Rene Arthur Gagnon (March 7, 1925 - October 12, 1979) was a marine during World War II. He was photographed by Joe Rosenthal in Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Early life

Gagnon was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, the only child of Henry and Irene Gagnon. Rene grew up without a father. His parents divorced when he was an infant, after his mother caught his father cheating. When he was old enough, Rene worked alongside his mother at the local mill. Rene was drafted in 1943, and elected to join the Marine Corps.

Post-War

After the war, unlike Hayes and Bradley, Gagnon attempted to cash-in on his celebrity status. He made a brief movie career of the event, appearing in two films about the battle: To the Shores of Iwo Jima and Sands of Iwo Jima. He was part of a Rose Bowl half-time show. However, in the end, it amounted to almost nothing, and left him bitter.

(Joe Rosenthal / ©Associated Press) A photo colorized to show all six men - Ira Hayes (red), Franklin Sousley (violet), John Bradley (Green), Harlon Block (Yellow), Michael Strank (brown), Rene Gagnon (teal)

Twenty-one years later in his last interview, at the age of 53.. he bitterly inventoried his lost 'connections' - the jobs promised him by the government people when he'd been at the height of his fame, jobs that never materialized. 'I'm pretty well known in Manchester,' he allowed to a report. 'When someone who doesn't know me is introduced to me, they say 'What was you in The Photograph?' What the hell are you doing working here? If I were you I'd have a good job and lots of money'". (James Bradley, Flags of Our Fathers, ISBN 0-553-11133-7)

External links

• http://www.seacoastsearch.com/nhlinks/people/renegagnon/
• http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rgagnon.htm