Franklin Borough in Johnstown in Cambria County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Sgt. Michael Strank

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 17, 2014

1. Sgt Michael Strank Marker

Inscription.
A Marine, he was the oldest and highest ranking of the six men who took part in the famous raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima, Feb. 23, 1945. This scene, photographed by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press, was later used in the Marine Corps War Memorial at Arlington. Born Nov. 10, 1919, in Czechoslovakia, Strank grew up in Franklin Borough. Killed in action March 1, 1945, he was reinterred 1949 in Arlington Cemetery.

Erected 1986 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1917.

Location. 40° 20.572′ N, 78° 53.047′ W. Marker is in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in Cambria County. It is in Franklin Borough. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Pennsylvania Route 3029, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Located at the Liberty VFD. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1125 Main Street, Johnstown PA 15909, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. John Cathedral (approx. 2.1 miles away); Sgt. John T. Boxler (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Rosedale Banishment (approx. 2.1 miles away); Greater Johnstown Flood Victims (approx. 2.1 miles away); Johnstown Veterans and War Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Grand Army of the Republic Hall (approx. 2.2 miles away); Cambria Iron Company Office (approx. 2.2 miles away); Joseph Johns (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Johnstown.

Also see . . .
1. Sgt. Michael Strank Behind the Marker. Explore PA History website entry (Submitted on June 24, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

2. Michael Strank.

Sgt Michael Strank image. Click for full size.

United States Marine Corps

2. Sgt Michael Strank

United States Marine Corps photo

Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on June 21, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 17, 2014

3. Sgt Michael Strank Marker

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joe Rosenthal, February 23, 1945

4. Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima

Outlines and names of Marines raising the flag (updated) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by WFinch

5. Outlines and names of Marines raising the flag (updated)

Diagram of the six Marines raising the second flag on Iwo Jima:

Position 1: Pfc. Harlon Block (KIA).
Position 2: Pfc. Harold Keller.
Position 3: Pfc. Franklin Sousley (KIA).
Position 4: Sgt. Michael Strank (KIA).
Position 5: Pfc. Harold Schultz.
Position 6: Pfc. Ira Hayes.

Local War Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 17, 2014

6. Local War Memorial

Next to the marker
Inscription

With eternal gratitude to all those who served our country "Lest We Forget" in memory of our fallen
SSG Michael P Bankovsky USA 1944-France CPL John J Grabowsky USA 1944-France CAPT Michael Herko Jr USA 1950-Korea PFC John C Jastrzebski USA 1944-Belgium SP4 Louis J Kelley USA 1969-S Vietnam YEO3C Charles Kuzmiak USA 1945-S Pacific 1LT John C Mastovich USA 1944-France PFC Peter Mraunac USA 1944-France PFC Edwin C Phillips USA 1944-Phillipines PFC George V Potts USA 1943-Aleutian Isl SGT Michael Strank USMC 1945-Iwo Jima Unknown Fallen 1868-1993
Presented and dedicated by the residents of Franklin Borough
August 17, 1993

Doughboy Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 17, 2014

7. Doughboy Statue

With flag holders representing conflicts and wars associated with the US.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,455 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 17, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on March 4, 2025, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 6, 7. submitted on June 17, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.