Subdeacon Joe Posted November 20, 2023 Share Posted November 20, 2023 Joe Lovell · Shared with Public National Museum of the Marine Corps · "Tarawa was one of those rare battles in which every participant became a hero in spite of himself. Just getting ashore, or trying to, was a major act of courage." - Lt George D. Lillibridge, USMC Marines land on Tarawa Red Beach, on Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll, was desperate and chaotic on 20 November 1943 when the Americans landed. The Japanese bomber strip on the tiny island became the first objective of the U.S. Central Pacific campaign. In American hands, the airstrip would facilitate the subsequent invasion of the Marshall Islands, 600 miles westward. Admiral Keijo Shibasaki defended Betio with 5,000 Special Naval Landing Force troops ("Imperial Marines"). The Japanese had so shrewdly fortified the island with high-velocity weapons and blockhouses that yard for yard Betio would become the most heavily defended beachfront the Marines ever assailed. Tarawa's carnage shocked the nation. Seventy-six hours of bitter fighting left 4,000 Japanese and 1,100 Americans dead on a tiny island. Yet the Marines and Navy had validated their new doctrine of amphibious warfare and learned invaluable lessons. Six weeks later, they would invade the Marshall Islands with improved naval gunfire and air support, many more tracked landing vehicles, and innovative flamethrower tanks, waterproof radios, and underwater demolition teams. A grim confidence appeared among the veterans. Find out more about Tarawa in our WWII Gallery or visit us online: https://www.usmcmuseum.com/wwii.html IMAGE: Marines move out from the beachhead into Japanese smoke covered airstrip. USMC Photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderRiverCowboy Posted November 20, 2023 Share Posted November 20, 2023 Siwash the drinking combat Duck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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