WWII - Invasion of Tarawa

[2RHPZ]

U.S. Marine Norman Moïse Recalls the World War II Invasion of Tarawa

The returning amtrac churned toward the safety of the invasion fleet at Tarawa. A Japanese shell splashed close behind. A second exploded to the right. Then came the third.

First Person Account by Norman S. Moïse

No one was left alive in the amtrac. By the time I climbed out all those still alive were scattered 50 to 100 yards north of me. I knew there was no way I could muster enough strength to get to the transport ships. It was also too far to go back to the beach.

The water appeared to be 3 or 4 feet deep as I stood on the submerged coral. I allowed the current to push me along to the west. Machine-gun bullets suddenly hit the water about a foot to my right. They had come from the east behind me. I turned to face that direction, and another pattern of machine-gun fire began hitting the water. This time the bullets came directly at me. I waited until they were about 30 yards from me and threw my right arm above my head, twisted my body and flopped into the water. I wanted whoever was firing to think I had been hit, and good; I purposely staggered to my feet, walked two steps, twisted and flopped into the water again. This time I came up facing east. I stayed low in the water so that only my head was exposed. I was confused as to where the fire was coming from. It was exactly like the fire we had taken on our way in.

I saw a destroyer heading straight toward the island, precariously close to the coral reef. Its forward turret belched flame. A large fireball rose from the rusty wreck of an old ship lying about 600 yards north of the island.

Damn! I cursed myself. Four times I had received machine-gun fire, and all four times it had come from that bastard ship. I berated myself for not spotting our antagonist sooner.

As I slowly walked westward with the current, I saw my Bible floating in the water in front of me. It had eased itself out of my jacket pocket. I put it back, and it floated out again. I took my helmet off, turned it upside down, put the Bible in it, and watched them both float away.

Historynet.com (http://www.historynet.com/magazines/world_war_2/3036946.html?featured=y&c=y)

[mas36]

By sheer coincidence, only yesterday was I was looking for the island of Tarawa on Intrepid Earth and could not positively identify it. I can only suspect that after 65+ years, weathering has dramatically altered the island's appearance. Then of course, I may have missed it entirely, I could not tell.

[HOLLiS]

I know a Marine who lives near me, he mustanged at Tarawa. He retired from the Corps as a Major. I have not seen him recently, but he is one very fine gentleman. I have had the honor of listening to his stories. Not many of the old vets left. The gal that we bought our house from, her Dad was a Marine at the Canal.

[gaijinsamurai]

Thanks, 10CRSDER.
Tarawa was the 2nd Marine Division's baptism of fire. The division's regiments (6th Marines, 8th Marines, and 2nd Marines) had all seen action at Guadalcanal, but were there individually, under the 1st Marine Division.
The Marines who landed on Betio (the actual island) were met with a storm of steel by the Japanese defenders, and for some time, it looked grim. But after a while, individual Marines knew they had to get off the beach to avoid being added to the casualty list, and that's when the acts of bravery started to occur. Marines like SSgt. William Bordelon, Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, and Lt. William Hawkins all took individual initiative to storm and take out Japanese pillboxes and machine gun nests, and each ended up with the Medal of Honor, posthumously. The fourth Medal of Honor Recipient, Col. David Shoup, went on to become the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

[GREEN-OWL]

Yeah I really respect those Marines who stormed Tarawa. The invansion was portrayed in the game Medal of Honor Pacific Assault and you play as a Marine. I don't mean to offend anyone by comparing a real battle to a game i'm just saying it kind of gives you an idea of how brave the men who fought WWII were.

[Rakkasans]

If you remember the old US TV comedy "Green Acres" (1965-71) you must remember actor Eddie Albert (Mr Douglas). He was a Lt in the USN in WW2 and received the Bronze Star with V device for his rescue of 70 wounded Marines at Tarawa ( he piloted a landing craft) under heavy machine gun fire.

Tarawa was hell... imagine wading 500 yards to shore in 3 feet of water over a coral reef and exposed beach. All the while under heavy machine gun, mortar, artillery and small arms fire.

[Mastermind]

In my Purple Heart Chapter, we had two ex Marines who were both at Tarawa...an amazing coincidence in my book. They both made it all the way to Iwo and were both wounded quite seriously there. They never met before they came into our PH outfit in 1990. They had some remarkable stories to tell. Now, both have passed.

Every man who went ashore was a super hero. The fighitng on Tarawa epitomizes for me the modern warrior model. I think we would have to search deeply through the history of war to find a more vicious example of human combat.

