Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 68 of the 1946 volume:

'mul ,al f E, I ,pg W, a lc .!' F- ff 9 w 1 li 1 -4 i 'fix ' - od, .9 -1 u xy LL: .ES ww w 'FU 1 is H 1 1? Q 1 E4 fi ' 12 , -'L' ' i .l ix Z 'F ,U I' .' l 1 '52 . E, 'S 4 i R1 , , 5 . -2 if ff? . - 1:58 Na 'lf if 2? I ZA . ' f A , ni ' 'sim 5 S- 'E 3 r Ill!! SICHOI 'm NAVY DEPARTMENT Q5 C. fyff GFFICE or PUBl.lCWmf0llA1'l0l ' Q, 00 qZo4Y'63z2r 4300? ? 41' 0 079 Qv '0.f,. 31 qbfif 42+ , 0 Z' 0a04,0I04'Si?04, 40 'Q1,'1f5gg?, sb ,L 'Lggsf 'm-7 lm -6- J . -.aaaaagaaai -ffj i:ss::2 2'3Lj eaE.i5iiiQ211 A Q f ' Wfwflv a my A Q ,N g -5 1? - U. S. S. TAHAWA SHIPS SECTION 'LFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMAUUN NAVY DEPARTMENT , 4 , 'K J ' , , al . FK' 1 wwf K' ' ,Q-4,l,'Qi-. ii,..lLn1ia F...,,,,-Y.,, ,., .. , ,,.- .... ,...,., , 5 L ,L K I 1 5 Oil painting cyf the U.S.S. Tarawa QCV-40D by Lt. Cj.g.D T. R. Clemons, CMCD, USNR, Assistani Medical Ojfcer Painted during the Shakedown cruise and presented to the Ojieers Wardroom The Captain's Message We offer to our distinguished guests this commemorative booklet of our cruise together. It was withtgreat pleasure that the captain, officers, and men of the TARAWA welcomed our guests aboard. The time spent with them at sea and ashore was enjoyed by all hands. It is hoped that the memory of their cruise will linger long in their minds and that they will recall with pleasure the experience of having been with us on this great man-of-war. For us who are aboard the TARAWA this booklet will serve as a souvenir in remembrance of the dis- tinguished guests who sailed with us. ALVIN INGERSOL MALSTROM, Captain, U. S. Navy. 1 Captain Alvin Ingersol Malstrom, U. S. Navy In his 28 years in the Naval Service, Captain Malstrom has had a variety of experiences, perhaps none of which is more outstanding than his conspicuous gallantry in saving his ship, which was marked for doom by the Japanese Kamikaze attack on May 4, 1945. The SANGAMON had just completed re- arming and was standing out to sea, off the Gkinawa Gunto, when the two-engine bomber arrived. The ship was at General Quarters and two of her night fighters were in the sky, and already on the trail of the attacker. Already in his death dive and traveling nearly 400 miles per hour, the enemy plane plummeted out of a dense black cloud in the last rays of the sunset. As the SANGAMON took him under fire with all guns, he leveled out slightly, nosed over again in a shallow dive, took hits, burst into fiames about 600 yards from the carrier, dropped a bomb and crashed almost simultaneously into the center of the flight deck. Despite the fact that the resulting fire divided the ship in two, Cap- tain Malstrom managed to direct the job of fire-fighting from the navigation bridge until driven to a more secure spot by the intense fiames. Although wounded in this action, for which he received the Purple Heart Ikfedal, he succeeded in bringing his ship back to the United States for repairs. He received the Silver Star Medal for this action. Captain Malstrom is a native of Tacoma, Wfashington, which he still calls home. Appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy in 1918, he was active in fencing while a Midshipman, and in 1921 was Inter- collegiate Saber Champion. Graduated and commissioned Ensign in june 1922, he had the usual duty at sea the following years. On completing flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, he was designated Naval Aviator on March 18, 1925, and has served continuously with naval aviation since that date. Assigned to Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, Captain Malstrom proceeded to the Pacific, where he served with various observation squadrons operating with aviation units of the battleships PENN- SYLVANIA, TENNESSEE, and COLORADO. In 1928 and 1929 he returned to the Naval Air Station, Pensa- cola, Florida, as an instructor. Assigned to duty with Aircraft Squadrons, .Asiatic Fleet, he served with the Scouting Squadron attached to the tender JASON, later serving with the same type squadron based on the aircraft carrier SARATOGA. After brief duty on the staff of Admiral Qthen Rear Admiralj Harold R. Stark, USN, Commander, Cruiser Division, Battle Force, he was VVing Commander of a Squadron that made the cruise to Sidney, Australia, and participated in the opening of the drydock at the Singapore Naval Base, in February 1938, and returned to the United States via Palawan, Manila, P. I., Guam and Hawaii. Captain Malstrom served as navigator of the LEXINGTON, from November 1940 until May 1941. Later he had duty as Air Officer of the aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE, and he wears the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding achievements accomplished by the ship during his service aboard. He assisted in the fitting out of the U.S.S. CHENANGO, and served as the Executive Officer of that air- craft carrier when she sailed for French Morocco, North Africa, her decks packed with scores of Warhawks assigned to the airfield at Port Lyautey. In 1943 Captain Malstrom had a year of duty as Naval Attache for Air and Assistant Naval Attache, at the American Embassy, London, England. Following a year of staff duty to the Commander, Fleet Air, Alameda, California, he assumed command of the SANGAMON on February 3, 1945. YVhen that damaged carrier put in for repairs, he was detached and ordered to the U.S.S. TARAWA. Captain Malstrom fitted out the CFARAYVA and has commanded her from the date of her commission- ing, December 8, 1945. In addition to the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Ribbon for the Presidential Unit Citation, Captain Malstrom has the Victory Medal, the Yangtze Service Medal QU.S.S. KIASOND the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp QU.S.S. ENTERPRISED, the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal CU.S.S. CHENAGOD, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, and the Wforld War II Victory Medal. . I, 'tw'-Wrvfzfr ,W Z Captain Malstrom greets Mr. john O'Rourke, Editor mf Daibf News, Washington, D. C., NAS, Nogfollc, Va. Discussing the elayls operations- Back row: Mr. Sidney Epstein, Times-Herald, Wash., D. C.,' Lt. Comdr. Robert