I spent three days in Wake in 1966 when the C-130 that was transporting part of my boat company to Viet Nam broke after landing there. The thing I remember most clearly was walking among the albatrosses nesting fields where you could not avoid stepping on their eggs. The albatrosses dived at our unprotected heads. The US Navy ran the place then as now and we were treated very well. Our lieutenant took us out to the lagoon and we had a fantastic time swimming in our skivvy green died shorts.
I still remember the old pictures of my dad (we're from Philippines) while he was still working in this beauiful island... one of which say's "Where americas day really begins!"
Now I am very interested to work in this island!!
@ventosus28 thank you for your coment i still have people looking at it i wonder if is worth any money i have a hd camera i wonder if it would be worth trancefering it again for higher qulity shane
An incredible story. Bill Sloan's book is the best story I have read about Wake. A handful of Marines and civilians held off the Japs for an amazing 3 weeks against unbelievable odds. If Kimmel had not become a scape goat, reinforcements would have arrived in the nick of time. As a US Marine, the story of Wake really makes me swell with pride to hear what my comrades did. A real "David vs Goliath' story...only Goliath won after continual attacks and nearly unlimited resources.
or US Naval guns to fixed ground fortifications... they did knock the snot of the Japs for a long time, and the Imperial Japs didn't forget that fact.
@the82spartans yeah, when Wake had fallen, the Imperial Navy officers looked for the 12 inch artillery pieces that the Americans had used on their ships . . . except there WERE no 12 cannon on Wake! Just 5 inchers!
@ARP7777777 -- need to make a motion picture film of this epic but tragic battle during the first days of WW II in the Pacific...this battle has many stories to tell.
Thank you for posting that video. I was another of the Wake Island kids in the mid 1960s. Your video brought back a lot of memories.
Unfortunately, getting access to Wake Island is very difficult nowdays. From what I understand, it is used as a military radar base. Obviously people can go there- the island isn't abandoned. But unless you work for the D.O.D. AND are on orders, you won't allowed in.
I would go back in a heartbeat if they would allow it.
One more thing. Dropping Nukes on them was bad but consider the alternative. By conservative estimates there would have been well ove 1 million deaths trying to take the Japanese Mainland. The Russians would have gotten involved and probably would have taken Korea and landed in Japan themselves. They would have wanted part of Japan for themselves.
It absolutely was to get them to surrender. Nobody relished the idea of attacking the mainland. Without the nukes indications were that they would not have surrendered without a bloody fight on the mainland. If the Russians became involved it would have become a contest for territory so timing was crucial.
I'm reading "Given Up For Dead" by Bill Sloan right now. Good book. The Japanese killed the civilians because they were running out of food. The commander died in a U.S. prison.
They had the battle won but due to communications being cut the CO thought the battle was lost and surrendered. I don't think they could have withstood another landing. The Japanese had a lot of reserves.
BTW, they do allow people there. Not much to do though, I think the WalMart shut down!
Are you retarted? They still let people on the island.. Watch the documentary about 8 USMC survivors with one living in my town!USMC should have never surrendered the island. Those 98 men that were executed my the japanese on wake island were construction workers that the japanese killed after all of their fellow USMC soldiers were shipped off of the island. We will never forget you, the 98 men executed and you will always be in my memories.. I wish i could go there today and look at the 98 rock
The number executed by the Japanese garrison was 98 if I recall correctly. On Wake Island there is still ( and it should stand forever ) a memorial to those 98 Americans called the "98 Rock".
When Wake fell in 1941, all of the US military personel left were removed from the island by the Japs...Some 40 or more civilian workers were left to re-build air strips, bunkers, etc. for the Japs...In 1943 the Japs executed all of them. I believe they are still buried on the island....The Japs have never apoligized for their crimes.
The U.S. has never apologized for the Atomic Bomb or instigating Pearl Harbor either... so its even steven I'd say. "The Japs". Who says that anymore? This isn't 1944 nor did you serve in WW2 so I dont think you have any cause to be talking like it.
