WWII veteran who witnessed flag-raising at Iwo Jima dies on way to D-Day commemoration in France

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A World War II US Navy veteran who witnessed the raising of the United States flag at Iwo Jima has died on the way to a D-Day commemoration event in France. His friend and travel companion, Al DeCarlo, told the outlet that in his final moments, the doctor played his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, and he “peacefully left us.” Robert Persichitti had said he was excited to be going to France for the D-Day commemorations "The doctor was with him. US Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise the Stars and Stripes on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, on February 23, 1945, in what became one of the most iconic images of the Second World War “I was the radio operator aboard the ship, and we were offshore a little ways, and when they raised that flag, I was on deck that day, and watched them raise that flag twice,” Persichitti told WXXI only last month. The day before Persichitti was due to set off on his journey to the memorial event in Europe, which is also slated to be attended by many of the remaining World War II veterans, he told WROC that he was “really excited to be going.” The veteran previously told WDSU that he remembers those he served with every Friday, not just on commemorative days like Veterans Day.