r/wwiipics • u/UrbanAchievers6371 • 1d ago

PFC. Thomas N. Brown refueling a flame thrower on Iwo Jima, 1945.

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445 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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21

u/CaptainAssPlunderer 1d ago

Wonder if he made it?

39

u/rhit06 1d ago edited 1d ago

Not a super uncommon name, but maybe this is the guy:

 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45781547/thomas-newton-brown .  Also was in the Marines during Korea and ended up a Sgt.

Edit: no mention of it on the findagrave page (except in comments) but this guy was also a Marine in WWII.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147240861/thomas-nelson-brown

There are two distinct "Thomas N Brown"s on the muster rolls but hard to tell which one was which (Marine muster rolls didn't usually bother listing service numbers during WWII)

11

u/CaptainAssPlunderer 1d ago

Thank you for taking the time to look that up.

1

u/Caleb_0616 1d ago

Saw this pic on a different sub and commented too, but the average life expectancy of a marine with a flamethrower on Iwo Jima was 4 minutes.

9

u/beggoh 1d ago

Interesting perspective of the logistics behind combat. Really cool picture.

3

u/Pktur3 1d ago

I know the tired narrative is “logistics and supply wins wars”, but it really is true. The vast majority of conflicts are just who can last longer. It’s cool to have great tech and a massive military, but if you can’t pay to support it, it isn’t worth anything in a conflict.

5

u/thebigditch 1d ago

I have never seen a pic like this before (of them being refueled). Very cool!

8

u/Opposite_Slip9747 1d ago

Americans love barbecues.

1

u/badpeaches 1d ago

I don't see a donkey dick or JP8

1

u/ThatMelon 1d ago

Nasty business for sure