sad to hear......haven't gone back home for almost 13 yrs now....there should be a major clean up and I think the Kiribati government should do something about this too....to honor our soldiers who had given their life for our freedom we also need to give back to them by making this sacred place clean...thanks Mr Cooper for your effort....
I was in Tarawa in 1984 - 45. During this time I was in Batio and found the Eternal Flame was extinguished and in need of repair. I wrote a letter to Washington and it also was ignored.
After the battle the Marines raised both the USA & British flags, since the Gilbert Islands were a British colony at the start of the war. Just some info. for the Brits that are always deriding the USA.
Casualties: USMC & Navy = ~3,356+, 1,056+ KIA, DofW, & MIA, over 2,300+ WIA; Jap. = ~4,836 to 4,849, ~4,690 - 4,713 KIA & 146 POW (17 Jap., 129 Korean). Total: 8,195+ on ~1sq. mile of island & coral reef in ~76 hours.
natives, who have been dumping their biodegradable food leavings for centuries (breadfruit, coconuts, e tc) but now use our "western" diet, junkfood, non-biodegrable. They don't know or care--even so, our government should remove the garbage & institute garbage clean up methods, but our government continues to ignore my many messages urging officials to do this, so it's a combination of ignorant natives and an indifferent government that allows this desecration to remain
Mr. Cooper - Thank you for your service to our great nation. You may also wish to contact the government that now has jurisdiction for the island. I believe the following is their contact info here in the U.S.
Consulate of the Republic of Kiribati
95 Nakolo Place, Room 265
Honolulu, 111 96819
TEL: (808) 834-6775
FAX: (808) 834-7604
I believe the U.S. representative that would represent U.S. interests on the island to be the Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. s/f Ken
Mr. Cooper, Thank you for enlightening us in regards to this problem. I have written to my government official's and have forwarded this video to Bill O Riely at Fox News. Let's hope we all can get this mess cleaned up and restore honor to our men that died there. Can I ask, "Who is polluting these beaches?"
Mr. Cooper: Thank you for your commendable effort to clean up the beaches at Tarawa. The memories of those who fought and died there should not be desecrated.
Tarawa has been desecrated in more ways than one: The People's Republic of China leases part of the island to perform electronic surveillance of our present missle tracking bases at Kwajelein, some 300 nautical miles away.
Strange comments with this video again.
aelreynol24 2 months ago
sad to hear......haven't gone back home for almost 13 yrs now....there should be a major clean up and I think the Kiribati government should do something about this too....to honor our soldiers who had given their life for our freedom we also need to give back to them by making this sacred place clean...thanks Mr Cooper for your effort....
69Bobotoo 7 months ago
Mr Cooper...bless you for fighting for the memory of all who died here on T arawa...
i wish i had the finance to visit and help ..why is the government ignoring this ..??
wrong , wrong , wrong
venttest 1 year ago
@MTNBOY007
Your Name, please. I want to get to the bottom of this
90daywonder 1 year ago
Hello Mr. Cooper.
I was in Tarawa in 1984 - 45. During this time I was in Batio and found the Eternal Flame was extinguished and in need of repair. I wrote a letter to Washington and it also was ignored.
birthoftime 1 year ago
After the battle the Marines raised both the USA & British flags, since the Gilbert Islands were a British colony at the start of the war. Just some info. for the Brits that are always deriding the USA.
Casualties: USMC & Navy = ~3,356+, 1,056+ KIA, DofW, & MIA, over 2,300+ WIA; Jap. = ~4,836 to 4,849, ~4,690 - 4,713 KIA & 146 POW (17 Jap., 129 Korean). Total: 8,195+ on ~1sq. mile of island & coral reef in ~76 hours.
christof139 1 year ago
who threw that stuff there?
nickcage63 2 years ago
natives, who have been dumping their biodegradable food leavings for centuries (breadfruit, coconuts, e tc) but now use our "western" diet, junkfood, non-biodegrable. They don't know or care--even so, our government should remove the garbage & institute garbage clean up methods, but our government continues to ignore my many messages urging officials to do this, so it's a combination of ignorant natives and an indifferent government that allows this desecration to remain
90daywonder 2 years ago
they should ask for people who would like to go there and help cleaning up!
Flamman100 2 years ago
I just returned from Tarawa. Betio is the biggest garbage dump I have ever seen. Pity. CNN should send Anderson Cooper there to check it out.
wharfmouse 3 years ago 2
I am going there for the 65th anniversary of the Battle (Nov 2008). I will check it out.
wharfmouse 3 years ago
Mr. Cooper - Thank you for your service to our great nation. You may also wish to contact the government that now has jurisdiction for the island. I believe the following is their contact info here in the U.S.
Consulate of the Republic of Kiribati
95 Nakolo Place, Room 265
Honolulu, 111 96819
TEL: (808) 834-6775
FAX: (808) 834-7604
I believe the U.S. representative that would represent U.S. interests on the island to be the Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. s/f Ken
KCrouse95630 3 years ago
Mr. Cooper, Thank you for enlightening us in regards to this problem. I have written to my government official's and have forwarded this video to Bill O Riely at Fox News. Let's hope we all can get this mess cleaned up and restore honor to our men that died there. Can I ask, "Who is polluting these beaches?"
Respectfully, Tim M
timitzer 3 years ago
Mr. Cooper: I want to thank you for your efforts in rectifying a tragic situation. Do you have video footage of the trash and the mess?
DaricM62 3 years ago
Mr. Cooper: Thank you for your commendable effort to clean up the beaches at Tarawa. The memories of those who fought and died there should not be desecrated.
endymion616 3 years ago 2
Tarawa has been desecrated in more ways than one: The People's Republic of China leases part of the island to perform electronic surveillance of our present missle tracking bases at Kwajelein, some 300 nautical miles away.
Chester2929 4 years ago