AssaultonTarawa

November20–23,1943

EricHammel

OnthemorningofSaturday,November20,1943,theU.S.2dMarineDivision

undertookthefirstmodernamphibiousassaultagainstawell-defendedbeachhead.The
objectivewastinyBetioIslandinTarawaAtoll.Theresultwasanimmortalstoryof
tragedyandneardefeatturnedaroundintoanepicofvictoryandindomitablehuman
spirit.

AlthoughtheadmiralscommandingtheTarawainvasionfleethadassuredthe

MarinesthatBetiowouldbepoundedtocoraldustbyamassivenavalandair
bombardment,thefirstwavesofMarinesfoundtheJapanesedefensesintactandmanned
bydeterminedfoes.Withinminutesofthestartofthehead-onassault,theAmericanbattle
planwasashamblesandscoresofMarineshadbeenkilledorwounded.Theassault
virtuallystoppedatthewater’sedge,itsmomentumhaltedbeforemanyMarinesever
dismountedfromtheamphibiantractorsthathadcarriedthemtothedeadly,fire-swept
beach.Follow-upwavesofMarinessufferedgrievouscasualtieswhentheywereforcedto
wademorethan500yardsthroughfire-swept,knee-deepwaterbecausetidalconditions
hadbeenmiscalculatedbytheinvasion’splanners.

In5,500words,militaryhistorianEricHammelfollowsthebloodybattleforBetio

ingraphicdetailasheroicAmericanfightingmenadvanceeverylife-threateningstep
acrossthetinyislandinthefaceofwhatmanyhistoriansagreewasthebestandmost
concentrateddefensesmannedbythebravestandmostcompetentJapanesedefenders
AmericantroopsencounteredintheentirePacificWar.

AssaultonTarawa

November20–23,1943

EricHammel

BooksbyEricHammel

76Hours:TheInvasionofTarawa(withJohnE.Lane)

Chosin:HeroicOrdealoftheKoreanWar

TheRoot:TheMarinesinBeirut

Ace!:AMarineNight-FighterPilotinWorldWarII(withR.BrucePorter)

DuelfortheGolan(withJerryAsher)

Guadalcanal:StarvationIsland

Guadalcanal:TheCarrierBattles

Guadalcanal:DecisionatSea

MundaTrail:TheNewGeorgiaCampaign

TheJollyRogers(withTomBlackburn)

KheSanh:SiegeintheClouds

FirstAcrosstheRhine(withDavidE.Pergrin)

Lima-6:AMarineCompanyCommanderinVietnam(withRichardD.Camp)

AmbushValley

FireintheStreets

AcesAgainstJapan

AcesAgainstJapanII

AcesAgainstGermany

AirWarEuropa:Chronology

CarrierClash

AcesatWar

AirWarPacific:Chronology

AcesinCombat

MarinesatWar

CarrierStrike

PacificWarriors:TheU.S.MarinesinWorldWarII

IwoJima:PortraitofaBattle

MarinesinHueCity:PortraitofanUrbanBattle

TheU.S.MarinesinWorldWarII:Guadalcanal

TheU.S.MarinesinWorldWarII:NewGeorgia,Bougainville,andCapeGloucester

TheU.S.MarinesinWorldWarII:TarawaandtheMarshalls

TheForge

CoralandBlood

TheRoadtoBigWeek

IslandsofHell

AlwaysFaithful

TheSteelWedge

MarinesOnGuadalcanal

MarinesIntheSolomons

MarinesOnNewBritain

BloodyTarawa

MarinesIntheMarshalls

MarinesIntheMarianas:Vol.1:Saipan

MarinesIntheMarianas:Vol,2:TinianandGuam

MarinesOnPeleliu

MarinesOnIwoJima:Vol.1and2

MarinesOnOkinawa

TiltheLastBugleCall

AssaultonTarawa

November20–23,1943

EricHammel

PacificaMilitaryHistory

Copyright©2016byEricHammel

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic
ormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissionin
writingfromthepublisher.

Requestsforpermissiontomakecopiesofanypartoftheworkshouldbemailedto:Permissions,PacificaMilitary
History,1149GrandTetonDrive,Pacifica,California94044.

CoverbyTomHeffron,Hudson,Wisconsin

MapbyMeridianMapping,Minneapolis,Minnesota

ForacompletelistingofallthemilitaryhistorybookswrittenbyEricHammelandcurrentlyavailableinprintorfor
Kindle,visit:http://www.EricHammelBooks.com

Afreesamplechapterfromeachbookisavailableinthesite’sFreesection.