Lawsonfyf W. Va., Comdr. R. W. Cooper, USN, Exec. Of., U.S.S. Tarawa, Mr. Ferris White, Exec. Vice-Pres. Can Manufacturers Asso., N. T. C. ana' Lt. Comclr. Charles Schloss Q' The Public Information Ojice, Wash., D. C. Front row: Mr. Charles .McClintock, Pres. qt the Colonial Bank ana' Trust Co., Wash., D. C.,' Hon. Charles E. W'ooclsia'e, Dauphin Co. ana' Mr. Ufilliam Torl: Cocken ry: the Pittsburgh Chamber ij Commerce. Mr. Norman Cousins, Lt. R. V. Keller ana' R. C. Mfright, ARlM3fc Crew rj TBA! In I4f'lzich He blade Hop .VIL Oliver D. Ifalker, .VIL Norman Cousins ana' Captain A. I. llalstrorn, USA' -lill- .4 tour eondzietecl by Lt. Conzelr. Sterns, CSN, brings the following guests to the rnaehine shop where they see S. A. Shufforcl, Mf4W2fe of Dallas, Texas, operating a lathend Lt. Comdr. C. Ml. Slerns, USN, Hon. Charles Henry, Lt. Cornelr. Robert Lawson, L'S..N'R, Mr. W'illiarn Nessley, Mr. Wvilliarn York Coeken, Hon. Robert VVooa'sia'e and S. A. Shujord, lVINI2fo Mr. 0'Rourke and Mfr. MeClz'ntoek 5 X 3 xf'.f i f 'g ., v 1 1 wg . 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Nimilg, CNO, and Alf. james V. Forrestal Sccrrlagf Qf Navy 79 Gun Salute up gl . . ,Tig :iw f 5 K 12 Z if P Q54 -,ii ,fi ,Hyu-mr-w-x .,. ,..-aw... NM., M . r .I . , 1 27 ' ve E 1 A . Q v I 1 'fl,f'!f1m .I f Xff1l'wf1f,f1f1 mmf ffmnmflwfff f' .wmfmlmf gf ffmrfwff f r ff! .If1'1.' 1 flffffufff Un ,W N' N. fffwlll wx if I-fill m'1',XfX1 PMA !,',f,'r'w ' lfv 'w'lf+ .2 st ,Q 'f 1, ' 4 1. 3 3 E wz zsggmgfaf- w.gM.hmiw.5vw.4.4 fm mfsffb I 5 l 3 2 . , i f 2 X Commander P. Mastfrlon welcomes Admiral Arthur S. Carperzder and Admiral Louis E. Denfela' ' Y v CKIIPZHM Malstrom 1?.X'f'l'Ilf1lUI' Qffifw, CUIIIIIIT. R. IV. Cooper and Mfvl'lI'0lIlI'.S' ,flrizrzzral john Eg Mrs. Horton C:I'7IxQTI'f7lI filroard 1' M, .v..-Y' ' W' f - 1 1 V. . -' - es '- 1 -. 4-1 1 X, . 'e A A ' ' rr A A - A .. , , . , ,. ., , , - , Q .?,,q,,t X. ' ?'WfZ D 4 , W, 4l-ii: 1 l Captain Malstrom and Admiral Bogan f Ififaue Lieutenant W. L. M0bETb1 Cornplelebr Surrounded i Admiral Carpender and Admiral Dcnfeld f I i N N X N B S - ef Q. s s 0 I Members fy the Naval Advz'50U1 Committee hola' conference in RearQ1:R00m d xv x 'l 'vii t x W - Meml2er.9 Naval Advisofy C'0777ITl1.HI'r7 nltcnrling Randy Room l'IIlff1'I'I'7Iff'.Y g 1 ? i 4 T P 7 N A I 1 1 2 1 L J I Ns S T A 'w 1 F 953555153 K L 1 8 f X 7j Comdf. Gnoflz1,'z'n mjqys lim ,sQ!1nzf',' 21 ffm 1'fxf'a'. zur!mfr1m IlIFIII!JI'l'.Y Qf Im'f1'l11ff' gf' .kln'mzf1z1f1'4'f1f .Sl'1Q'1zf'f1v.' xv U1 Rz'cf1anlFelZ Kl7'TZ.L'l'.S',' 41 IJ. Cnnzflr. .lzulrrfrzzzfflzfw lmfffx i'7l.S'fl6'K'f1.07I.' .ij fflzzkjf PfZ1'Cf!w1'l.' lj1'xQI'A'f: I'.YXIUZEK mznr nf rv aroimdg fij Ure mr ffrwm lukf ll fH'flflA71I.Q.' 79 Cnllzlnm .S'1'n1j1lwr, Qf ffm .Yzzzjy I3f'll1z11'f1111'Nf, v1v1z:'w .vf.v :suffix wif' of ' f dzfs'lz'ng11zfsW!1efl Lfzfs'z'mrs ,' XJ ffm. R. .Sf l1'nzw r1f1ff.g11f'.s'!.s' Zt Klff!I lflkf'-Qffg' 03 Cflzzllhlzzfzz Hmm'fl Agmxfx A1113 H. .Y 1x1 W U ull sflins Jhey Hy! .says fins. lf. Mrzllzfr In A411 lilzmv' xl. .S7ll'!'lY'1', 25 lun' sin' f01m'.s'.',' .53 IIN 11'1'6ff-V wwe M0101 6'7'0712ffWf,' flj lhfn' .slnf gnns,'.' .Gj gfnrl In lznw' Wynn ulmfzrzl, .mfg M rm! l.l1fl'H'.Kf-' 75 1l1'1'1'flr'rf 1.llfl'I'l'.ff The FOUR 0 HE U.S.S. TARAWA CCV-401, one of the Navyls potent new 27,000-ton aircraft carriers and sister ship of the EssEX, YoRKTowN, SHANGRI-LA and PRINCETON, was named for the epic battle of the Central Pacific in which the Second Marine Division vanquished the pick of Japanese fighting men in the Hercest combat in the 168-year history of the United States Marine Corps. First Navy ship so named, the TARAWA was built in Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, and launched in the Elizabeth River on May 12, 1945. Commissioning ceremonies were held at Portsmouth, December 8, 1945. It was appropriate that the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, chose Mrs. Julian C. Smith, wife of the Marine General who commanded during the furious 76 hours of fighting on Tarawa atoll, to sponsor the vessel. Major General Smith is now Commanding General of the Department of the Pacific with headquarters in San Francisco, California. In a speech at the launching of the TARAWA, General Smith said: 'flt is eminently fitting that this great ship should be named for an operation which marked the turning point of the war in the Pacific and began a new era of amphibious warfare. The same battle fiag that went ashore with the Marines at Tarawa on November 20, 1943, has been presented to the new carrier. The colors, under which 786 Marine and Naval medical personnel died, were hauled down from a riven coconut palm on February 13, 1944, by a picked color guard of men who had taken part in the assault and who had come into the Marine Corps from all sections of the United States. 5 The ship was also presented with a polished bronze plate engraved with makeshift tools in the field by a Marine corporal. The Plaque was mounted on a section of armor plate from a captured Japanese tank. It bears the inscription: C'Plate from japanese Tank Destroyed at Tarawa, 20-22 November 1943. Presented to U.S.S. TARAwA. The engraving was laboriously done with tools improvised from steel files, frequently sharpened and tempered. Captain Alvin Ingersoll Malstrom, USN, was designated Prospective Commanding Ofiicer of the TARAWA at the time of the launching. The big carrier, although nominally a sister ship of the other ESSEX class carriers, has been given improvements in design and equipment that sets her apart. The vessel is 856 feet in overall length, 110 feet extreme beam and 24 feet draft. Fully loaded the TARAWA will displace more than 34,000 tons and this immense bulk can be driven at a top speed of more than 30 knots by her turbines. The TARAWA can carry 80 planes and is equipped to launch and land recently developed jet- propelled aircraft. To operate the ship! man and service the aircraft, the TARAWA will carry approxi- mately 2,500 men. Heavily armed, the TARAWA carries twin and single-mount five-inch guns, quadruple 40 millimeter and twin 20 millimeter anti-aircraft weapons. Profiting from the lessons learned in the Pacific