WWII vets who survived Iwo Jima brought together by chance

PHILADELPHIA - A celebration of the U.S. Marine Corps' 239th birthday in South Philadelphia resulted in a surprise reunion on Monday.

The annual festival has taken place for 40 years outside of Cookie's Tavern, something residents have come to look forward to. But this year something even more special happened, a day before Veteran's Day.

World War II veteran Mahlon Fink, a survivor of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which cost more than 7,000 American lives, came to the party to greet other vets. He is one of the last living members of the 5th Division of the invasion.

Also there was WWII veteran, Louis LaGioia, who was with the 5th Division's 28th Regiment -- which raised the flag over Iwo Jima.

"I was in the second wave, the first wave all got killed and I was the only survivor," said LaGioia.

And then, the two survivors, each not expecting to find a division comrade ever again, were together.

"I thought they were all dead but me," LaGioia said.

"By some miracle this gentleman was out here. And he said 'Oh my God, there is somebody from my division here?' I thought he was going to cry," daughter Angela LaGioia told CBS Philadelphia.

After taking pictures and trading stories, the two men stood shoulder to shoulder once again in honor, as veterans.