Pleasealsovisithttp://www.PacificaMilitary.com

AssaultonTarawa

November20–23,1943

EricHammel

TheinvasionofTarawatookplaceonNovember20–23,1943.Itwasthefirstof

theMarineCorps’“classic”amphibiousassaultsoverareefagainstadefendedbeach.As
such,itrepresentedthepinnacleofachievementtothattimeinthetheoryofamphibious
assault,alearningprocessthathadbeentakingplacefortheentirehistoryoftheUnited
StatesMarineCorps.TheinvasionofTarawawasasmuchatestofthedoctrine,training,
andequipmenttheMarineCorpshaddevelopedsince1998asitwastheboldseizureofan
islandairbasedeepwithinJapanese-heldterritory.

Whenthe2ndMarineDivisionleftitstrainingbasesinNewZealandatthe

beginningofNovember1943(justastheBougainvilleCampaignwasgettingunderway),
itwasamixtureofveteranswhohadbeenbloodedinjunglecombatatGuadalcanaland
untestedtroopsandtroopleaderswhohadarrivedinNewZealandoveranine-month
periodtoreplacevastnumbersofmenwhohadcomedownwithdebilitatingtropical
diseasesatGuadalcanal.Theveterantroopswereleanandhard,andtheywereledby
officersandstaffnon-commissionedofficerswhoknewtheirtradewell.

TheUnitedStatesNavyhadassembledthelargestbombardmentforceseeninthe

Pacifictothattime:severalbattleshipsmounting14-or16-inchguns,cruiserswith6-and
8-inchbatteries,anddestroyerswith5-inchbatteriesforclose-inwork.Aflotillaof
aircraftcarriers,eachbrimmingwithlightbombersandfighters,wouldbeonhandto
softenthewayandprovide“close”airsupport,whichwasthefocusofanemerging
doctrinethatwasitselftobetestedatTarawa.Sopowerfulwasthebombardmentforce
thatveryseniorU.S.NavyofficersboastedthattheMarineswouldbeneededonlytogo
ashoretopickupthepieces.Nothing,itwasfelt,couldsurvivethemassivebombardment.

Itwasnottobe.Inthetwodaysbeforethereinforced2ndMarineDivisionwasto

land,thebattleships,cruisers,destroyers,fighters,andbombersundertookthemost
massivepre-landingbombardmentanynavyhadeverhurledatanyshoreobjective.The
tinyislandofBetio,littlemorethantwoacresinsize,was,itwasassumed,pulverized.
Thefivethousand-manJapanesegarrison(threethousandnavalinfantrymen—rikusentai
—andtwothousandconstructionandbasetroops)wasthoughttobeobliterated.

Thethreebattalionsofthe2ndMarineRegiment(2ndMarines),plusthe2nd

Battalion,8thMarines;atwelve-gun75mmpack-howitzerbattalion;acompanyof
ShermanM4mediumtanks;theentirereinforced2ndAmphibiousTractorBattalion;
engineers;pioneers(shoreparty);andseveralspecial-weaponscompaniesarmedwith
37mmand75mmantitankguns—aboutsixthousandmeninall—wereawakenedaboard
theirtransportsat0300onNovember20andlaunchedintoaflurryofactivity.Abreakfast
ofsteak,eggs,andcoffeewasservedtoallhands;last-minutebriefswereheld;weapons
werecheckedandrechecked;andlettershomewerewritten.Thechaplainswerevery

busy,too.

Thenitwas“Go!”Thetroopspickedtheirwaygingerlydownthecargonets,

queasyastheswellsthatrockedthetransportshitthesteakandeggsthatlayheavilyin
theirstomachs.Thetensioncouldbecutwithanaxe.

ItwasnotyetlightasthefirstlandingcraftandMarine-filledamtracs(amphibian

tractors)sweptoutoftheirassemblycirclesandheadedtowardtheunseenbeaches.A
destroyerbrokeawayfromthebombardmentflotillaandracedtowardtheshore,spewing
5-inchshellsasfastasherpracticedgunnerscouldreload.

Dawnbroughtthefirstgreatpillarsofsmoketotheviewoftheassaultcompanies,

butmostofthemenweretoosicktocarewhatwasgoingonaroundthem.Theseawas
notrunningparticularlyhigh,butthosegreasysteak-and-eggbreakfastswere.Betiowas
barelyfourfeetabovesealevel,onlytenfeetatitshighestpoint.Itwouldnotbeseenuntil
thelandingcraftandamtracshadpassedthroughthefirstreef.

Behindthefourinfantryassaultbattalionsandtheirsupports,tworeserveinfantry

battalionswerefilingintotheirlandingcraft.NoneofthesetwothousandMarines
expectedtofight.Infact,the3rdBattalion,8thMarines,hadbeenassignedtheunmanly
taskofcombingtherubblecreatedbythenavalbombardment—insearchofusefulbooty
anddeadbodiestobeburied.

