[SAMWolf]

Marines who would not have their deeds recorded, or recognized by earning a medal went about the deadly business of survival and winning a battle. Here and there small groups of Marines, most led by brave privates, took tiny patches of ground. The extraordinary requirement to wade across 700 yards of coral reef, totally exposed to withering machine gun fire and accurately registered artillery salvos, was faced be almost every single Marine in the Division. That simple act required braver and fortitude to succeed. PFC. Bill Clear, 8th Marines, recalled the wade in, "Jeez, the fire was heavy as hell as we went in. I was scared to death." Lieutenant Commander Robert A. McPherson, a pilot flying over the atoll, described what he saw, "The water never seemed clear of tiny men, their rifles held over their heads, slowly wading beach wards. I wanted to cry." "Yet this reef was crossed by men wading the reef with the determination, courage and endurance to carry on to the end in order to secure the island of Betio," declared Lt. General Julian Smith. "In the chaos, the life of every Marine depended quite simply on his willingness to risk it." How or why did Marines in small groups or singularly, usually on their own or under the direction of a local leader, and all completely removed from the doctrine of amphibious warfare, move forward? Inside enough men, willing to risk their lives, were qualities not listed in the Tentative Man2walfor Landing Operations.

The qualities can best be identified by men who lead the marines into battle. Colonel T. A. Culhane, Jr., Operations Officer, 2nd Marines identified the intangible qualities, "More important than all the techniques [of amphibious assault], was the high state of training and discipline of the individual Marine, his morale, and his confidence and determination to continue the attack even though those about him became casualties." Lt. Colonel Howard J. Rice, Exec., 2/2 focused in on the morale factor, "Before we hit the beach we knew it would be grim business. But we intended and expected to win, even when we held only a narrow naked beach. But, I must admit this confidence was based on nothing more tangible than a faith, a faith shared by all Marines, that Marines always finished a job assigned." Lt. Colonel William T. Bray, C.O., Company All/2, was even more succinct, "The value of sound training and the spirit of comradeship, which comprises a fundamental pillar of Marine Corps life, still stand foremost in my mind as the primary reason for victory at Tarawa." Joseph Alexander believes that an important factor from training permitted the marines to sustain morale and operations longer than the Japanese in the intense battle. Alexander writes, "The Marines' intensive, preliminary field training and strenuous conditioning prior to combat gave them an edge as the battle entered into the third day." Edwin Hoyt saw the training in a different beneficial light, "here the hard training of the marines showed itself; men, from the remnants of several different companies, adjusted to complete change of command and operating procedure under heavy fire without a whimper, and moved on to fight as though it had all been planned this way." These were officers and leaders viewing from the topside of command down to the ranks. The men in the ranks may have reacted that way from training but self -motivation may have been more personal and human related.

The espirt de corps of the Marines was operating in the inferno of the battle. The esprit de corps was extremely high in the Second Marine Division. But how did that play out on a individual basis? Richard Wheeler, a marine veteran who fought on Iwo, explained, in his book, A Special Valor, how the esprit emerged on Tarawa, "They were all Marines, and they were in this thing together, and they would do the best they could to uphold the Corps' reputation and sustain one another. Few men talked in terms of 'death before dishonor," but the ancient code applied." Robert Sherrod who witnessed it up close and personal described it this way, "It was inconceivable to most Marines that they should let another Marine down, or that they could be responsible for dimming the bright reputation of their corps." This was demonstrated by the feeling among the Marines who held the tiny strip of beach on the first night. "There was no sense of panic in the lines as the Marines set up for night defenses." No one dared to let the Corps down or to let down the Marine lying next to him. It even extended to unknown Marines. Marines fought and died for other Marines, unknown and even unseen. "In those first desperate hours there had been only one way to get at the Japanese, and that was to get in and kill them, which usually meant getting killed oneself in the process. But enough marines had given their lives to let the beachhead live." Even fifty years later marines recall why they carried on. Norman Moisie, an amtrak driver in Company A, 2nd Amtrac Battalion, wrote on the fiftieth anniversary, "Still, not a day passes without memories of Tarawa, the spirit of the Marine Corps, and of all the good men with whom I served.

