Harry Liversedge

While attending the University of California at Berkeley Harry “The Horse” Liversedge won the shot put at the 1916 IC4A championships. His athletic career was interrupted when he joined the Marines in May, 1917 and this led to him becoming a career Marine Corpsman. He is best known as the General who led the Marine regiment that raised the flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima.

In 1920, Liversedge finished third in the shot at the Antwerp Olympics and with two Finns taking the leading places this was the first time that an American did not win the event. In 1924 he was nominated as an alternate for the shot put but did not start.

Liversedge resumed his Marine career after the Olympics and achieved the rank of Brigadier General. In January 1942, Lt. Col. Liversedge was placed in command of the Second Battalion, Eighth Marines, and was promoted to colonel in May of that same year. From 5 July-29 August 1943, he led this Battalion as it landed on New Georgia Island in the Solomon Islands. For his efforts, Liversedge was awarded the Navy Cross.

In January 1944, he was transferred to the 5th Marine Division and assumed command of the 28th Marines, leading them ashore in the Iwo Jima campaign, for which he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of his Second Navy Cross. In addition to the Navy Crosses with Gold Star, his decorations and medals included\: Bronze Star Medal (Army); Presidential Unit Citation; Victory Medal with France clasp and Maltese Cross; Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Star; Yangtze Service Medal; American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; and the Navy Occupation Service Medal.

Personal Best: SP – 14.41 (1924).