Major Ryan D. Cox ’02 of the U.S. Air Force visited the Japanese island of Iwo Jima earlier this year, and he brought a TCU flag with him.

But it was no ordinary spot for a flag photo.

“We hiked up to the top of Mount Suribachi, which is the location of the famous raising of the U.S. flag at the battle of Iwo Jima during World War II,” Cox wrote to us. “I
was at the actual spot where the flag was raised.”

Behind him, is the beach on which U.S. Marines landed and bravely fought to take the island.

“The opportunity to go to Iwo Jima is rare since no civilians of any kind are even allowed to visit the island,” Cox shared. “Truly a great experience!”

Cox, who is a former member of TCU Cheer, is stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.

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