carrier war the ship has new improved facilities for the stowage and handling of bombs and rockets. i 1 5 I i i 1 l COMMANDER R. NV. COOPER, USN Executive Ougfcer, U.S.S. Tarawa QCV-405 The Executive Officer, Commander R. YV. Cooper, USN, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1931. Three days after his graduation he reported for duty under instruction as a student aviator, since which time naval aviation has been his primary duty. He has served as pilot in Hghting, scouting, torpedo and patrol squadrons, and has served in the battleship CKLA1-1OMAg the heavy cruiser PENSA- COLA, in the first U. S. aircraft carrier, LANOLEY-the famous old 'cCovered XNQIQOIINI in the original LEXINGTON, in which ship he was serving as Air Operations Ofhcer when she was lost in 1942 in the Battle of the Coral Sea. After serving as Assembly and Repair Ollicer and later Executive Otlicer of the Naval Air Station at Seattle, Commander Cooper went to the escort carrier llUDYERD BAY, as Executive Oflicer, which duty he performed until June 1945. At that time he was assigned his present duty in the TARAWA. For his service in old LEXN, Commander Cooper received citations from Admiral Nimitz and Admiral Halsey. A native OfBrooldyn, New York. he now elaiins Coronado. California, as his home. He is married, and like the captain, has three daughters. I s E 1 S E . i 1 3 . 4 COMDR- L. A- ARTHUR, USN COMDR P M MASTERTONI USN Azr Ojiner Navigator YORKTOWN U S S RANGER U S S LEX Home town Paterson New ersey Duzfzes sznce the U.S.S. J, . . . . 1 , . INGTONQ Air Officer of U.S.S. COREQ Commanding war Cflieer of Training Command aeksonx 111e Oiiicer Basin Field, Florida. Received wings in Flomda Fleet Au. Wlng 6 Fleet Ana Vvmg 8 'Y H Home town: New York City. Duties since the war 1935. - DEPARTMENT OFFICERS LT. CoMDR. H. M. CHANCE LT. COMDR. R. A. KINCAID LT. COMDR. B. R. PETRIE LT. COMDR. R. A. DIOPENBROCK LT. COMDR. P. J. PosT LT. COMDR. VV. A. LYONS LT. COMDR. E. AUSTERMUEHLE LT. COMDR. E. L. NICCLINTOCK LT. COMDR. S. S. HOLT LIEUT. C. E. ZIEGLER 4 LIEUT. C. H. MoCULLoUoH I LT. F. BROVVN A LT. Cj.g.j C. OWEN LT. Cj.g.j J. D. CASTEEN 4 LT. Qj.g.j F. W. GRIFFITH LT. Qj.g.j A. W. SUNYAR LT. Cj.g.j D. D. DEREM1G1o ENS. L. C. J. GRAYBILL ENS. J. R. SHUMAR ENS. J. W. FRANCO ENS. E. R. GREER ENS. J. A. TACHE ENS. H. M. GOLDSTEIN ENS. J. P. LARRABEE ENS. J. A. BENJAMIN 1 ENS. K. J. WHITING ENS. E. F. BUSCIIMANN C. C. BRITTAIN ENS. G. A. REED I CH. BoSN. C. O. STEVENSON CH. GUN. M. H. WEST I 1 7 - 7 A CH. MACH. A. P. YESENSKIY 1 if I COMDR. T. I-I. DU BOIS, USN CQMDR, H, GOODWIN, USN ' Cf1ffU'Ef1gffW Medical Ojicer Bowl Shanghai, China- 307776-' Washington, D' C' Home town: Selma, Indiana. Schools: Indiana Uni Dutzes sznoe the war: lst Lieutenant on the U.S.S. versity School of Medicine. Service since the wa, SAVANNAH. Awards: Silver Star. ENS ENS ENS. ENS DEPARTMENT OFFICERS LT. GOMDR. G. M. STEARNS LT. W. M. IVERSON LT. F. W. BANKHEAD LT. Cj.g.J P. S. DUFFY LT. Cj.g.J A. O. QTTESEN LT. Cj.g.j R. H. MUELLER N. GEER ENS. H. VV. GORDON A. L. GRAHAM ENS. J. R. KIRWIN G. SUMMERS ENS. D. MAGISTRO J. L. DURRETT ENS. L. MCCLUSKEY ENS. R. MOLLER GH. MACH. J. MANGANELLI GH. MACH. D. R. SMITH ELECT D. A. BALLOU ELECT W. M. DINKINS MACH W. J. KITZER MACIAI V. A ZLOTKOWSKI MACH MACPI. D. G. W. .I SAUNDERS BARTLEY Patrol Wing 10, Philippines, Dutch East Indies Australia, Naval Air Station, Alameda Gahf Fleet Air Gornrnand, Seattle, Wash. Received Wings 5 Dec. 1945. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. DEPARTMENT OFFICERS LT. COMDR. L. E. GURPHEY LT. Cj.g.j T. R. CLEMONS LT. Qj.g.J E. SCHNEIDER LT. Qjgj A. DAVNE ,-.,,,.l..-.-- ,,-Ml?--1 COMDR. XM YV. CARLSON, USN First Lieutenant COMDR. APPLEBY, CSCJ, USlN Suppbf Ojicer DUU65 H1166 U16 wdf-' CZIIIIC to the TAWARA ff0IT1 the School: University of California. Duties since the war U.S.S. SANGAMON. Previous to serving on the Ugg, SARATOGA3 Fleet Air Wing 4 Alaska SANGAMON, he SCYVCC1 OH U16 U-S-S HENRY T- Naval Air Station, Seattle, VVaSh., Fleet Air VVing ALLEN- P21I'fiCiP21tCd in 21 total Of 13 1U2ljOI' OPCT3- 16, Brazil, Staff Of Commander Air Force Atlantic tions. Awards: Silver Star and BIODZC Star- Fleet. Home zown: Blythe, Calif. Awards: Commen DEPARTMENT CFFICERS LT. COMDR. H. J. CONGER LT. COMDR. R. A. XNOODRUFF LT. M. G. SMITH LT. R. E. PATTERSON ENS. W. O. LYNCH ENS. J. N. XNALKER ENS. K. H. VOGEL ENS. A. B. WARD ENS. E. A. SALTER CH. CARP. O. G. .JOHNSON BOSN. E. T. DUNN dation Ribbon. DEPARTMENT OFFICERS LT. C. S. BERGER LT. Cj.g.j R. MARTIN ENS. R. S. Howe ENS. H. GIBBS ENS. NV. F. BLICK CPC M. H. REGISTER APS M. SIMKO PC R. E. SHAFFER LT, COMDR' W, T, HUNT, USN LT. COMDR. E. H. STELTS, USN Gmmgm, 05956, Communications Ofcer Hgmg gown: Vallejg, Calif. Dugjw 537156 the way, Home town: Palatka, Florida. Duties sznce the war Served On the cruiser PENSACOLA, the destroyer Officer in Charge Naval Radio Statlon Thlfd WASMUTH, and the battleships ARKANSAS, IOWA, Naval DiSU'iCf, NCW York CIW! SCDi01' Communl and NEW MEXICQ. cation Watch Officer, Third Naval District New ENS ENS ENS ENS ENS. ENS. ENS. DEPARTMENT OFFICERS LT. COMDR. J. W. ALEXANDER LT. J. W. LOGAN LT. H. V. M. RICHARDSON LT. H. T. BARRETT LT. L. WOHLER LT. R. LT. R. LT. N. LT. Cj.g.j O. LT. Cj.g.j A. K. E. BEAN H. R. JOY R. H. MCMICKIJE J. A. TAOIIE H. GIBBS W. B. HAMILTON K. H. LIARDY H. HENRY W. STEVENS C. E. BRINKMAN L. ORR S. MANNE ENS ENS. ENS ENS ENS. ENS ENS R. E. TJILLE F. J. ANASTASIO A. ABRAMS P. D. BIRKI-IAHN D. M. STUBBS L. M. PEASE K. D. TOEIN I. T. BARTI,.ET'I' CII. CTUN. D. V. HOLLAND York Cityg U.S.S. COWPENS QCVL-255 DEPARTMENT OFFICERS LT. LT. LT. LT. LT. LT. ENS ENS. ENS E. I. FORTENBERRY' VV. O. CARPENTER Qj.g.j U. B. PITTS Cj.g.j W. D. KEARNS Cj.g.J L. P. RUSSELL Qj.g.D L. BUHLER R. I. P. NEEL E. H. HOLAHAN M. A. ABATUNO ENS. F. FITZGERALD ENS. ENS. ENS. ENS. ENS ENS ENS ENS J. T. DUNNE B. M. ATKINSON C. BAIIREIITHER L. J. ADDR B. AlTI.IDE S. V. BELI.. E. V. FROST E. R. I'IAX'VKINS General Protestant Church Service Chaplain Frea'D. Bennett, Commander, USNR ' ' ' ,f 1 ,ff Q ,J 4 . ' X ff fn 1 , ' ,fff ma, -1 gm , , N' 'WA' 'Nr Roman Catholic Mass Chaplain Matthew' F Connolly, Lieut. Cj.g.j USJVR l l 1 Bomber Headsfof