"It's hell out there" was how one Marine described the assault on Tarawa, the U.S. Navy's first amphibious landing in World War II's arduous Pacific Campaign to bring the Empire of Japan to its knees. In 76 hours of fighting, the Marines lost nearly as many men as had died during the six months of the Guadalcanal campaign. Military intelligence had failed to take into account the reefs around Betio, the target of the assault, or the low tides which prevented transport vehicles from bringing the Marines safely to shore. As Marines were forced to wade 700 yards from the stranded vehicles to the shore, many of them were shot by enemy fire or drowned from the weight of their packs.
When Americans back home saw the photographs of the bodies in the waters around Tarawa, they were horrified to realize that the route to Japan and victory would be strewn with the bodies of their young soldiers.
Discover a plethora of topics such as
• The Road to Tarawa
• Preparing Tarawa's Defenses
• The First Day of the Battle
• Eyewitness Account of the Betio Landing
• The Lessons and Legacy of Tarawa
• And much more!
Discover the Battle of Tarawa, one of the fiercest and most pivotal clashes in the Pacific during World War II. This brutal fight tested U.S. Marines against entrenched Japanese forces in a deadly struggle for control. Perfect for military history enthusiasts and WWII readers.
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