As the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima unfolded directly around him, Bob Persichitti performed his duties as a U.S. Navy radio operator on the command ship USS Eldorado. “So many young men lost their lives on that island,” the 97-year-old veteran said in May 2019, speaking of the renowned 1945 battle in which the U.S. Marine Corps captured Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army. The 36-day assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead. During the battle, Bob was a radioman, second class, located right next to the beaches. From the ship’s deck, Bob witnessed not just the intensity of battles that raged for weeks, but also the taking of one of the most iconic photographs of World War II: Joe Rosenthal’s Associated Press photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, which was photographed on Mount Suribachi. “They [took the photo] twice,” Bob said, with two different-sized flags - the second version is the one that today remains among the most recognizable historic American images of war, capturing both tenacity and victory. (See photo at right). And in March 2019 - along with his friend Allan DeCarlo ’86 M’95 CAS’03 - Bob returned to Iwo Jima. An Oswego Connection Bob and Al are both Lakers - Bob attended SUNY Oswego in the late 1960s and Al, a Sigma Gamma brother who teaches American History for Pittsford-Mendon (N.Y.) High School, graduated from SUNY Oswego with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, as well as a certificate of advanced study. Bob received a provisional certificate through SUNY Oswego in 1958 to teach vocational carpentry. In 1965, as a teacher in the Rochester, N.Y., schools, he began pursuing his degree through SUNY Oswego as a non-traditional student, traveling to campus during the evenings and in summers to take courses throughout the late 1960s. He ultimately completed his degree through SUNY Buffalo in 1972. It wouldn’t be until 2013 that Bob and Al would meet and, eventually, travel together halfway around the world. The Laker friendship began when Al’s high school students wrote letters to Bob following a trip Bob took as a member of the Honor Flight of Rochester, N.Y. Bob read the students’ letters, then showed up at Al’s school to thank them. “I’ve been coming to speak in his classroom ever since,” Bob said with a laugh. “As long as I’m alive, I’ll keep coming.” According to Al, student access to a firsthand historical resource is a gift, but in Bob’s case, it is a rare and tremendous privilege. Not only are students (who are only a few years younger than Bob was when he served) learning so much more, but he’s gotten to be part of history, too - as one of “two Oswego guys on top of Mount Suribachi” on the one day Americans are permitted to access the site each year. The globe-trotting part of their friendship began when Al accompanied Bob to New Orleans through a trip sponsored by the World War II Museum. It was there that Bob was offered the trip that he said would “stay with him forever:” the chance to return to Iwo Jima, but this time as an honoree during a memorial ceremony commemorating the 74th anniversary of the battle, again accompanied by his friend Al. Paying Respects The 2019 trip lasted 10 days and included stops at Pearl Harbor, Guam, Saipan and Tinian before culminating in a joint United States-Japan Memorial Ceremony on Iwo Jima. Bob - who was 96 years old at the time of trip and one of five veterans able to make the journey through the World War II Museum - was treated like a “rock star” during the visit, Al said. “It was a great honor to accompany him,” Al said. “He’s a really good man.” For Bob, the trip provided the chance to honor his comrades; the vantage point brought back poignant memories. “Just to get on that island was very emotional,” said Bob, who saw grievous injuries and burials at sea. “Now, there are not too many of us left. “It was truly a great ceremony between the Japanese and Americans,” Bob said. “It was truly the trip of a lifetime.” See more photographs from the pair’s trip on Al’s Instagram account. PHOTO CAPTIONS: Photo 1 - Joe Rosenthal’s Associated Press photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, which was photographed on Mount Suribachi in 1945. Photo 2 - Bob Persichitti (left) and Allan DeCarlo ’86 M’95 CAS’03. Photo 3 - The American History class at Pittsford-Mendon (N.Y.) High School holds a 97th birthday party for World War II Veteran Bob Persichitti (center, orange shirt). Photo 4 - Bob Persichitti (left) was among the World War II veteran honorees at a joint United States-Japan Memorial Ceremony on Iwo Jima in March 2019. Photo 5 - Bob Persichitti points to the location of his command ship, the USS Eldorado, during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Bob was a U.S. Navy radio operator during the battle.