"With the Marines at Tarawa" (ca. 1945) 1/2

"With the Marines at Tarawa" (ca. 1945)

Tarawa, or Betio Island, was assaulted on November 20th, 1943 by the 2nd Marine Division. The Japanese defended Tarawa with approximately 3,000 men of the 7th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force, "Japanese Imperial Marines," and 1,000 Korean laborers. By the end of the battle 990 U.S. Marines were listed as killed-in-action. Out of the entire Japanese garrison 1 officer and 16 Japanese enlisted men survived. The American public was outraged; by the 3,286 casualties, inflicted on the Marines, for an island 1 square mile in size.

Marine cameraman took amazing combat footage of the 3 day battle. It was up to that time a shocking account of combat in the Pacific. So shocking was the footage, that many top military figures opposed releasing the film: "With the Marines at Tarawa." President Roosevelt overruled all opposition and the film was released for general circulation.

"With the Marines at Tarawa" won an Academy award for: Best Short Documentary in 1945

Category:

Education

Tags:

• US
• Marines
• USMarines
• U.S.Marines
• U.S.
• Marine
• Corps
• USMarineCorps
• World
• War
• II
• WorldWarII
• Tarawa
• Japanese
• Semper
• Fi

[JoshuaV033]

Tarawa one the most bloodiest war in the pacific of over 15000 casualties the highest record in the pacific compared to other islands that the marines fought in!

[2bn442RCT]

@JoshuaV033 1,000 Marines were killed in action for an island 1 1/2 square!

[tomtj460]

I read an article somewhere that 40% of American soldiers wouldn't fire directly at the enemy during ww2.The psychologist [jerk] that wrote that crap obviously hadn't gone up against the japs.You would've dealt with the japanese like you would deal with rabid dogs. I am an aussie and my uncle was forced to dig his own grave then was killed by having a bayonet stuck up his anus,while defending a hospital on Rabaul[New Britain].Good on you Yanks for cleaning them all up.

[2bn442RCT]

I would normally delete a comment like this. However, it's important to understand the race hate on both sides. My uncle , whom I was named after, was a POW after surrendering to those people for 4 years. He hated the "japs" till the day he died. I mean deep hate!

[RKane4u]

My father fought here in WWII. He is still living. God Bless the USMC for all they have done to keep our country free.

[0341MarineInfantry]

@JoshuaV033 Please go recheck your casualty numbers for this battle. The Marines suffered 3,301 casualties of which 992 were killed or died of wounds. This battle, per square mile, was one of the bloodiest the Marines have ever fought.

Semper Fi !!

[FLSHBK1]

@ramberghini I have spoken with several 3-war veteran Marines who served on Tarawa. Some of them fought other big-name battles before/after Tarawa and all say Bloody Tarawa was the worst experience of their individual lives. A Marine was hit every 40 seconds. Corpsmen, many of them wounded themselves, worked nonstop for 3days with no sleep to save as many Marines as they could. One Marine told me he never got resupplied, never slept and never ate in his 76hrs on Tarawa. Many KIAs wading ashore!

[FLSHBK1]

@2bn442RCT (For those few who might be unaware: the 442 Regimental Combat Team was comprised of loyal US-born Japanese (Nisei), who distinguished thmslvs in Europe during WWII. The 442nd is the most highly decorated unit for its size in US military history). My father also hated 'Japs' for 60yrs after the war. Refused to buy Japanese cars or watch war footage. I felt same way abt North Vietnamese for 40yrs. Today's Germans hate Nazis, too. It's mental conditioning, cured only by God's grace.

[FLSHBK1]

@tomtj460 Tom, it hurts to hear of your Uncle's hideous sacrifice. Only God's love alone could ever let anyone forgive that. My father supplied several ANZAC Digger units in the Gilberts and Solomons during the war and spoke highly of them. You are all held in high regard here in the States. Proud to learn that Australia has agreed to host a US Marine base there this year! Good on ya!

[FLSHBK1]

This film glosses over the fact that the Marines' Higgins boats got hung up on the barrier reef, causing them to wade almost 500yds with wet gear thru heavy fire to reach the beach. @06:00 it mentions "wrecked Amphibs" and shows Marines wading ashore. But the AmTracs had no trouble with the reef. It was the Higgins boats which couldn't pass over it. Maj Frank Holland warned about the low Neap and Dodging tides, but the plan was too complex to change. Many were killed or drowned wading ashore.

[eng4squad]

I just want to say thank you for posting this. My grandfather was shot and wounded in this battle. It is good to be able to watch it. ESP since he passed in 1996 and I can no longer talk to him about it. Thanks again.

[0341MarineInfantry]

@MarinePLCcadet Actually....."With The Marines at Tarawa" came out in March of 1944 and was the first real look at the war in the pacific. It was 18 minutes of a place no one had ever heard of, and of the hell that the 2nd MarDiv went to.

Semper Fi !

[MarinePLCcadet]

@Dogmeat1950 the battle of tarawa took place in 1943. the documentary "with the Marines on tarawa" came out in 1945

[rmsolympic1]

Gotta feeling that the next wars we fight, will be as bloody as this. We've been lucky to be spoiled by comparatively bloodless battles.