[SAMWolf]

Tarawa did turn out to be a "productive proving ground" for the amphibious doctrine. In fact every subsequent move in the drive across the central pacific was to be made with the mistakes of Tarawa in mind. The lessons learned and adjustments made to the doctrine helped take the Marshalls twice as fast with half the casualties. The practical lessons of amphibious warfare [at Tarawa] provided for adjustments and improvements in all six parts of the doctrine. But what must be recognized and remembered about Tarawa was that it was the individual marine, his courage, bravery and training which bought the victory and time for adjustment which sold the doctrine. The doctrine may have been sound, and the correct method to seize an enemy base, island or hostile shore, but it was in disarray and failing on Tarawa. It took the Marines to catch and save it from failure; Marines who relied on traditional bedrock foundations of the Corps. Edwin Hoyt put it best, "without the heroism of the Marines at Tarawa, the entire course of the Central Pacific might have changed." Tarawa should not stand as the proof of amphibious doctrine, but as the symbol of raw courage and Marine tradition.

Professor Dirk A. Ballendorf

[2banana]

"A mission men cannot take Tarawa in a hundred years."

I think this is a typo - should be a million men

[WhiskeyPapa]

The battle for Tarawa just overwhelms you. How could those men do all that? Every Marine needs to worthy of those who have gone before. Every American should know the story.

Semper Fidelis.

Walt

[aomagrat]

I read the following in a book a long time ago. I'm typing from memory so it's not exactly what I read, but it'll do.

On the eve of the invasion of Tarawa, the Admirals, Generals, Captains, and Colonels were in a conference. The battleship Admirals and Captains were bragging on who's battleship had the most armor. "My armor is so strong I'll be able to get within 1000 yards of the beach without suffering any damage from the enemy guns." "Oh yeah, my armor is thicker than yours and I'll be able to get even closer!" This went back and forth for awhile, until the Marine commanding general had had enough. He stood up and said, "Gentlemen, when my Marines land on that beach, the only armor they will have is the shirts on their backs." Then he walked out.

[SamAdams76]

This is an excellent article! Do you know if this website has a simliar article for the Battle of Okinawa? My uncle was involved in that and his ship landed some of the first troops there on D-Day (April 1, 1945).

[DerZornGottes]

Outstanding article! I believe that only Marines could have taken Tarawa. It was this battle and Leon Uris' "Battle Cry", that sent me to Quantico in 1960. Incidentally, the Commandant at that time was General Shoup, who had commanded the regiment that made the assault.

Thanks for the article.
Semper Fi

[WhiskeyPapa]

Thank you for posting this thread. I was thinking about Tarawa yesterday and today also. The second day at Tarawa was worse than the first.

What strikes me about the black and white pictures you chose (and this is nothing on you), is how faceless and hopeless those huddled figures all look.

The "Old Corps" was known for its characters -- Old Gimlet Eye, Hikin' Hiram, Hard Hearted Hannikin, Diamond Lou, Chesty Puller, even Rupe the Stupe, and a slew of others. I think the Corps is best explemplified by brashness and even arrogance. And I bet the Marines that fought the Japs on Tarawa had it all in spades. That artwork doesn't show that. I love the line from the 1974 "Three Musketeers" -- "The King says fight and we fight. Is life worth so many questions?"

And what Pat Cleburne told Govan before the Battle of Franklin: "If we are to be killed, let us die like men."

I don't see anything of that in the artwork you chose (which I bet is official Marine Corps art); that is interesting, but also sad.

The thing to remember about Tarawa and the whole black bloody business of war is what General Patton said (paraphrasing): "Don't cry that such men died; rejoice that such men lived."

Semper Fidelis

Walt

[WhiskeyPapa]

I just scanned the article; if this was there, it still needs to be stressed:

Based on the unpredictability of the tides, General Smith requested a second battalion of amphibian tractors and the Navy refused to alter their shipping schedule to accomodate.

Walt

[VOA]

bump

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for the post.

Tarawa

6th Marines Division

Semper Fi

[tet68]

Semper Fi Marines!

Am glad someone posted this, I have been reading Richard Wheelers book this last week and was going to put together
a post but my computer began acting up and so was offline
for a couple of days.

The heroism of the Marines at Tarawa stands as an example to us all.

As one sergeant stated, when told of the outcry in the states
over the casualty figures, " If the Marines can stand the dying, you'd think the public could stand to read about it."

Semper Fi My Brothers.

tet68