Closertoshore,nowvisibleastheminutehandcrepttowardH-hourandthefirst

waveofamtracsinchedacrossTarawaLagoon,Marinesintheamtracscouldseethatthe
giantbattleshipshellsthatwerestillbeingfiredatBetiowerecaromingharmlesslyover
theseaonthefarside.Itisasadfact,buttrue,thatthebravadoofthenavy,which
includedstandingcloseinshore,hadrenderedmostofthenoisytwo-daybombardment
ineffectual.Hadthebattleshipsandcruisersstoodfartheroutandloftedtheirshellsat
higheranglesoftrajectory,therewouldhavebeenampledestruction.Asitwas,hardlyany
largeshellsdetonatedontheisland.

Minutesbeforethefirstassaultwaveswereduetoarrive,twolandingcraftswept

intowardtheheadofthe500-yard-longpierthatranfromthereefsurroundingBetiotoa
pointaboutmidwayalongtheisland’snorthernbeach.Inoneboatwasthe2ndMarines’
Scout-and-SniperPlatoon.Intheotherwasaplatoonofassaultengineers.Thescout-
platoonleader,1stLieutenantWilliamDeaneHawkins,followedbyathree-manfireteam,
jumpedtothepierheadfromtheirmovingboat.Engineerslandedafewyardsaway,ata
seaplaneramp.TheirjobwastoclearJapanesemachinegunnersfromthearea,forthe
pierheadwasaperfectplacefromwhichtosweeppassingamtracsandlandingcraftwith
deadlyfire.SeveralJapanesewerefound,severalTNTchargeswereset,andthenthe
scoutsandengineersleapedbackintotheirboatstofollowtheleadamtracwavestothe
beach.

Meanwhile,thefirsttroop-ladentractorshadswepttowithinmachinegunrange,

andthedefendersopenedfire,killingorseverelywoundingnumerousamtracdrivers,and
causinginfantrysquadsandplatoonstobecomeunglued.Manyotheramtracdrivers
swervedfromthefirelanesandsoughtless-contestedroutes,thoughdoingsofurther
destroyedunitintegrity.

Theworstsurpriseofallcamewhentheleadamtracscollidedwiththereef500

yardsfromshore.Thisreefwasaknownquantity,butitwasfelttherewouldbeenough
wateroverittofloattheassaultboatsofthefollowingwaves.Theamtracscrossedthereef
highanddry,buttherewasnotenoughwatertofloatevenemptylandingcraft.

Navycarrier-basedfighterpilotssweptinlowovertheheadsofthetroopsinthe

amtracsandattemptedtosuppresstheeffortsofthehundredsofrikusentairiflemenand
gunnerswhowerebythenpouringanincreasingvolumeoffireintotheoncoming
amtracs.Buttherewastimeforonlyonepass.Thentheaircraftpulledoffasthefirst
Marinegroundtroopsdroveashore.

ThreereinforcedMarineinfantrybattalionslandedacrossthreebeachesonBetio’s

northernshore.(Fromrighttoleft—westtoeast—the3rdBattalion,2ndMarines;the2nd
Battalion,2ndMarines;andontheeasternsideofthemainpier,the2ndBattalion,8th
Marimes.)Atnopointonanyofthosebeacheswasitsafeforthetroopstodisembark.
Hereandthere,braveamtracdriversdroveinlandtotheirobjectives,butnearlyallofthe
fifty-plusvehiclesinthefirstwavestoppedatthethree-foot-highseawall;mostcouldnot
climboverthewall,butwheretherewerebreakstheamtracswerealsostopped,disabled
byconcentratedgunfire.Thenexttwoassaultswaves—seventy-fivemoreamtracs,all
therewereleftinthe2ndMarineDivision—hitthebeach,rightontime.

Askeyed-upMarineinfantrymenimmediatelyvaultedthesidesoftheiramtracs,

mostwereexposedtowitheringblastsofclose-ingunfire.Manytroopleaderswerekilled
orwounded.Immediately,nearlyallthesurvivorshunkereddownbehindtheseawall—
anxious,confused,leaderless.Oneoftheassaultcompaniesofthe2ndBattalion,2nd
Marines,whichlandedonthecenterbeach—Red-2—lostfiveofitssixofficerswithin
minutes,andoneofitsplatoonswasdrivenhundredsofyardsoffcourse,landingatthe
extremewesterntipoftheisland,whereitjoinedthe3rdBattalion,2ndMarines,onBeach
Red-1.Theleftbattalion,the2ndBattalion,8thMarines,landedonBeachRed-3against
justslightlylessfireandinreasonableorganizationalcondition,butheavyfirefrom
severalbunkersrightoffthebeachheldtheseMarinestozerogains.

