Raymond Salvie enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1944 at the height of World War II. By the end of February 1945 he found himself part of the US military’s massive Pacific Campaign, landing on the beaches of Iwo Jima.

The infamous 5-week battle of Iwo Jima is regarded as some of the fiercest fighting in modern military history. At one point Raymond fired mortars from the same position for 4 straight days. By battle’s end there were 27,000 American casualties and 18,000 Japanese were killed or unaccounted thereafter. 

Raymond passed away peacefully earlier this month at the age of 97.

We hope you enjoy this ‘Rapid Fire’ episode and as always, thanks for listening to Heroes Behind Headlines.