Max Richard Long, M.D., was a World War II veteran, serving with the U.S. Navy, and earning two Silver Stars and the Navy Cross, for his work evacuating the beaches at Iwo Jima and Saipan. He returned to Marion after the war and practiced medicine here for nearly 50 years, including serving as the Marion Community Schools physician for 32 years.

Dr. Long was a Marion native who graduated from Marion High School with very high honors. Among his high school accomplishments was being a part of the MHS concert band, which was the best in the state, having won first place for several consecutive years in state competitions.

He earned the coveted Rector Scholarship from DePauw University, where he graduated in 1936, and then continued on to medical school, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1940.

Following his internship at Indianapolis City Hospital, in 1942 he enlisted in the Navy, and was promptly assigned to the Marine Corps, where he continued his education and service on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Saipan, and the Marianna Islands.

Dr. Max, or “Maxie” as he was often called, was awarded two Silver Stars and the Navy Cross (the Navy’s Award for Valor) “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as shore party evacuation officer during operations against the enemy on Iwo and Japan. While the beaches from which he was operating were under direct artillery fire, Lt. Long, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, continued administering aid, performing necessary surgery, and personally attending to the evacuation of casualties. His efforts while thus exposed to enemy fire, were a source of inspiration to his own men, and a comfort to the casualties passing through his hands. Working continuously throughout the first 72 hours on Saipan, he succeeded in evacuating 1,200 wounded men from a heavily congested beach.”

He, likewise, was attending to casualties on Iwo Jima when he looked up from his evacuation tent to see “those crazy guys raise the flag on the hill above him.” (Note: So fierce was the battle for Iwo Jima that 25 percent of medals awarded to Marines in the entirety of World War II were earned in this battle.)
After World War II came to a conclusion, Dr. Long returned to his treasured hometown and opened an office at 803 S. Boots St., where he practiced general medicine for 48 years. During those years he did everything: delivered babies, conducted minor surgeries, took his own ER calls, and made house calls.
In addition to keeping his regular practice, he was the Marion Community Schools physician for 32 years. As he did on the battle-strewn beaches, he used his skills of management, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention to meet the needs of the children of Marion. He personally conducted physical exams of ALL children entering kindergarten, developed programs for annual diagnosis of tuberculosis, lice, etc. When the polio crisis attacked the children of our community, he spearheaded programs for vaccinations. The trust he had earned in the community translated to high acceptance levels of the new vaccine, which eventually eradicated the disease locally!
During his tenure, he gave free physical exams to all high school athletes. He was the doctor for the basketball team, always sitting in the front row next to the team in Memorial Coliseum and in Bill Green Arena (occasionally leaving the bench to tend to an injured player). Coach Green presented Dr. Long with two varsity letters, marking the 1975 and 1976 state basketball championships.
He was a member and past president of the Grant County Medical Society, and a member of the Indiana State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.