Corporal Charles W. Lindberg, who helped raise the first American flag atop Mt. Suribachi on 23 February 1945, was awarded the Silver Star Medal during World War II for gallantry in action as a flamethrower operator on Iwo Jima.

Born 26 June 1920 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, he graduated from Grand Forks High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps in Seattle, Washington, in January 1942. He trained at the Marine recruit depot at San Diego, and at Camp Elliott, California, before going to the Pacific combat zone with the 5th Marine Division. Cpl Lindberg spent two years and four months overseas.

He was a member of the Marine Guard detachment at the Naval Base, Charleston, South Carolina, when he was honorably discharged in January 1946. He passed away on 24 June 2007 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota, at the age of 86.

In addition to the Silver Star, Cpl Lindberg was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action against the enemy on Iwo Jima, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.