November 10, 1919 to March 1, 1945, born in Jarabina, a small Rusyn-inhabited village in Czecho-Slovakia (now in Slovakia). He was one of three sons of Vasil Strank.. His father came to Pennsylvania and worked as a coal miner. When he had saved enough money, he brought his family to the U.S. Mike enlisted in the Marine Corps for four years at Pittsburgh on October 6, 1939. He was one of 6 men who raised the Flag on Mt. Suribachi. He was the first person in the flag-raising photograph to die.