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Franklin Runyan Sousley (September 19, 1925-March 21, 1945) was one of the six men in the famous photograph of Marines Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.
Franklin was born in Hilltop, Kentucky, to parents Duke and Goldie as the middle child of three sons. When Franklin was three, his five year-old big brother died of appendicitis. Franklin attended a two-room schoolhouse in the nearby town of Elizaville, and another brother, Julian, was born in May of 1933. Just a year later, Franklin's father died of diabetes at age 35. At only nine years of age, Franklin found himself the man of the family, keeping his mother's spirits up with his sense of humor and easygoing personality.
Franklin received his draft notice at eighteen and decided to become a U.S. Marine. After extensive training, he eventually found himself as part of the landing force in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Together with John Bradley, Ira Hayes, Rene Gagnon, Harlon Block, and Michael Strank, he helped raise a replacement flag on Mount Suribachi, immortalized along with the others in Joe Rosenthal's famous photograph.
 Marines raising the Flag on Iwo Jima |
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On March 21st, 1945, Franklin was shot in the back by a Japanese sniper while taking a leisurely walk around the mostly-secured island. A fellow marine saw Franklin lying on the ground and demanded, "How you doin'?" Franklin's reply (and last words) was reputedly "Not bad. I don't feel anything." Legend has it that his mother's scream of anguish upon learning the news of her son's death could be heard throughout the valley. He was buried May 8th, 1947, in Elizaville Cemetery, Kentucky.
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