Fewerthan1,200Marines—allinfantrymenorengineers—hadlandedinthefirst

threewaves.Reinforcementsandheavierweaponsweredesperatelyneeded.Theywereon
theway—threefreshinfantrycompanies,81mmmortars,machineguns,andhundredsof
specialtroops.Buttheywereaboardlandingcraft,notamtracs,andtherewasnowayto
tellthemthattheirshallow-draftboatscouldnotgetoverthereef.

Thefirstoftheplywoodlandingcraftslammedintothereef,bucklingthekneesof

themenwhorodeinthem,sendingmanysprawlingtothewetdecks.Theboatcrews
dutifullydroppedthesteelbowramps,theonlyprotectiontheMarineshadhadagainst
thousandsofbulletsthatwereconvergingonthedozenorsoboats.Mendroppedintothe
water,ortheyfelldeadorwoundedintheboats.Thosewhosurvivedthesheetsof
defensivefirestruggledacrossthebeltofcoralthathadstoppedtheboatsandjumpedoff
intowaterthatwasbarelywaist-deep.

Therewasabsolutelynoprotectionforthewadingmenofthe3rdBattalion,2nd

Marines,offRed-1,butthemenofthe2ndBattalion,2ndMarines,andthe2ndBattalion,
8thMarines,wereluckier,mostofthem,fortheycouldangletowardthe500-yard-long
mainpierandcontinueontothebeachwithitactingasabarrierformostofthegunfire.

ThereisnowaytoknowhowmanyMarinesdiedinthosefirstshockingminutesafterthe
landingcraftstruckthereef.

Hereandthere,amtracsthathadpulledoffthebeachafterdeliveringthefirst

wavesoftroopspickedupthewoundedandcarriedthemtorescueboatsbeyondthereef.
Otheramtrackersstoppedtopickuptheuninjuredlivingwhowereduckingfireonthefar
sideofthereef,andthesetheycarriedtotheseawall,wherehundredsoftheircomrades
hadsoughtcover.Ridinganamtractothebeachwasnotafreepass,however;dozens
moreMarinesdiedandseveralmoreamtracsweredisabledastheyslammedintothe
incrediblevolumeofthefirethedefenderswerepumpingout.

Hereandthere,smallgroupsofMarines,someledbyofficersandnon-

commissionedofficers,butmanyledbybraveprivatesandprivatesfirstclass,took
controloftinypatchesofground.Fewandfarbetweenweretheorganizedsquadsand
platoonsthatfoundsafepassagetocratersasfarastenorfifteenyardssouthofthe
seawall.Nevertheless,mostMarines,shockedanddazedbytheferocityoftheJapanese
gunfire,simplyhuddledbehindtheseawall,safelybelowtheomnipresentstreamsof
Japanesebullets.

ThislandingofthefirstthreereinforcedMarineinfantrybattalionswas,forallthe

heroicdeterminationofverybravemen,anunrelieveddisaster.Almostasareflexto
adversity,wellwithinthelimitsoftheprudentplanthatguidedthem,theleadersclosestto
thescenearrangedforthereservebattaliontobelanded.Thisunit,the1stBattalion,2nd
Marines,wassenttothereefbyboat.There,itrendezvousedwithfewerthanadozen
amtracs,allthatcouldbegatheredatshortnoticefromtheshattered2ndAmphibious
TractorBattalion.Severalrifleplatoonswerequicklybrokendownintosquadelements,
filledoutwithafewengineersandmachinegunners,andtransferredfromthelanding
crafttotheamtracs.Thenthelandingcraft,whichwerebythenreceivingheavyfire,
withdrewtoasaferdistancewhilethemini-assaultheadedforthecenterbeach,Red-2,to
bolstertheimmobile2ndBattalion,2ndMarines.

Therewerecasualtiesinflicteduponthesereinforcements,buttheylandedandre-

formed,tooweakasyettohaveanimpactuponthebattle,butrelativelyunshaken,and
thereforeofusefargreaterthanthelargerknotsofstunnedmenwholaydisorganizedand
disheartenedattheirfeet.Thefirstimportantgainsweremadeinaquicksequenceofjabs
thatledthesefreshtroopsandsomemembersoftheintermixed2ndBattalion,2nd
Marines,totheedgeoftheJapaneserunwaythathadfirstmarkedBetioasaworthwhile
objective.