No...I didn't serve, I was only 9-11 years old then. However, some of my school friends had brothers killed in action...One on the carrier "Bunker Hill" off the coast of Okinawa when a Jap Kamikaze hit it, and the other on fighting on Okinawa. Another friend's uncle was killed in the Battle of the Bulge. You had to live in those times and see the Gold Stars hanging in all the windows...My Uncle was also killed fighting on Saipan....So don't tell me how I feel about it when you can't remember.
I suggest looking at Miltours.com they take you around the pacific with War vets who fought on these Islands! I'm currently planning a trip to Midway - Iwo Jima - Wake Island, the Wake tour needs a few more people before they set off it'll set you back about 2k in total but it's really really worth it!
@cinamin45 Thanks for the comment. In the future, I will definitely go. I'm just a 18 year old student in Canada right now.
Midway, Iwo Jima, and Wake Island. I'd want to go for them all too. 2k seems like a good price for just Wake Island. Also, visiting these remote US places seems a lot easier than some of these places in Canada. If I want to go to Alert, or Sable Island, I need permission from the government.
I was there in April 1965. Our C-130 stopped for fuel on the way over to Ubon, Thailand. Brings back memories. Just before the Vietnam War. C-130 was out of Tampa, Fla, MacDill AFB.
BATTLEFIELD!!!
andollio1337 2 months ago
I landed on this shithole on the way back from Vietnam...a worthless place.
Greenhornet270 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I spent three days in Wake in 1966 when the C-130 that was transporting part of my boat company to Viet Nam broke after landing there. The thing I remember most clearly was walking among the albatrosses nesting fields where you could not avoid stepping on their eggs. The albatrosses dived at our unprotected heads. The US Navy ran the place then as now and we were treated very well. Our lieutenant took us out to the lagoon and we had a fantastic time swimming in our skivvy green died shorts.
capereyra2007 1 year ago
Comment removed
capereyra2007 1 year ago
I still remember the old pictures of my dad (we're from Philippines) while he was still working in this beauiful island... one of which say's "Where americas day really begins!"
Now I am very interested to work in this island!!
ventosus28 1 year ago
@ventosus28 thank you for your coment i still have people looking at it i wonder if is worth any money i have a hd camera i wonder if it would be worth trancefering it again for higher qulity shane
take2vidio1 1 year ago
@ventosus28 To do what?
RJBFIRECHIEF1 10 months ago
Comment removed
sgarnerfoster 1 year ago
An incredible story. Bill Sloan's book is the best story I have read about Wake. A handful of Marines and civilians held off the Japs for an amazing 3 weeks against unbelievable odds. If Kimmel had not become a scape goat, reinforcements would have arrived in the nick of time. As a US Marine, the story of Wake really makes me swell with pride to hear what my comrades did. A real "David vs Goliath' story...only Goliath won after continual attacks and nearly unlimited resources.
sgarnerfoster 1 year ago
@sgarnerfoster thanks for you story i am glade i found this old film and shared it with everyone shane
take2vidio1 1 year ago
or US Naval guns to fixed ground fortifications... they did knock the snot of the Japs for a long time, and the Imperial Japs didn't forget that fact.
the82spartans 2 years ago
@the82spartans yeah, when Wake had fallen, the Imperial Navy officers looked for the 12 inch artillery pieces that the Americans had used on their ships . . . except there WERE no 12 cannon on Wake! Just 5 inchers!
ARP7777777 8 months ago
@ARP7777777 -- need to make a motion picture film of this epic but tragic battle during the first days of WW II in the Pacific...this battle has many stories to tell.
the82spartans 8 months ago
was that flak 88s and bunkers of WW2? wow
sultankraver 2 years ago
88's were the German artiliery gun....
I am not sure on Wake, they most likley had a US army version.
the82spartans 2 years ago
Thank you for posting that video. I was another of the Wake Island kids in the mid 1960s. Your video brought back a lot of memories.
Unfortunately, getting access to Wake Island is very difficult nowdays. From what I understand, it is used as a military radar base. Obviously people can go there- the island isn't abandoned. But unless you work for the D.O.D. AND are on orders, you won't allowed in.
I would go back in a heartbeat if they would allow it.