the Circle ir Group Four A veteran of four months of Pacific action, including strikes against Tokyo itself, Air Group FOUR now joins the new aircraft carrier, U.S.S. TARAWA. Air Group FOUR's Helldiver-bombers did tremendous damage to Japanese aircraft factories in and around Tokyo. Thirteen Avengers, taking in a massive raid against a Nakajima factory, landed all their bombs in the target area, and did serious damage to the plant. In a similar coordinated raid on another Nakajima engine factory, eight Corsairs all loosed their big bombs on the target. Shooting down Jap planes over Tokyo, battling them while attacking Jap airfields, skimming over the powerlines and rooftops in the capital cityas outskirts while in pursuit ofJap fighter planes-all were in a day's work for the victorious pilots in Air Group FOUR during some of their hotter moments. The group, in company with Marine fighter planes aboard the same carrier, participated in strikes against Leyte, Manila Bay, Formosa, the Pescadores Islands, Hainan Islands, Nansei Shoto, and Japan itself. In a strike against French Indo-China, the planes penetrated up the Saigon River to attack shipping. The total Jap planes shot down by Air Group FOUR and their Marine partners was 83, and with a possible additional 13 destroyed. On the ground the Navy-Marine combination destroyed an estimated total of 137 enemy aircraft, and dam- aged or destroyed another 160 planes. Included were some single and twin engine Jap aircraft of new types. Air Group FOUR's record of surface craft was impressive. It sank two Japanese destroyers and two destroyer escorts, probably sank a light cruiser and three more destroyers, and damaged 11 destroyer escorts. Its total was brought to 361,530 tons by the sinking of 13 merchant ships, the probable sinking of 14 more and the damaging of 70. C XG QOHDR S I QILBER and Smff rxmrz O M XICIIIR N I H Su R M lx XXIIII Ms I I C NF CPHMH T Duxpcmcur IJ XX TDM xmas 11 F IQP N R M Crurx 'film l91'rfl.v llrnzw Dawn Take-QH i 1' ...M N A , . f , , 4. 2. Y' .f f M ' ' 19 ,Q ,Jw W. 4, 4, , 91 ,-,,, ' 'vxxdfmfv +1 ,vm K ' 1 xmff - .11 'Q W - 1 554.16 V , V ' J, gig? 'Wu QQ ii.: . fxggw.-1 hq Kww1Q. 5' ' 'rf -wav fi. , f-1., xx, V 21 ,,,- 1, . A, 1 - 1 ,fu '11 N . 1' .....,. S. ?1.Q.,Tr.,m4-,.1 .71-WT? wif -fcvwqgwl,-i , , , ,X , Y., 1 , , y, 4,8 ,, I-1, 13111117111 11112 S1'r1'1'11 1 i F E 1 1 5 .....-:2....f VVV,,, W H .., J., fp-1 lien:-2--a 1 Fighter Squadron Four 4- ,7 s .ge E ' S 3 4 i 5 'Jr E 5 4 F617 takes of . 2 FIGHTING SQJUADRON FOUR LT. GOMDR. J. E. LAOOUTURE LT. COMDR. W. S. MILLER LT. E. L. GRAHAM LT. G. L. LEE LT. R. R. PAGET LT. O. E. MGCUTCHEON LT. L. BARKER LT. R. W. COBB, JR. LT. Qj.g.j L. G. BEHLING LT. B. F. LANE LT. Cj.g.D A. E. NAUMAN, LT. Cj.g.j R. E. DUNCAN 1 JR. LT. j.g.j W. H. HARGIS LT. Cj.g.J N. A. BISHO P LT. Qj.g.j J. T. GRAHAM LT. Cj.g.D T. J. GOS ENS. G. D. FLACK ENS. R. H. SHAN SMAN AHAN ' ENS. J. O. ELLIS ENS. G. H. GARBARK F ENS. J. B. SHAFFER LEITCH ENS. W. J. NICHOLS ENS. R. H. ST. CLAIR 1 W. BROWN, JR. ENS. R. H. GHILES, JR. R. L. THOMPSON . R. A. THOMPSON Sw ENS. G. B. HARBEY f ENS. H. . 4 J 5 ENS. J. ENS. 1 ENS 5 ENS. H. J. HALVERSON i, ENS. G. E. GEANTIL ENS. W. D. BOWEN ENS. W. BURKEWITZ x fy. , . Wx fx x .am Q1 Torpedo Squadron Four 'QL 'L' '4-. dv' TB W Takes Of TORPEDO SQUADRON FOUR LT. COMDR. J. P. BARRON LT. COMDR. G. E. MILLER LT. Qj.g.j M. FELKER LT. XV. F. WALKER LT. Cj.g.j J. E. DIPRETORO LT. Qj.g.j R. V. KELLER ENS. L. O. TURNER ENS. XV. E. DUY ENS. C. W. ADAMS ENS. G. C. POPPY ENS. S. I. BREAR ENS. R. E. FORBIS ENS. S. H. MACINTIRE ENS. L. DELAXVARE ENS. R. L. COPPAGE ENS. J. W. FULKS ENS. F. J. BROWN ENS. R. C. Rocco ENS. N. E. VANWORMER ENS. ENS. W. K. BETZ C. GILES ENS. H. HARDY ENS. R. S. RUTKOWSKI ENS. R. N. WACHOB ENS. P. R. WALDE ENS. R. D. WEAVER ENS. S. J. GILLESPY ENS. F. C. HODEL ENS. A. F. WALKER ENS. J. B. SCUREMAN ,..-..-...- .,,.. ,,... ,,,.- A , -HFYTYW Bomber Squadron Four SBZC Comes Home BOMBING SQUADRON FCUR LT. COMDR. H. NV. CALHOUN LT. E. F. COX LT. M. HESTILOW' LT. Cj.g.J A. J. NORRIS LT. N. CZUBINSKY LT. Qj.g.J E. LOONEY LT. Cj.g.j D. R. MCCULLUM LT. Cj.g.j R. L. SEVERNS LT. W. D. WHISLER LT. Qj.g.j A. R. ENGLISH LT. j.g.j C. J. DEASY LT. D. E. RAY LT. Cj.g.D A. W. NEUMANN LT. Qj.g.j G. H. WILSON LT. Qj.g.j J. A. THIBAULT LT. Cj.g.J J. T. FOSTER LT. Cj.g.D B. P. ANDERSON LT. Cj.g.j A. V. COLLINS V ENS. R. B. HAGUE ENS. I. R. MATTHEWS ENS. E. C. MASSEY ENS. H. B. HUTTON ENS. R. J. MOANDREW ENS. G. J. GREEN ENS. R. E. NOWLBY ENS. M. S. BOWER ENS. R. E. HALL ENS. E. D. JACOBS ENS. J. P. DRAB ENS. W. A. HALL ENS. O. C. JOHNSON ENS. T. G. MCCLELLAN Bombing Fzlglzting Squadron FOIl7 ' F4U Takes If BOMBING - FIGHTING SQUADRON FOUR LT. GOMDR. W. L. CONLEY LT. GOMDR. G. R. FRAZIER LT. G. G. MICHEL LT. T. M. EGER LT. L. A. GSWALD LT. R. K. KNIGHT LT. Cj.g.j P. L. HAVENSTEIN LT. j.g.D L. G. GRANING LT. Cj.g.j I. A. ROBINSON LT. Cj.g.JSJ. F. FARRINOTON LT. W. E. NIEMANN LT. Cj.g.D H. R. CHEUVRONT LT. Qj.g.j L. J. FRKETIC LT. Cj.g.j F. L. EVANS LT. Cj.g.Q R. A. SNYDER LT. CJ.g. B. R. KELLEY J A. L. EIDE LT. Qj.g.j A. G. GOODBERLET LT. .g.j E. NV. KUESTER LT. Cj.g.j E. D. WILSON, JR. LT. Cj.g.j R. H. JESTER LT. Qj.g.D W. J. GAMBONI LT. Cj.g.j G. G. ALBRECHT LT. Cj.g.j H. S. RAMSEY LT. G. K. HUNT ENS. J. H. CAPISTRAN ENS. J. P. GREGONIS ENS. J. T. MOMAHON ENS. F. J. LAST, JR. ENS. E. G. REDDIGK ENS. J. M. SOHNEIDERS ENS. A. A. TONKOVICH ENS. R. B. APPEL ENS. H. P. GAUOHON ENS. H. E. CORRY ENS. K. A. BAILEY ENS. R. M. BROWN ENS. J. F. SIMPSON M 5 f M13 V , I f f' A' f , vfwfg f Vg, 54514 jp! 352 ,Q ,7f,l!,i.f,,,j yay' In , f f,,- 'ff J' ' Q1 f ff ' f 'J4 f x K , , ,K I, i,,,,,jW5lf r f, , wp. f ' f fwfr? Bomber Squadron Crewmerz x Torpedo Squadron Crowmon Lf. Comdr. Petrie Brings ,Em In Vjgw aff fyf wakr, 0,lIf1.71glf-Ill! .speed run, Sunday, 74 Ajlril 7945 Bomber 74 Hmrlxfor I'I077Z6? asfowg S2310 W mod uoipzmbg opadzol f 1 3 we Commander W. W. Carlson, USN, receives the Bronze Star MedaZ,' B. H. Wroblewski, F 770, USN, receives the Presz'a'entr'aZ ana' ine .Navy lfnii Cl.fGf1'0II.V ana' H. Cunningham, CM2fe, USN, receives the Nazyf Unit Citationfrorn the Tarazvans commanding q7ieera1fPor'l5I7?0ulh, Virginia, 77 Alou' 7946 ,. 