Asthefirstelementsofthe1stBattalion,2ndMarines,struggledacrossthe

seawall,othersquadsandplatoonsofthebattaliondribbledashore.Wherepossible,these
newcomersalsocrossedtheseawall,leadingstillmoreMarinesfromthe2ndBattalion,
2nd,southward.Asthefirstseriesofgainsweremade,ColonelDavidShoup,the
commanderofthe2ndMarines—themaninchargeoftheassault—landedwithhisstaff
andonecriticallyneededcommandradio,thefirsttosurvivethetriptoRed-2.

Totherightandleft,onBeachesRed-1andRed-3,elementsofthe3rdBattalion,

2nd,andthe2ndBattalion,8th,achievedminorgains.Red-1wasisolatedfromRed-2bya
formidableJapanesestrongpoint,andtherewerenotenoughMarinesoneitherbeachto

fightthroughtolinkuporreducethestrongpoint.The3rdBattalion,2nd,onRed-3was
isolatedbyawidegapfromthetwobattalionsonRed-2,anditalsofacedanextremely
formidabledefensivenetworkrightattheedgeoftheseawall.GainsonRed-3were
measuredinfeet.

EachofthedwindlingnumberofamtracsthatreachedRed-2broughtinabouta

dozenfreshMarines.Ofeachdozen,anaverageofsixquicklybecamecasualtiesor
soughtcoverbehindtheseawall.Buttheremainingsixclimbedwarilyovertheseawall
andran,rolled,andcrawledacrossthefinecoralsandandmixeddebristoholesorthe
wrecksofbuildingsandbunkersthatcouldbedefendedandusedaswaystationsfor
additionalsmalladvancessouthward.

AssoonasColonelShoupcouldmakeanassessmentoftheawfulsituationonthe

beach,heaskedthatthe3rdBattalion,8thMarines,belandedtosupportthe2ndBattalion,
8th,onBeachRed-3.Thefreshbattalionwasmountedinaboutadozenpersonnelboats
andlargetanklighters,butnoonetolditsofficersaboutthereefbarrier,andnoonesent
amtracstomeetit.Aswiththefollow-upcompaniesoftheleadbattalions,the
unsuspectingtroopsofthe3rdBattalion,8th,wereshockedtothesolesoftheirfeetwhen
theirlandingcraftslammedintothereef.

RampsweredroppedandMarinesdutifullysteppedintothewitheringJapanese

gunfire.DozensofMarinesdiedintheboatsandatopthereef.Hundreds,however,
sidesteppedtothepier,anagonizinglyslowseveral-hundred-yardwadethroughchest-and
hip-deepwaterformanyofthem.Hundredsofweapons,packs,helmets,radios,and
mortarroundswerejettisonedintothelagoon,thebettertogainsurvivalintheprogress-
impedingwater.

Severalhundredmembersofthe3rdBattalion,8th,stoppedatthepierheadto

catchacollectivebreath.Hundredsmorewadedtothebeachononesideoranotherofthe
pier.Ofthese,hundredshunkereddownbehindtheseawall.Andofthosefewwhoentered
thefightbesidethebloodiedcompaniesofthe2ndBattalion,8th,onlyafewdozenwere
ingagglesthatcouldbecalledorganized.Thefirstreinforcementsfromthe3rdBattalion,
8th,toreachRed-3helpedtakealittleground,buttheoddsweretooheavilyagainsttheir
havingamajorimpact.

Therewasonlyoneuncommittedinfantrybattalionremainingunderthe

operationalcontrolofthe2ndMarineDivision,andthatwasthe1stBattalion,8th
Marines.The6thMarineRegimentwassteamingaroundincirclesnearBetio,butitwas
theForceReserve,aslikelytobesenttosupporttheU.S.Army’s27thInfantryDivision
initsbidforMakin,anatollwelltothenorthofTarawa,astoBetio.Untilthe6thMarines
couldbereleasedbytheforcecommander(MarineMajorGeneralHollandM.Smith),the
2ndMarineDivisionwouldhavetoexerciseextremecautioninthecommitmentofitslast
meaningfulasset.

Ofthethreeassaultbeaches,Red-1wasthemostisolated.Thebulkofthe3rd

Battalion,2ndMarines,wasprobingoutwardfromasmallbutsecureperimeterithad
establishedearlyaroundthenorthwesttipoftheisland.Itdidnotseemworthwhileto
reinforceRed-1becausethesituationwasfairlystableandbecausetherewasnowhereto
goevenifthelocalobjectives—BeachGreenandthesouthwesttipoftheisland—were

completelysecured.

