Excerpt from Stars & Stripes, February 17, 2006:

Obituaries:

Irons, Henry C., Lt-Cmr (FC)

Peacefully in his sleep, in his 105th year. Survived by four grand children and eleven great grandchildren. Predeceased by wife Katie and three sons, BJ, and twins Herman and Harmon.
 
Henry Conan Irons was born June 21, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of an Irish policeman father and an Apache Indian mother. Irons' mother died in childbirth, and he claimed that this gave him the power of two people throughout his life. Irons attended Yale University for one year in 1919-20, and is believed to have been the first freshman to decline a Tap from the Skull and Bones secret society. In his sole year at Yale, Irons played Fullback and Defensive End for the undefeated Yale Bulldogs, as well as handling placekicking duties. He led the Nation in scoring, and was named a finalist as national player of the year, receiving two first place votes.

Irons enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1920, and has the rare distinction of having been promoted directly to corporal upon graduation from basic training. Throughout much of the 1920's, Irons served as a roving instructor at various domestic military bases as an expert in hand-to-hand combat. In 1933, he was named third in command of an eight member elite commando unit known as The Scorpion Squad, who reported directly to President Roosevelt. Details of the Scorpion Squad's activities from 1933-1936 remain classified, but they are thought to have participated in clandestine missions in Central and South America during the so called 'Banana Wars'. 

The Scorpion Squad was disbanded in early 1937, following an ill conceived attempt to assassinate Adolph Hitler, code named Operation Ajax, which resulted in the deaths of three members, including team leader, Lt. Irwin "Buzz" Roberts, and second-in-command Clayton Harris. Irons assumed command of the mission, and was granted a Field Commision to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. Although he was offered the rank of Colonel following this mission, Irons steadfastly refused this, or any future offers of promotion, but kept his Field Commission.

Few details of his actions from 1937-1948 have yet been declassified, but he is believed to have seen extensive action in the European theatre, both pre and post war. 

Irons retired from the Marine Corps in 1948, and moved to a ranch near Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he raised thoroughbred race horses well into his 80's. The Irons' horses were known for their endurance, and his stables sired four winners of the Belmont Stakes between 1953 and 1981, in addition to multiple high profile stakes race winners at longer than average distances.

In 1986, Irons was hired as a story consultant by director John McTiernan for the feature film Predator. His recollections of events from both the Banana Wars, and his European missions from 1937 to 1948, formed much of the basis for Shane Black's screenplay. It is believed that the character of Billy Sole in the film is based on Irons himself.

A strapping 6 foot 4, 235 pounds in his prime, Irons is also believed to have been among artist-writer Frank Miller's inspirations for the character "Marv" in the Sin City graphic novels series. 

In 1992, at the age of 90, Irons became the oldest person to complete the Boston Marathon, finishing in a time of 2 hours, 59 minutes, 53 seconds. 

Full military honors are to be extended at his funeral, with interment at Arlington Memorial Cemetary. The family has requested donations to the American Cancer Foundation, in lieu of flowers.

Henry's epitaph, carved on his gravestone:

"Any punk can fire from across the room, but it takes a man to get close enough to stab." - Chris Rock, 1998.