'all ,l f QQ! M,-Q 7, iw , AVVJIVM Q 4 Q 2 ,I 4 A 4, ' ww '4 ff 70 X' Q' ,f , VVIG . Cajxluzn R. ' 'tiff Swv 9 5 is HW! Sfffgfmf! l'.lVf'iIf. .l. lf, f,wlIfI'I'f, I'.S'.1IC'R, :vfffz .Varfzzr KII1'fIIC'lZ77Y4'IY E 5 Admiral Vlffilliam B. Holdenjs Inslbection, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Owners, ef'f7!ZA.Sf!'l! mm, gzmsls allfml CON77?7l..S'.S'I'!lNI.77g SIWIJZIFI' aboarzl U.S.S. Tarawa QCV-40D Chiff Dunn to the Rescue S'l11ff.s' Qyifflffj and zfrzfzklffrf mm nftmdfrsl .svnoker aboam' Tfzmzua in YQ Q 'Wm N ugzpvuxog N , X. is U N. V V3 IND i 45 V. D GE 3 m J: FU P1 54 Co Q Q EU Q F1 Ph Ci Q Y CD Q 2 Q UQ 2'- CB uw F5 v kr 1 J 'TJ Q CD bo X Q '. bi ,V 3 RQ- 'Ns Q Z ,., v1 Q 4 , fc x if: 'Nw- Q m A 3 .' 3' HD 'D CUM!! WIS' LH UH N-'. Cjjam -'vfzs 9 'H 'Fug F1 F 5' Q D:- 5 Cr' 5? rx Nl. Q Q Q TE Y Q 3 QQ Q Q 43 :N V. UQ T? QS. 5. 2- Q, -a VR 'Fi +- N 51 -J U1 rw E z. K1 Q 'Ns Q 9 A- W -fl Ing n-1-gg, lllgfpf l-I-Zo 2 E is N Sfzmk 31. sl 'N 'v .N 'Vi E N -X N F .NL 5- nxizz g If i I Four O Boys Control the Ba!! I f..S'..S'. 74Il7YlZ8,'Il S'f'orz'.s' , 7.05.-QE'7'43 fi . Qmtf hcfmstq ?i.,'.f..,f. L ag' X V. !f.e.,'E: f . ' . fwzwzgwj., '- K V. .'g:g:-'-:57:51'q.,Q, -x?g'eSTj2.v,44 .AZN-5- 7. .1 Qt- x 'jc Q3 fCf . ? .TP mf' s Q ' Q,5aa4:gVwf9, iff . 1? tf szml sf 5.3 1K..Q,Y..,.u.!.. V X fs ye w.. ..,, ,cf -. we f . ' fm f Shipas Mascot Among the MOM Saltsa' aboara' the Tarawa is Sangy, the shiQb's mascot. Sangy is a veteran rj many sea experiences. Having served aboard the U.S.S. Sangamon during the entire active dug lyfea' ofthe ship, she was brought to the Tarawa by Captain Malstrom when the .Sangamon was listedfor inactive clugf. Sangy wears her ribbons on state occasions. Sangy is oegf proud of the many sons she has raiseclforfuture fighting ships. - V f 745V-fig .. .W f- Q-. K, . tux., WS' XA X X if . -NX 1 ig F Qsgsw . xSifg1Q3Q+ an :wma g ifXNx-if-Niiap 2 5XN-QXXVQX-qsx -N X 5 ff x 1Q:0fxQXx::sss.':X a ' Tarawa Band at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba CT6Zll,.Y Dance, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba The BATTLE for Which the U S S TARAWA Was Named Before Novembcx 20 1943 the n unc of Tarawa was known to only a few Three days later that name and the name of Betio Bcach head went around the world like the flash from an exploding shell Today those names stand for the first sea borne assault on a defended atoll They will continue to endure as monuments of unsurpassed heroism of the Second Division remforced of the United States Marine Corps For all Americans Betio Beach head Tarawa takes its place beside such names as Concord Bridge and Belleau Wood where men died that democracy might live As one of his last acts as Commandant of the Marine Corps General Thomas Holcomb brought four men back to prepare an authentic story of the assault From memory from notes taken during the battle and from operational and intelligence reports at Marine Corps Headquarters these men pro duced a book entitled Betzo Beach head a clear accurate and vivid story of every step of the battle from the day plans were laid until the last shot was fired and the Stars and Stripes were raised over the torn battlefield The Marines responsible for this exceptional literature are Captain Earl Wilson now in Washing ton D C and Combat Correspondents MT! Sgt irn G Lucas later lst Lieut now with SCRIPPS HOWARD MTX Sgt Sam Shaffer now with NEWSWEEK and Sf Sgt C P Yurhnden Jr Cnow 2nd Lieutj who was wounded later at Iwo Jima. o 0 0 0 ,- - . Y I 9 a f C I , ' 31 - ' 0 9 ' C 9 1 I - c o , sk ' 7 n 9 j 0 9 ' 9 a , ' , ' cc ' - 79 -- J 7 7 R. 1 . J. , . - , - -, -J - ,C -D - , I 9 4 3 n o 1 JI , n In respectful memory of the valor of all who engaged in that heroic battle, condensations from the book are herein presented to you with the compliments of its authors, its publishers CG. P. Putnam Sonsj and those of the Commanding Gflicer of this ship, that you may place thesewords among your mementos of your cruise aboard the USS TARAWA. - ' For two dragging weeks the crowded triinsportsfhad been Zig-zagging through the blue waters of the South Pacific, and for the Marines aboard it hadlbeen two weeks of weary monotony. They were headed for one of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history, but they did not know that then. They did not even know where they were going. the end of these two weeks, on November 14 1943, they found out.. t '4Tarawa, . . . The Marines rolled the strange name off their tongues and repeated it to each other. In theiriwildest,speculations, none had ever said the name Tarawa. J Six days la'ter the first assaultiwas landed. Nine days later the bloody battle was history. If ou want to place the small solitude of Tarawa, start from San Francisco, go roughly two thousand Y nautical miles toward the southwest and youlll be at Pearl Harbor, or Oahu . . . travel three thousand more nautical miles along the general route and you reach, where they straddle the Equator, the Gilbert Islands. One of them, a few degrees Ifiiyou looked down on it from the air, the atoll would make you think of a lopsided, skinny V. The longer arm of this V, which stretches toward the north, covers eighteen miles, while the bottom arm runs west for twelve. north of the line, is the atoll of Tarawa. A chain of low-lying coral islands separated by sand channels are fordable at low water. Completely hl ' ofthisVisa surrounding the seaward side of the atoll is a broad reef. Within the s e tering arm , lagoon, entered through' one small gap in the barrier reef. . Betiolflids at'Tarawa's southwestern end. It is somewhat smaller than New York City's Central Bark. With a length of two it narrows down to a fraction. and a half miles, it is only eight hundred yards across at its widest, and . Admiral Hargf W. Hill, USN Upon Betio was fought one of the bloodiest battles in the one hundred and sixty nine years of Marine Corps history. Of the attacking force three thousand and fifty-six men were either killed, wounded, or missing. Over a period of fifteen months the Japanese did a very soundijob of perfecting their defenses for the Gilberts, and the heart of their efforts was little Betio. Its