Embassy Events

Sgt Heather Parry stands guard with Slovak honor guard at house where Michael Strank was born

Embassy honors Slovak-American World War II Hero in Jarabina

May 5, 2007 

Ambassador Vallee on May 5 unveiled a commemorative plaque in Jarabina, the birthplace of Sergeant Michael Strank, US Marine Corps, one of the greatest Slovak-American heroes. Sergeant Strenk was only 25 years old, leading a dozen Marines, when he and his men raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi in the Pacific – the most famous image from World War II. He emigrated from Sovakia to the United States in 1922 at the age of two and grew up in Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town near Johnstown, south of Pittsburgh. He enlisted in the United States Marines in October 1939, one month before his 20th birthday. He landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, and the famous flag-raising took place just four days later.