Army & Navy - Trophy

To the White House went Lieut. General Thomas Holcomb, Commandant of the Marine Corps, with a 4-by-6 ft. Japanese flag which once flew over Makin Island. The flag was captured by U.S. Marines in the raid of Aug. 17 (with the President's Son James as second in command).

The President looked at his gift with distaste. Said he: "I am not going to receive it. You can take it back and put it in the historical archives of the Marine Corps at Quantico. But I don't want to touch it."

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!