beaches and the reef were lined with obstacles-concrete, pyramid-shaped obstructions designed to stop landing boats, tactical wire in long fences, coconut-log barricades, mines, and large piles of coral rock. For beach defense there were grenades, mortars, rifles, light and heavy machine guns, 37 mm. guns, 70 mm. guns, 74 mm. guns, 75 mm. dual purpose guns, 80 mm. anti-boat guns, 127 mm. twin-mount dual-purpose guns, 140 mm. coast-defense guns, and 8-inch defense guns. The emplacements for these weapons were often seven feet thick of solid concrete reinforced by steel, coral sand, and coconut logs The pillboxes for the automatic weapons, and even the riflemen's pits, were scientifically constructed to withstand heavy bombardment-a concrete floor in a three to five foot excavation-twelve inch reinforced concrete walls-alternate layers of coral sand, coconut logs and sandbags-the roof made in the same wav and tapering to prevent shadows which would show in aerial photographs. In places the blockhouses were of concrete with a roof thickness of five feet. On top were palm tree trunks with a diameter of eighteen inches, and a final layer of angle iron made of railroad steel Guarded by these defenses was a landing field that gave the Japanese a position nearest to our travel routes from San Francisco to Hawaii and Australia. It was our first major obstruction on the road to Tokyo. In addition to Japanese-made defenses, there was the reef, there were the tides The Japanese who manned this islet fortress were all volunteers. They possessed a finer physique and training than any other group in the Emperor s forces There were four thousand of them Their Rear Admiral had stated: HA million men could not take Tarawa . The Admiralis confidence was based on realism Three months before D-Day, a guard detail was posted before the door of a room on the third its headquarters. This was K Room To this room came admirals and generals, colonels and naval captains. Occasionally Major Generaljulian Smith or some of his staff would be gone for several days Fresh data stamped USECRETM and CCULTRA SECRETU piled up on the desks of K Room The task confronting these men was peculiarly difficult For the first time in military history, a e stormed and taken from the enemy It was a case of precedents h ' t be created not followed. Previously, American troops landed fas military gospel dictatesj avrng o , on the least strongly held areas on the large land masses. This could not be done at Tarawa. floor of the musty old Windsor Hotel in Wellington, New Zealand, where the Second Division made strongly defended coral atoll was to b . The maps of K Room showed every installation the Japanese had built. This was the first problem to be solved. Next was the problem of reefs. This was a tough one. The information as to the depth of water over the reefs was indefinite. General Smith and his staff did know that part of the reef was . . . . f ex osed at low tide. Their reports told them that during the period of a neap tide, a maximum o P three feet or less of water, even at high tide, might be experienced. So they could not be sure that even at high tide they could get landing boats not be much time. The span of high tide is only four hours. ' to the beach. Even with the best of breaks there would Th th r thin s which they knew: that added to the natural barrier of the reef were under- ere were o e g water obstacles which the enemy had built, which were certain to stymie the ordinary landing boat. ossible answer. Before committing himself to such a They considered the amphibious tractor as a p plan, General Smith decided to test them. Every conceivable underwater obstacle was erected, and l h b h. l' 't' was fired at the Hamphibs 7 as they moved through and over obstac es to t e eac ive ammuni ion Following this preliminary test General Smith transported the whole battalion to conduct experi- ments over coral reefs. The results of this rehearsal satisfied him that amphibian tractors could cross edium tanks could be disembarked from LGT's on the edge of such a fringing coral reefs and that m reef. Such were but a few of the problems confronting General Smith and his staff as they bent over their maps and papers in K Room. Throughout the month of Cctober, Wlellington had been rocking on its heels. The Marines were getting ready to shove off. Their camps had been struck, and their smart green uniforms had been packed away. Marines swarmed on their last liberties ashore. lt was not always gay. The New Zealanders had taken the Yanks into their homes and hearts. lvfany lNfIarines had married New Zealand girls. It was Sunday morning and the sunlight felt warm and good. Church services were held. Landing craft moved between transports with the clumsy grace of a big fish. YVhen morning came on, the lst day of November 1943, they were moving out to sea. On the tenth of November-the traditional Marine birthday, the officers read: Cn November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of the Continental Con- gress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name Marine. In memory of them, it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrated history. 'fThe record of our Corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in world history. During the greater part of its existence it has been in action against the Nation's foes. 'fSince the Battle o Trenton, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and during the long eras of tranquillity at home, generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war, on both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas, that out country might enjoy peace and security. 