Ira Hayes raised the flag on Iwo Jima 75 years ago. His heroism still inspires the Gila River Indian Community

Growing up on the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix, Brian Alphus Jr. is familiar with the story of Ira Hayes.

The two are similar in many ways - they're both Native Americans from the same Pima reservation. And like Hayes, Alphus plans to enlist this summer in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 19.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/pinal/2020/02/22/ira-hayes-inspires-gila-river-indian-community-75-years-after-iwo-jima/4843217002/