Born July 13, 1926, Donald Sweda had a self-described quiet childhood in a large family in Mayfield, a borough about 14 miles northeast of Scranton. His family dealt with the challenges of the Great Depression and then war.

Don, formerly of Catasauqua, is about to turn 100 years old.

At the tender age of 18, he found himself in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Fate guided him to Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima in the South Pacific during a major battle.

He spent 26 days on Iwo Jima. The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted 36 days. The U.S. invasion began Feb. 19, 1945, and the island was declared secured March 26, 1945.

Nearly 7,000 U.S. soldiers died taking the island, and about 24,000 casualties were sustained by Marines and sailors during the 36 days of fierce fighting to capture Iwo Jima. One Marine company landed on the island with 133 Marines and left the island with only nine remaining.

Although not in the iconic picture, Don said there were more soldiers at the victory flag planting on the top of the Suribachi on Iwo Jima when the first flag was raised.

“When the flag was put up, I was up there for the first flag raising with about 20 men,” Don said.

The iconic picture of the six U.S. Marines raising the American flag was a second raising. Three of the six Marines in the picture were later killed in action during World War II.

“I went to the island on boats and saw many guys get killed,” Don shared. “The Japanese were prepared for us. They were underground. We then bombed them, which made it possible to get to them.

“We sacrificed a lot of lives to get them. A lot of people were killed at Iwo Jima,” Don added. “We had no cover when we landed. Our air power got them. I was on Iwo Jima for 26 days. I got shot on the opposite end of the island. I was walking by a cave when I was shot in my arm. It didn’t seem to bother me. I thought I was lucky to be alive.

“They took me by a medical boat after being shot to a nearby island then to a hospital in Hawaii, then to California for treatment and physical therapy,” he continued. “I thought the war was over when I got shot. I was a kid. I didn’t know better.”

When asked if he felt like a hero, he said, “I was a medic. Nothing seemed to bother me.”

Don received the Purple Heart medal for his injury. The medal was originally established by Gen. George Washington in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit. It is a heart-shaped medal, featuring Washington’s profile, given to service members who are wounded or killed in action against the enemy. On the back of the medal is inscribed “For Military Merit.”

Returning after the war, Don said he was very active. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and then worked for a finance company in East Stroudsburg.

“I then started my own business, an insurance claims business representing trucking companies,” he said.

Don said he did pretty well financially in his career and resided with his family in Catasauqua. Don has two children, a boy and a girl.

Don reminisced about his baseball playing days, which included two years playing for the Cleveland Indians organization.

“I played second base and the outfield. I was a left-handed hitter,” he said.

He added he could bat both ways, but he was a better hitter batting left than right.

When asked what he felt contributed to his longevity, he concluded saying he is “happy with his life. I had some luck.” He enjoys his current living arrangement and the quality care provided at Whitehall Manor.

He seemed very calm and at peace with his long life.

“It looks like I will stay here the rest of my life, which is OK,” he said.

At the end of the interview, he wore a wide smile on his face, saying warmly to the writer, “Thank you and goodbye.”