'fin every battle and skirmish since the birth of our Corps the Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion, until the term Marine has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue. This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the Corps. With it we also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our Corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish, Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they were i-n the past, and the men of our nation will regard us as worthy successors of the long line of illustrous men who have served as soldiers of the sea since the founding of the Corpsf' Four days later, Task Force Commander Rear Admiral Harry Hill sent this message to his ships: Give all hands the general picture of the projected operation and further details to all who should have this in execution of duties. This is the first assault on a defended atoll and with northern attack and covering forces the largest Pacific operation to date. The whole thing was a beautiful example of democracy in action. The tempo of life did not change after the news had been given out. As D-Day neared brief church services were held daily on the hatches. The men began to spend less time reading and sun-bathing and more time sharpening their knives and oiling their guns. On the morning of D-Day, troop officers read this message, from General Smith, to their men: A great oHiensive to destroy the enemy in the Pacific has begun. American air, sea and land forces, of which this Division is a part, initiate this offensive by seizing Japanese-held atolls in the Gilbert Islands which will be used as bases for future operations. The task assigned to us is to capture the atolls of Tarawa and Apemama. Army units of our Fifth Amphibious Corps are simultaneously attacking Makin, one hundred and fifty miles to the north of Tarawa. 'CFOI' the Past UWC? df1Y5 A1'mYg Navy, and Marine Corps aircraft have been carrying out bombard- ment attacks on our objectives. They are neutralizing and will continue to neutralize other Japanese 'air bases adjacent to the Gilbert lslands. ul-Early this morning combatant ships of our Navy bombarded Tarawa. Our Navy screens our operations and will support our attack tomorrow morning with the greatest concentration of aerial bombardment and naval gunlire in the history of warfare. alt will remain with us until our objective is secured and our defensives are established. Garrison forces are already enroute to relieve us as soon as we have completed our job of clearing our objectives ofjapanese forces. 'fThis Division was especially chosen by the high command for the assault of Tarawa because of its battle experience and its combat efficiency. Their confidence in us will not be betrayed. We are the first American troops to attack a defended atoll. What we do here will set a standard for all future operations in the Central Pacific area. Cbservers from other Marine Divisions and from other branches of our armed services, as well as those of our allies, have been detailed to witness our operations. Representatives of the press are present. Our people back home are eagerly awaiting news of our victories. NI know that you are well trained and fit for the tasks assigned to you. You will quickly over-run the Japanese forces, you will decisively defeat and destroy the treacherous enemies of our country, Y you all. our success will add new laurels to the glorious tradition of our Corps. Good luck, and God bless As the sun went down on the eve of the assault, the men stretched out on the decks earlier than usual to get as much rest as they could. Reveille was scheduled for 3:45 in the morning. Few of the men slept. 3:45 a.m.: Saturday, November 20, 1943- D-Day: The transports, several miles off Tarawa and its coral reefs, lay to in darkness. The war- ships moved in closer. Their orders were to im- mediately open counter-battery fire on any shore batteries in their sectors if the shore batteries opened up on the transports prior to 5:45. That was the hour designated for the carrier air- strike against Betio. The moon was at quarter, the sky emptying itself of stars. Over the transports sounded the M din bflffgfjf OPM-Y up ON Tafawa thin piping of bosun's whistles and the whine of winches as the landing boats were lowered over the side for their load of men. 4:41 a.m.: Tension was beginning to build up on our side and among the Japs. It broke with them first. From the long black fringe of the islet came a burst, a red star cluster. Cur warships loomed through the darkness, moving in closer, their guns trained, waiting. 5:07 a.m. Daylight was coming. Suddenly the Japs opened up with their big coastal batteries, forged in Birmingham, England, and used in the defense of Singapore. The firing was close. Near misses claimed casualties among the boat crews but the ships remained afloat. 5:12 a.m.: The flagship pointed her bow beachward and, supported by two of her sister ships, let go a salvo from her 16-inch guns. The ,Iap's 8-inchers were silenced, wiped out. They had been in action twenty minutes. The flagship had been in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Many of her crew had been survivors of that day. 5:42 a.1n.: The task force ceased firing. The lull was a prelude to the aerial bombardment which was to continue until the final hour of the battle. The japs continued shelling with their other shore batteries. ' 5:48 a.1n.: The shelling continued. Transports were forced to shift their berths and steam out of range. Their clusters of landing craft follwed behind them. This unavoidably delayed the landing. 6:00 a.1n.: The scattered fighting ships resumed firing, plastering the japanese shore batteries to cover withdrawal of transports. The planes had not yet come in. 6:13 a.ni.: The task force ceased firing the second time. The aerial bombardment began. It was not haphazard destruction for their bombs found home. The first phase was swift and brief. It lasted nine minutes. 6:22 a.m.: The task force resumed its shelling. Fire was begun at 10,000 and 15,000 yards and con- centrated on eastern, northwestern and southwestern ends where shore guns were emplaced. As firing continued the big ships closed the range, moving to 2,000 and 6,000 yards. 