Bob Gasche, a Marine corporal who served in World War II, including in the Battle of Iwo Jima, and later in the Korean War, died July 30 at age 94.
He was a private in the 5th Marine Division when he landed on Iwo Jima during the battle’s first day. He saw the famous raising of the flag atop Mount Suribachi on the fifth day. On the 12th day, he was injured by a mortar round and evacuated. By the end of his military career, he had achieved the rank of corporal.
Gasche became well-known and -liked — especially in Gainesville and Alachua County, Florida — for his many years of work with and for military members. His abundant involvement included the Young Marines, the D-Day Veterans of North Central Florida, and the Iwo Trio, which he founded with two other local Iwo Jima veterans. He also worked as a teacher at Gainesville’s PK Yonge Developmental Research School.
He was kind enough to let me interview him a few times, and he’d often help me track down other WWII vets to interview. At the top is a video of one of our interviews, and here is a 2016 magazine profile I wrote on Bob after he jumped out of plane at age 91.
Rest in peace, Bob. You will be missed.
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