mini fact: tarawa’s highest natural point is only 10 feet above sea level.
“
More than 1,000 Americans
were killed or presumed dead.
”
the japanese placed about a dozen prefabricated steel pillboxes around the island to serve as local com-
mand posts (above). made of coral sand packed between an inner and outer sheet of steel, this pillbox rests
today (below) exactly where it did in 1943, on the south side of betio’s tail, near the 8-inch guns.
The lore of this epic battle is in-
grained in the foundation of the 2nd Marine
Division. i served with that division 24 years
after tarawa. although i had read about
the battle, nothing compares to standing
on the beaches to gain a sense of what oc-
curred during those 76 hours. More than
1,000 americans were killed or presumed
dead during that bloody battle. Many died
in the lagoon, and a great many drowned at
the reef as they vacated their landing craft.
yet they kept coming. i’m sure the Japanese
could not believe what they were seeing.
those of us who have been under machine-
gun fi re know something of what these
young men endured in the lagoon.
photos: aboVe, UsmC; to p, maj. Dale robinson, UsmC-ret. photos: aboVe, maj. Dale robinson, UsmC-ret.; to p, UsmC January 2007 Military officer 59
Dec_tarawa.indd 59 11/4/09 3:17 PM
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