Thesurvivingportionsofthe1stand2ndBattalions,2ndMarines,andthe

regimentalheadquarterswereonRed-2,thecenterbeach.Theseunitshadanopportunity
totakegroundtothesouth,soRed-2seemedalikelyplacetolandthe1stBattalion,8th.
SodidRed-3.Theinitialassaultbattalionthere,the2ndBattalion,8th,wasfairlywell
organizedand,thoughitwasmeetingfierceopposition,itsprospectswerefairlybright.
Onefactorfavoringalandingbythe1stBattalion,8th,onRed-3wasthatthe8thMarines
regimentalheadquarterscouldthencontrolallthreeofitsowninfantrybattalionsina
definablearea.Whetherforthistacticalintegrityorbetterreasons,itwasdecidedtoland
the1stBattalion,8th,onRed-3,behindthe2ndand3rdBattalions,8th.Butitwasnotto
be.Communicationsdifficultiesandanerrorbyanaerialobserverkeptthe1stBattalion,
8th,circlingoffshoreallnight.

D-dayatBetioendedwithmorethanninethousandMarinescommittedtothe

fight.Hundredshaddiedorbeengravelyinjuredjusttryingtogettothetinyrimofbeach,
manyothersweresimplyimmobilizedbyshock.Four75mmpackhowitzershadbeen
successfullylanded,ashadtwohalftracksandfourmediumtanks(ofsixteendispatched),
eachmountinga75mmgun.Therewerealsoafew37mmantitankguns.Noobjectives
worthmentioninghadbeensecured.

Mostofthemenwhohadsurvivedthetriptothebeachesweredemoralized,and

nearlyallofthemwerehuddledbehindtheseawallorundercoverinaspreadingarrayof
shellandbombcraters.Forthemostpart,theywereunableorunwillingtoorganize
themselvesintocombatunits,oradvanceinanymeaningfulnumbers.

Ammunition,food,water,andmedicalsupplieswerenotgettingtothebeaches,

thoughbravesailorsandMarineswereriskinglifeandlimbrunningboatloadsofgoodsto
thepierhead,whichwasascloseastheycouldgettothebeach.Therewerenotnearly
enoughamtracslefttoevacuatethewounded,bringinfreshtroops,landartillery,and
carrysuppliesfromthepierheadtothebeaches.Yetallofthesethingsweredone—and
toooftendoneuntodeath—bytheincrediblybraveamtrackers.Butsuchbraverywasnot
nearlyenough.

Itwasfinallylearnedatthe2ndMarineDivisioncommandpost(aboardthe

battleshipMaryland)intheweehoursofD+1—November21,1943—thatthe1st
Battalion,8th,hadnotyetlandedonRed-3.Giventhisopportunitytorethinkhisearlier
decision,thedivisioncommander,MajorGeneralJulianSmith,orderedthefreshbattalion
toRed-2,thecenterbeach.Itwasbythenclearthatthebestchanceofultimatesuccess
residedthere.Beforeitwasdecidedtolandthe1stBattalion,8th,however,theproposition
thatalltheshatteredbattalionsalreadyonBetiobeevacuatedwasdebated—andrejected.

Forunknownreasons,the1stBattalion,8th,wasnotinformedofthedeadly

problematthereef.Norwereanyamtracscollectedtocarrythefreshtroopsin.Wellafter
sunrise,inplainviewofthousandsofhorrifiedMarinesandpleasedJapanese,theboats
bearingtheuninformedbattalionslammedintothereefalongseveralhundredyardsof
frontage500yardsfromRed-2.Theboatcrewsdutifullydroppedramps.Andthedutiful
Marinesjumpedintothewaterandwalkeduprightacrosstheexposedreefbeforewading
intothewaist-deeplagoon.Japanesemachinegunnersshotthe1stBattalion,8th,to

ribbons.

Thesurvivorsofthebattalion(CompanyA,forexample,musteredfewerthan

seventyeffectivesonthebeach,downfromtwohundred)formedupontherightflankof
Red-2and,withbitsandpartsofotherunits,swungovertotheattack.Theyground
slowlyintotheclusteredbunkersandpillboxesthatbarredthewaytoRed-1andalink-up
withtheisolated3rdBattalion,2nd.Thissingleattackbytheshatteredbattalionranks
withthebravestofundertakingsinalltheannalsofallthewarsrecordedbyMankind—
yetfewactionshavegonesolongunsung.

Evenasthe1stBattalion,8th,wasbeingcuttoribbonsinthewater,whatremained

ofthe3rdBattalion,2nd,onRed-1,attackedsouthwardfromitstineenclave.Supportwas
providedbyseveralU.S.Navydestroyersstandingoffshoreandtwomediumtanks,of
whichonlyonehada75mmmainguninworkingorder.Inhoursofbitterfighting,the
battalionreachedthesouthshoreofBetio.ByclearingBeachGreentheattackprovided
thefirstsafeaccesstoBetio.

