Leon Cooper WW II Vet's Return to Bloody Tarawa

WW II Veteran returns to Red Beach, site of horrific battle with the Japanese in November, 1943. Over 1300 Marines and 4500 Japanese were killed in three days. The beach is now covered in garbage.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Tarawa
• Marines
• South
• Pacific
• World
• War
• II
• Leon
• Cooper
• garbage
• war
• memorial

[ScaredPiglet]

Damn, that Leon Cooper guy is one butt ugly chump! I had to exit out of this early cause I couldn't handle looking at him.

As for all your semper fi worshippers.... not everyone likes america and who died when for what really doesn't matter to most people.

[stevencbarber]

You have been reported to the Commadant of the USMC. We have youre address and phone number. you will be hearing from us.

[ChrsGuit]

So I'm curious as to which story really happened. Not that I'm doubting Leon or anything. I have nothing but utmost respect for our country's fighting men! That being said, in some of the videos Leon mentions "closing the eyes of the dead" and being on burial detail. Is it possible to shed any light on this for me?

[ChrsGuit]

Ok, so I'm a little confused. It says that Leon was a commander of Higgins boats, and during the first waves of battle, he continuously ferried men to the island. From my research, the neap tide on Tarawa wasn't accounted for and only Amtrack transports could cross the reef. The Higgins boats were stuck on or outside the reef. In Leon's book (He labels "part fiction, part fact") he mentions recieving shell shock, returning to the main transport then going "away from the battle for a few days".

[Twom44]

@MTNBOY007 I think you are doing the dishonoring here.

[christof139]

@ScaredPiglet, You should be grateful you live in the US Virgin islands & have never had to do anything to enjoy what freedoms you have you ungrateful, little, spoiled, worthless piece of dog shit.

[christof139]

@ScaredPiglet, I was in the US Army Infantry from 1970-73, Ready Reserve because of the Middle east from 1975-76, & the Active resrve from 1991-92. Go stick your head back in your toilet boy.

You call the Japanese nips, not me. Japanese usually lost in hand to hand combat with USA Infantry. Sorry, you are a true idiot.

[stripemister]

@ScaredPiglet I can spot your kind from a mile away. Let's hear you squeal like a pig...

[ScaredPiglet]

@christof139 If you (well the USA army, not you cause you are too much of a coward to ever join the army) were not supposed to bombard jap defenses, then why was the bombardment done? Duh? And um, of course the nips are gonna shoot at yanks as they approach their defenses. Isn't that how defense works: shoot at the approaching enemy?

If you call the japs nips, you'll get beaten with rifle butts and then beheaded by a katana by some angry, shrieking bushido wannabe. Control your hate.

[christof139]

@ScaredPiglet So coward & gross loser, we were not supposed to bombard the heavily fortified Japanese because it was cowardly, yet the Japanese could stay in those defenses & shoot us up a we came in across the reef & beaches. You say I am a bigot yet you use the deragatory term 'nips' for the Japanese!??! You're a complete hypocrit & asswipe & bigot etc. Go spread your filth elsewhere cowardly punk boy.

[ScaredPiglet]

@christof139 Gee loser, I doubt the nips wanted to stand outside their forts like you are saying they should have. Probably you'd get a bayonet to the balls and gut for trying to suggest that to them. The couple of hours you'd spend writhing in the dirt and your own entrails while screaming hideously would be like angels singing to anyone watching the asshole, failed bully, american bigot getting what he deserves.