[beatles101]

but the marines were bogged down for about a few hours

[gaijinsamurai]

Yeah, they were getting slaughtered on the beach and in the water, partly due to faulty Naval intel regarding tides, and unrealistic expectations about the effects Naval gunfire would have on the Japanese defenders. Officers and NCOs were killed leading their men out of amtracks and landing craft, and it wasn't until individual Marines started saying "screw it" and taking the initiative to storm foxholes and bunkers on their own, that the battle started turning in favor of the Americans.

[California Joe]

I knew about Eddie Albert.

Someone correct me if I'm mistaken but I believe the current SEALs can trace their roots back through the UDTs to lessons learned at Tarawa. The need for better beach recon...

[foxtrot023]

I knew about Eddie Albert.

Someone correct me if I'm mistaken but I believe the current SEALs can trace their roots back through the UDTs to lessons learned at Tarawa. The need for better beach recon...

Tarawa and other beaches, but you are correct CJ. The UDTs were known as ¨half fish and half nuts¨ in the Navy.

[beatles101]

did they actually get off of the beach

[gaijinsamurai]

Yes. They captured the island.

[beatles101]

diddn't the u s marines loose alot of marines

[gaijinsamurai]

Yes, they did.
Beatles101, I'd encourage you to read about the battle for Tarawa, if you are interested.
Some good books include:

"Utmost Savagery: The Three Days of Tarawa", by Col Joseph Alexander

"Tarawa: Line of Departure" by Martin Russ

"Tarawa: the Story of a Battle". by Robert Sharrod

" A Hell of a Way to Day". by Derrik Wright.

[beatles101]

are these novels

[foxtrot023]

are these novels

have you even look them up?

[KB]

Thanks, 10CRSDER.
Tarawa was the 2nd Marine Division's baptism of fire. The division's regiments (6th Marines, 8th Marines, and 2nd Marines) had all seen action at Guadalcanal, but were there individually, under the 1st Marine Division.
The Marines who landed on Betio (the actual island) were met with a storm of steel by the Japanese defenders, and for some time, it looked grim. But after a while, individual Marines knew they had to get off the beach to avoid being added to the casualty list, and that's when the acts of bravery started to occur. Marines like SSgt. William Bordelon, Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, and Lt. William Hawkins all took individual initiative to storm and take out Japanese pillboxes and machine gun nests, and each ended up with the Medal of Honor, posthumously. The fourth Medal of Honor Recipient, Col. David Shoup, went on to become the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Not to be a nit picker, but 2ndMarDiv received their baptism of fire on Guadalcanal, when they relieved 1stMarDiv in Jan. 1943. The 2nd Marines actually took part in the initial landing, since the 7th Marines were on occupation duty in American Samoa.

If you want a good read about the 2nd Marine Division, read "Battle Cry" by Leon Uris. Its based upon his experiences in 2/6.

[foxtrot023]

Not to be a nit picker, but 2ndMarDiv received their baptism of fire on Guadalcanal, when they relieved 1stMarDiv in Jan. 1943. The 2nd Marines actually took part in the initial landing, since the 7th Marines were on occupation duty in American Samoa.

If you want a good read about the 2nd Marine Division, read "Battle Cry" by Leon Uris. Its based upon his experiences in 2/6.

Correct me if mistaken, but Tarawa was the 2nd marine div ¨official¨ baptism of fire. Some unit had already participated in other operations, but not as part of the 2nd div., or rather the 2nd not being there as a whole unit

[gaijinsamurai]

Both KB and Foxtrot are correct. All three 2nd Marine Division regiments served on Guadalcanal, but they were there piecemeal, not as an intact division. Tarawa was the first battle in which the division fought as a whole.

[beatles101]

ah no! i did not look them up

[beatles101]

i was watching an interesting doc on the battle it was really interesting

[Sixpints]

Slightly ot, but I came across this pic years ago, IMHO it's one of the best I've seen from the Pacific theater:

http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/images/ww2-147.jpg

U.S. Marine Raiders gathered in front of a Jap dugout on Cape Totkina on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, which they helped to take." January 1944.

more pics at http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/#island

[gaijinsamurai]

Thanks for the links, sixpints! That first one, of the Marine Raiders, is one of my favorites.

[11 Bravo]

I have a photocopy of a pic from a south pacific battle which is amazing in it's detail. There are literally dozens of USMC & Japanese bodies strewn about and together , weapons and equipment - no bloated or rotted. The picture must have been taken the morning after or something like it. It's amazing at the medival look to the slaughter. I'll try and scan the low quality resolution of it I have - maybe someone can identify the time/place. There are a couple marines standing in the smokey/foggy ? distance on a rise with vegetation overlooking the horror.

[gaijinsamurai]

i hope we can see it, 11Bravo.

[James]

Slightly ot, but I came across this pic years ago, IMHO it's one of the best I've seen from the Pacific theater:

http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/images/ww2-147.jpg



more pics at http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/#island

Thank you for posting that link. Amazing is all I can say.