Alfredcd 3 years ago
One more thing. Dropping Nukes on them was bad but consider the alternative. By conservative estimates there would have been well ove 1 million deaths trying to take the Japanese Mainland. The Russians would have gotten involved and probably would have taken Korea and landed in Japan themselves. They would have wanted part of Japan for themselves.
Hurriken42 3 years ago
I don't think the U.S. intention was to take Japan's mainland but rather to have them (government) surrender.
jebby16 2 years ago
It absolutely was to get them to surrender. Nobody relished the idea of attacking the mainland. Without the nukes indications were that they would not have surrendered without a bloody fight on the mainland. If the Russians became involved it would have become a contest for territory so timing was crucial.
Hurriken42 2 years ago
I'm reading "Given Up For Dead" by Bill Sloan right now. Good book. The Japanese killed the civilians because they were running out of food. The commander died in a U.S. prison.
They had the battle won but due to communications being cut the CO thought the battle was lost and surrendered. I don't think they could have withstood another landing. The Japanese had a lot of reserves.
BTW, they do allow people there. Not much to do though, I think the WalMart shut down!
Hurriken42 3 years ago
Are you retarted? They still let people on the island.. Watch the documentary about 8 USMC survivors with one living in my town!USMC should have never surrendered the island. Those 98 men that were executed my the japanese on wake island were construction workers that the japanese killed after all of their fellow USMC soldiers were shipped off of the island. We will never forget you, the 98 men executed and you will always be in my memories.. I wish i could go there today and look at the 98 rock
sunkist99 3 years ago
The number executed by the Japanese garrison was 98 if I recall correctly. On Wake Island there is still ( and it should stand forever ) a memorial to those 98 Americans called the "98 Rock".
terlwe1231 4 years ago
When Wake fell in 1941, all of the US military personel left were removed from the island by the Japs...Some 40 or more civilian workers were left to re-build air strips, bunkers, etc. for the Japs...In 1943 the Japs executed all of them. I believe they are still buried on the island....The Japs have never apoligized for their crimes.
Labaron26 4 years ago
The U.S. has never apologized for the Atomic Bomb or instigating Pearl Harbor either... so its even steven I'd say. "The Japs". Who says that anymore? This isn't 1944 nor did you serve in WW2 so I dont think you have any cause to be talking like it.
doucheberry 4 years ago
No...I didn't serve, I was only 9-11 years old then. However, some of my school friends had brothers killed in action...One on the carrier "Bunker Hill" off the coast of Okinawa when a Jap Kamikaze hit it, and the other on fighting on Okinawa. Another friend's uncle was killed in the Battle of the Bulge. You had to live in those times and see the Gold Stars hanging in all the windows...My Uncle was also killed fighting on Saipan....So don't tell me how I feel about it when you can't remember.
Labaron26 4 years ago 4
They don't allow people???
elli782 4 years ago
man time in history all the death on that island i can smell it
larrythelookout 4 years ago
I want to go there. but they dont let people anymore
ostapslobodian 4 years ago
sorry to hear that
take2vidio1 4 years ago
@ostapslobodian join the air force...went there about 2 months ago..still tons of history on the island
dereklsept 6 months ago
@ostapslobodian Oh yes they do sir!
I suggest looking at Miltours.com they take you around the pacific with War vets who fought on these Islands! I'm currently planning a trip to Midway - Iwo Jima - Wake Island, the Wake tour needs a few more people before they set off it'll set you back about 2k in total but it's really really worth it!
cinamin45 1 month ago
@cinamin45 Thanks for the comment. In the future, I will definitely go. I'm just a 18 year old student in Canada right now.
Midway, Iwo Jima, and Wake Island. I'd want to go for them all too. 2k seems like a good price for just Wake Island. Also, visiting these remote US places seems a lot easier than some of these places in Canada. If I want to go to Alert, or Sable Island, I need permission from the government.
ostapslobodian 1 month ago
I was there in April 1965. Our C-130 stopped for fuel on the way over to Ubon, Thailand. Brings back memories. Just before the Vietnam War. C-130 was out of Tampa, Fla, MacDill AFB.
45rpmrocks 4 years ago
They grow weed on wake island
Ivan2blastabich 4 years ago 3