Asthe3rdBattalion,2nd,tookitsgroundsouthofRed-1,elementsof1stand2nd

Battalions,2nd,reachedthesouthernbeachoppositeRed-2.Defendersintheground
betweenthesebeachesremainedlivelyanddeeplyentrenched,andbothflanksremained
dangerouslyexposed,butsmallgroupsofMarineswerefedsouthwardtosecurethelarge
stretchesofopengroundthatprovidedhavenfordozensandperhapshundredsofJapanese
snipersandmachinegunners.

TherewerealsomodestgainsonRed-3duringD+1.Agreatdealoftimeandeffort

wentintoorganizingthe2ndBattalion,8th’sstablelineandreorganizingthe3rd
Battalion,8th,fromthehundredsofD-daydropoutswhoreportedfordutyduringthe
secondday.Mostly,thetwobattalionsonRed-3consolidatedtheirmeagergainsand
edgedclosertotheseveralformidablestrongpointstheJapaneseweredoggedlymanning
withinspittingdistanceoftheseawall.GainsweremodestonRed-3thisday,butplentyof
Japanesedied,andsomekeygroundwastaken.

The6thMarineswasreleasedtothe2ndMarineDivision’soperationalcontrollate

inthemorning.Shortlyafterreceivingthisgoodnews,MajorGeneralJulianSmith
learnedthatBeachGreenhadbeensecuredbythe3rdBattalion,2nd.Itwasdecidedto
landthe1stBattalion,6thMarines,onBeachGreenandsenditintotheattackdownthe
longaxisoftheisland.Meanwhile,the2ndBattalion,6th,wastolandontheadjacent
island,Bairiki,tocuttheJapaneselineofretreatandprovidesecurityforthedozen75mm
packhowitzersofthe2ndBattalion,10thMarines.OncelandedonBairiki,thehowitzer
andinfantrybattalionswouldhavetheJapaneseonBetioboxedin.

At1706,November21,ColonelDaveShoupwasaskedbythedivisioncommand

posttofileasituationreport.Hisreplywasaclassicofsangfroid:“Casualtiesmany;
percentagedeadnotknown.CombatEfficiency:Wearewinning.”

Itturnedoutthatthe1stBattalion,6thMarines,couldnotbelandedonBeach

GreenuntilverylateonD+1.Thedivisioncommanderthereforedecidedtodelaythe
battalion’sgroundattackuntildaylight.

November22,1943—D+2—wasthebestdaythe2ndMarineDivisionhadat

Tarawa.ItwasthedaytheJapaneselosttheirgrip.Mountingitsassaultdownthelong

axisofthetinyisland,thefullyintact1stBattalion,6th,metupwithpartsoftheother
unitsthathadstruggledinlandfromRed-1andRed-2onD-dayandD+1.Behindthe1st
Battalion’6th’ssteadyadvance,growingportionsofthe1stand2ndBattalions,2nd,
scouredtheareabetweenthenorthernandsouthernbeaches,eradicatingJapanesesnipers
wherevertheycouldbelocated.AttheboundaryofRed-1andRed-2,facingtheintensely
defendedbeach-boundarystrongpoint,the1stBattalion,8th,wasjoinedbythe3rd
Battalion,2nd,andbothunitsadvancedgingerlyintothebuilt-uparea.Intime,thetwo
wearybattalionslinkedupandpresseduponthestrongpointfromthreesides.Therewas
norationaltacticalreasonfordefendingthisarea,buteachJapanesecombatant’smission
inlifewasdyingforhisEmperor,andthatiswhateachofthemdid—unfortunatelyat
greatcostinAmericanlives.

ThetwobattalionsonRed-3alsomadesignificantgainsonD+2.Thekeytothe

Japanesedefensewasahugecoveredbunker,barelytenyardssouthoftheseawall.(Iften
yardsseemsapiddlingdistance,considerthatthesetwobattalionshadbeencrammedinto
aperimeterseventy-fiveyardswidebytwentyyardsatitsdeepestpointfortwofulldays!)
D+1hadseenthedestructionofseveraloutlyingpillboxesandbunkers,butthekeytothe
mainbunkerwasfinallyturnedbyatinygroupofengineersandpioneers(shoreparty)led
byatwenty-eight-year-oldpioneerplatooncommandernamedAlexanderBonnyman,Jr.

LieutenantBonnymanandhispioneers,whohadnothingofficialtodointhe

absenceofboatstounload,hadbeenkeepingbusyfortwodaysrunningattacksagainst
pillboxesandotherdefendedbuildings.AttackingtheJapanesecommunicationsbunker
onRed-3wasajobtheyhadassignedtothemselves.

