag, which would come into play in a seminal moment later in his service.
On February 19, 1945, Greeley Wells and fellow Marines landed on Iwo Jima’s beaches braving intense Japanese fire. He was shot through the arm but continued his duties. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
The first flag over Iwo Jima was drawn from the map case of 25-year-old 1st Lieutenant George Greeley Wells of the 5th Marine Division. He was carrying an American flag measuring 54 inches by 28 inches from a transport ship he was on, the USS Missoula.The first flag raising was photographed by Staff Sergeant Louis R. Lowery with Leatherneck magazine. This flag only flew over Mount Suribachi for a few hours before it was ordered replaced by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, who had seen the flag raised while coming ashore. He wanted it preserved, so a larger flag (96" x 56") was found in a nearby tank landing ship and raised in its place, seen below in the iconic photograph.
In 1941 Greeley Wells and Lake Forester Barbara “Bobsy” Blossom had married. The couple had four children: Elizabeth, Nancy, Barbara and Greeley Jr.He never lost his will to serve. In the years after the war, he moved his family to New Jersey, where he sat on its city council, planning commission and eventually served as the mayor and police commissioner.
Greeley Wells didn’t speak openly with his family about Iwo Jima until years later. He was interviewed for James Bradley’s best-selling book “Flags of Our Fathers” and “War Stories with Oliver North,” an award-winning TV series.
At a Marine Corps ceremony, each of the Wells children were presented with an ornate challenge coin. Today, the flag Greeley carried is displayed at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.