the battle, and he was the only Easy Company officer to walk off the line once the battle concluded. After the battle, Severance returned to Camp Tarawa with the 5th Marine Division. He began training a new company in preparation of the invasion of Japan, but then the war ended. He then took part in occupation duty in Japan in late 1945 as the executive officer of 2/28. Post-war career and life After returning to the United States, Severance attended flight training in April 1946. During the Korean War, he flew 69 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross along with four Air Medals. Severance also served during the Vietnam War before retiring from the Marines with the rank of colonel in May 1968. Upon retirement, Severance and his wife settled in La Jolla, California. In the 1980s, he began searching for surviving Easy Company Marines and organized multiple reunions. In the late 1990s, Severance gave a number of interviews to James Bradley while he was writing his book Flags of Our Fathers. Bradley's father, John Bradley, served with Easy Company as a corpsman and was originally identified as one of the flag raisers. Severance had also recommended John Bradley for the Navy Cross for his actions at Iwo Jima. On February 4, 2019, Severance celebrated his 100th birthday. The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert Neller, sent a letter to Severance on his birthday, stating "you played a crucial role in shaping the warrior ethos of our Corps." Severance died on August 2, 2021, at his home in La Jolla. He was 102 years old and was buried at the Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego on September 15. Portrayal in film Severance is featured in the 2006 movie Flags of Our Fathers. In the movie, Severance is played by American actor Neal McDonough. American actor Harve Presnell also played Severance as an older man in the film. See also Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Battle of Iwo Jima References 1919 births 2021 deaths American centenarians American Korean War pilots Aviators from Colorado Aviators from Wisconsin Battle of Iwo Jima Military personnel from Colorado Military personnel from Milwaukee Men centenarians Paramarines People from Greeley, Colorado Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Recipients of the Silver Star United States Marine Corps colonels United States Marine Corps personnel of the