Thetinygroupworkedbrieflyinthecoverofaflimsytinwall,thenrushedone-

by-onetothetopofthebunker.There,oneofthetwoflamethrowersoperatingonRed-3
wasfiredintotheventilationductsstickingupthroughthesandyshroudthatmadethe
bunkerseemlikeBetio’sonlyhill.

Suddenly,thebunker’sgreatsteelmaindoorwasthrownopenandadozenormore

Japanesechargeduptheten-foot-highman-madehill.Therewerefewmentoseethis
charge,andonlyone,AlexanderBonnyman,hadaloadedweapon.HeheldtheJapanese
offforcrucialmoments,killingseveral.AsarmedMarinesrushedtohisaid,Bonnyman
waskilledbyahandgrenadehurledbyanattacker.(HewasawardedaposthumousMedal
ofHonor.)TheflamethrowerforcedalltheJapanesetoevacuatethestructure.Theyran
directlyintothefireofthelastmediumtankonRed-3,andnearlyahundredwerekilledin
theopen,themostJapaneseanyoneonRed-3sawatonetimeduringtheentirebattle.

Thefallofthecoveredcommunicationsbunkerallowedthe2ndand3rd

Battalions,8thMarines,theluxuryofre-formingintobattaliontacticalunits.Whilemost
ofthe3rdBattalion,8th,clearedgroundsouthofthebeach,the2ndBattalionattacked
eastwardandsoonreducedasecondhugeconcretebunker,theheadquartersofthe
Japaneseadmiralwhocommandedthedefenders.Itisnotknownwhethertheadmiraland
hisstaffdiedatthehandsoftheseMarines,oriftheywerekilledearlierbynavalgunfire,
butdietheydid.AssoonastheJapanesecommandbunkerfell,the2ndBattalion,8th,dug
inandsentplatoonsandsquadstothereartopryouttheinfestationofsnipersithadleftin
itswake.

AllthroughD+2,asthe2ndand8thMarinestookgroundalongthebeaches,the

1stBattalion,6thMarines,advancedsteadilyeastwardupBetio’slongaxisagainstminor
opposition.Therewereafewbigfightsatseverallargestrongpoints,butMarinecasualties
werelightandgainsweresubstantial.The1stBattalion,6th,finallystoppedinlinewith
the2ndBattalion,8th’sfarthestadvanceandduginforthenight.Bythen,the3rd
Battalion,6thMarines,hadbeenlandedonBeachGreen,andithadbeenbroughtupto
supporttheadvance.

TheJapaneselostitthatnight.ThoughtheultimateoutcomeofthebattleforBetio

hadpassedbeyonddoubt,graveharmmighthavebeeninflictedupontheattackersifthe
defendershadfoughtthecontinuingadvancefromthenarrow,relativelyuntouched
easterntailoftheisland.Hotheadsapparentlytookcontrol,foranestimatedfivehundred
able-bodiedJapaneseassaultedthedug-in1stBattalion,6thMarines,duringthenight.
Massedinfantryweaponscombinedwithsupportingfiresfromseveraldestroyersoffshore
andthedozenMarine75mmpackhowitzersonBairikidoomedtheJapaneseassaultatits
outset.Thefightwastough,andcasualtiesamongtheMarinedefenderswereheavy,but
nearlyalltheJapanesewhohadlivedonBetioatsunsetweredeadbysunrise.

Betiowasdeclaredsecureat1305,November23,1943,followingarelatively

bloodlesssweepoftheeasterntailoftheislandbythe3rdBattalion,6th.Justbeforethis
freshbattalionattaineditsgoal,thelastorganizedresistancefacingthe3rdBattalion,2nd,
andthe1stBattalion,8th,wasovercomeatthebeach-boundarystrongpoint.Snipers,
manyofthembadlywoundedmeninblastedbuildingsallacrossBetio,heldoutfordays,
takingatollofcombatMarinesandthetechnicianswhofollowedthemcloselytoexpand
Betio’sair-basefacilitiesforthecontinuedadvanceacrosstheCentralPacific.

Injustseventy-sixhours,almosttotheminute,allbutthirteenJapanese

servicemenandallbutonehundredthirty-fourKoreanandOkinawanslavelaborerswho
hadmannedBetioweredead.SoweremorethansixhundredUnitedStatesMarinesand
sailorswhohadtakenpartintheassault.

Tarawawasavictory—ofthatthereisnotdoubt.Inthebestsense,itwasa

stunningdefeatofunremittingadversitybybravemen—avictoryatitsfullest.

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