Lester D. Read
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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He was born Sept. 14, 1925, in Plymouth, one of seven children belonging to Ivan and Daisy Read. On March 27, 1949, he married Susan Frederick, who survives in Plymouth. They were married 67 years.
He was a 1943 graduate of Lincoln High School, Plymouth.
Shortly after graduation, he was drafted into the Marines, serving from December 1943 until May 1946. He joined the first wave of 40,000 men committed to take the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. As a member of the Fifth Tank Battalion, he helped coordinate tank and infantry positions.
As part of the assault on Iwo Jima, he received orders to climb Mt. Suribachi and radio back directions for tank movements. The group was quickly pinned down by enemy gunfire. The lieutenant in charge called for five volunteers, and Read quickly volunteered to continue the assault. As the men charged over the top, the Japanese Army had retreated. Mt. Suribachi had fallen.
Taking an American flag given to them by the lieutenant, the group secured it to a small piece of pipe, raised it, and quickly ran to take cover. A marine photographer snapped a photo of the group of flag raisers, which included Lester. Having seen the original assault, Joe Rosenthal, an Associated Press photographer, requested a re-enactment of the feat, but one with a much bigger U.S. flag. This second photo, which did not include Read, would become one of the most celebrated pictures of World War II.
When he returned home from the service, he started working for his father, who owned the Plymouth Fertilizer Company. In 1960, a fire destroyed the plant. His two younger brothers, James and Jay, and he rebuilt the plant. With the retirement of his father that same year, he became the president of the company, a position he held for 39 years until the business sold in 1999.
He was a lifelong active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Plymouth. He was Sunday School superintendent for 25 years and a member of the administrative board for over 50 years. He was involved with missions, making two trips to Zimbabwe to teach African University professors how to press oil from veronica seeds.
Not one to draw attention to himself, he always believed he could succeed in life by working a little harder than others. He distinguished himself by doing just that. He was a pillar for his family and church.
He was selected as a Plymouth High School distinguished alumni in 2003.
Also surviving are his children: Nancy Frye, Donaldson; Steven (and spouse Sandra) Read, Bremen; Jane (and spouse Matthew) Schori, Warsaw; and Jeff (and spouse Suzette) Read, Plymouth; grandchildren: Timothy (and spouse Tasha) Frye, and their children, Jonathan and Felicity; Rob Riewoldt; Lauren Read; Abby (and spouse Andy) Naunheimer and their son, Aaron; Erica (and spouse Johnathan) Sutherlin; Zachary Schori; Mitchell (and spouse Kayla) Read and their children, Case, Rayne and Grayson; Nicholas Read; and Libby Read; and two siblings, James (and spouse Barbara) Read and Ellen (and spouse Bruce) Snyder. He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings: Ruth Flosenzier, Treva Nelson, Wilma Ambler and Jay Read.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Trinity United Methodist Church, Plymouth, with the Rev. Maurice Grindle officiating. Burial will be in the New Oak Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by members of American Legion Post 27, Veterans of Foreign Wars Marshall County Post 1162 and D.A.V.
Calling is from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth, and one hour prior to services Friday at the church.
*****
Memorials to Trinity United Methodist Church.
Notes of condolence may be sent to the family through the website www.johnson-danielson.com.[[In-content Ad]]
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He was born Sept. 14, 1925, in Plymouth, one of seven children belonging to Ivan and Daisy Read. On March 27, 1949, he married Susan Frederick, who survives in Plymouth. They were married 67 years.
He was a 1943 graduate of Lincoln High School, Plymouth.
Shortly after graduation, he was drafted into the Marines, serving from December 1943 until May 1946. He joined the first wave of 40,000 men committed to take the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. As a member of the Fifth Tank Battalion, he helped coordinate tank and infantry positions.
As part of the assault on Iwo Jima, he received orders to climb Mt. Suribachi and radio back directions for tank movements. The group was quickly pinned down by enemy gunfire. The lieutenant in charge called for five volunteers, and Read quickly volunteered to continue the assault. As the men charged over the top, the Japanese Army had retreated. Mt. Suribachi had fallen.
Taking an American flag given to them by the lieutenant, the group secured it to a small piece of pipe, raised it, and quickly ran to take cover. A marine photographer snapped a photo of the group of flag raisers, which included Lester. Having seen the original assault, Joe Rosenthal, an Associated Press photographer, requested a re-enactment of the feat, but one with a much bigger U.S. flag. This second photo, which did not include Read, would become one of the most celebrated pictures of World War II.
When he returned home from the service, he started working for his father, who owned the Plymouth Fertilizer Company. In 1960, a fire destroyed the plant. His two younger brothers, James and Jay, and he rebuilt the plant. With the retirement of his father that same year, he became the president of the company, a position he held for 39 years until the business sold in 1999.
He was a lifelong active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Plymouth. He was Sunday School superintendent for 25 years and a member of the administrative board for over 50 years. He was involved with missions, making two trips to Zimbabwe to teach African University professors how to press oil from veronica seeds.
Not one to draw attention to himself, he always believed he could succeed in life by working a little harder than others. He distinguished himself by doing just that. He was a pillar for his family and church.
He was selected as a Plymouth High School distinguished alumni in 2003.
Also surviving are his children: Nancy Frye, Donaldson; Steven (and spouse Sandra) Read, Bremen; Jane (and spouse Matthew) Schori, Warsaw; and Jeff (and spouse Suzette) Read, Plymouth; grandchildren: Timothy (and spouse Tasha) Frye, and their children, Jonathan and Felicity; Rob Riewoldt; Lauren Read; Abby (and spouse Andy) Naunheimer and their son, Aaron; Erica (and spouse Johnathan) Sutherlin; Zachary Schori; Mitchell (and spouse Kayla) Read and their children, Case, Rayne and Grayson; Nicholas Read; and Libby Read; and two siblings, James (and spouse Barbara) Read and Ellen (and spouse Bruce) Snyder. He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings: Ruth Flosenzier, Treva Nelson, Wilma Ambler and Jay Read.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Trinity United Methodist Church, Plymouth, with the Rev. Maurice Grindle officiating. Burial will be in the New Oak Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by members of American Legion Post 27, Veterans of Foreign Wars Marshall County Post 1162 and D.A.V.
Calling is from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth, and one hour prior to services Friday at the church.
*****
Memorials to Trinity United Methodist Church.
Notes of condolence may be sent to the family through the website www.johnson-danielson.com.[[In-content Ad]]
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