Harlon Block was born on November 6, 1924, in Yorktown, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on February 18, 1943, and completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in April 1943. Pvt Block next attended parachute training at Camp Elliott, California, from April to May 1943, and then served as a Paramarine at the Parachute Replacement Company at Camp Elliott and then Camp Gillespie, California, from June to November 1943. PFC Block deployed to the Pacific Theater in October 1943, and served with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment of the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps at New Caledonia from November to December 1943. He deployed to Bougainville with his unit on December 21, 1943, and then transferred to Headquarters Company, 3rd Parachute Battalion of the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps from December 1943 until he returned to the United States in February 1944. The Paramarines were disbanded the same month, and he then transferred to 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment of the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, from February to September 1944, and then to Hawaii from September 1944 to January 1945. He then deployed with his unit aboard the attack transport USS Missoula (APA-211) from January to February 1945. Corporal Block went ashore at Iwo Jima on the first day of the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, and he was one of the flag raisers of the American Flag on during the second flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi on February 23, 1944. He was Killed in Action on Iwo Jima on March 1, 1945, and was originally buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima on March 5, 1945. His remains were re-interred at a cemetery in Weslaco, Texas, in January 1949, and again to his final burial place at the Marine Military Academy near its Iwo Jima Monument in Harlingen, Texas, on February 18, 1995.