6:58 a.m.: The Navy was having its day. The task force ceased Hscheduled firingi' and began to silence individual batteries at their own discretion. Ships competed with ship as they worked in for the kill. 7:00 a.m.: A small mine sweeper moved into the lagoon to lay a preliminary smoke screen. japanese coastal batteries fired at her. The little ship was a sitting duck. She didnjt give an inch. Later she was joined by another sweeper, two destroyers and a pursuit boat. The five remained inside the lagoon until Betio had fallen. The sweeperis skipper advised against smoke and the Marine officers concurred. The assault was swung to an alternative plan. The reef lay patiently waiting, and above it was the tide. 8:20 a.m.: Aboard the Flagship, General Smith issued the following message: '4The first boats will leave fifteen minutes late? It was the first hint to the men in the boats that the job was not going to be a pushover. 8:22 a.m.: The first assault waves left the Line of Departure on their journey to the reef-their journey into hell. The japanese guns were ominously silent. The amphibious tractors moved stoically toward the reef. Then came a message to the Flagship: H40 mm. guns firing on landing boats? , 1 , , , 2 .,.. t u .::s. Marines Wade Ashore at Tarawa Fire from the Japanese coastal guns was intermittent at first. The deluge of steel from the bombard ment had shocked and dazed the defenders. 'l he amphibious tractors in the first three assault waves therefore managed to lumber over the reef and reach the beach with relatively few casualties But now the l30IT1lJZlI'Cll1lCI1l had ceased. The fire from the beach became more intense. The fourth wave, in landing boats, found insufficient water to clear the reef. The men had to get out and wade in With patient and indomitable courage some lived to reach the beach K Its average depth from water's edge to sea wall was twenty feet. The sea wall, built of coconut logs driven into the ground, was four feet high. On this shallow strip, 100 yards from the pier toward the east, the Second Battalion of the Eighth Marine Regiment later established a beach-head 8:30 a.m.: From the Line of Departure the assault waves headed for the beach 8:37 a.m.: From the Flagship, General Smith issued the message: UH-Hour is 0900 9:10 a.m.: Second Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment, landed on Beach Red 3. Half hour later 9:12 a.m.: Second Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, landed on Beach Red 2. Shortly, the commanding officer messaged: Meeting heavy resistance 9:17 a.m.: Third Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, landed on Beach Red 1. The commanding officer messaged: ffBoats held up on reef, right flank Red 1. Troops receiving heavy fire in water Shortly after the action opened, the wounded began to move back to the transports. Men risked their lives to swim to their wounded buddies and drag them back to the boats. Many of these became casualties themselves. The first of the landing craft took off for their return to the transports loaded down with the wounded. They carried, on this tragic journey, boys who thirty minutes earlier had been among the finest physical specimens of the country . .33 the commanding officer messaged: ffHeavy opposition? D., . ' F, 10:00 a.m.: The battle for Betio was in a Crescendo of Fury. 'fTough resistance on Beach Red 3 toward the airport. Colonel Shoup ordered the Second Regiment's First Battalion to land on Beach Red 2. QHis Com- bat Team 2 established a limited beach-head against heavy fire at about 2 p.m.j 10:08 a.m.: The Second Battalion of the Eighth Marine Regiment reported that it had advanced inland to the airport. 10:18 a.m.: The Third Battalion of the Eighth Regiment already boated. 10:45 a.m.: The commanding officer of the Second Regiment's Second Battalion reported: HStiff resistance. Need half-tracks. Tanks no good. 11:05 a.m.: The Third Battalion of the Eighth Marines received orders to land on Beach Red 3 ' ' al later noted: cfHeavy and protect the left flank of the Second Battalion. The operations Journ casualtiesf' 11:58 a.m.: The Second Regiment's Second Battalion reported its situation ffbadf, 12:03 p.m.: The Second Regiment's Third Battalion radioed: f'Large calibre guns on west coast. Request air attack. The carrier-based planes roared in. 12:05 p.m.: A and B Companies, First Battalion, landed on Beach Red 2 to support the first waves. R d 3 t re uest of Second Battalion, Eighth Regiment. 12:29 p.m.: Planes shifted to strafe Beach e , a q 12:34 p.m.: The same battalion now had Enemy tanks to our frontff 1200 p.m.: In a gashed tractor were bodies of two Marines and a Navy doctor. The shell that killed them also Wounded ten other men. In the blazing sun, Marines and bluejackets removed their steel helmets. CWVe are in the presence of the last great enemy, Death? Almost as an echo, strident through the loudspeaker on the bridge, came the report: The issue is in doubt. 1:45 p.m.: Colonel Shoup received this message: Reserve teams unable to land. Heavy enemy fire. ls there another beach where we can land ? 1:50 p.m.: Beach Red 1 radioed: 'cAnti-boat guns holding up reserves. Troops 400 yards away from Jap guns on right. 1:51 p.m.: To Colonel Shoup: All medium tanks, except one, now on beach. QBy the end of the day, the Japanese tanks had all been knocked out.j 3:00 p.m.: The Commanding Officer Third Battalion, Second Regiment, reported: 'fStill in landing boat off shore and out of contact with my assault units? General Smith ordered, Land at any cost, regain control of your battalion, and continue the attack. 4:11 p.m. All planes in the air were ordered to expend every round ammunition before leaving the area. 4:45 p.m.: The Sixth Marine Regiment was released to the control of the Second Marine Division. This was all that was left of available manpower. The bolt was shot. x The boys of the Sixth had been the first to land in Iceland, and had fought at Guadalcanal with distinction. 5:20 p.m.: General Smith received first fragmentary casualty reports. They were bad. 7:00 p.m.: Dusk. General Smith messaged to Colonel Shoup: C'Hold what you have. Develop contact between battalions. Clear isolated machine guns holding out on beach. Make provisions for organized counter-attacks. QThis did not develop that night. The morale of the Japs was beginning to show its signs of a break.j 10:00 p.m.: Colonel Shoup summed up D-Day in this report to General Smith: Have dug in to hold limited beach-head. Second Battalion, Eighth Regiment holds left flank. Second Battalion, Second Regiment and First Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, hold Beach Red 2. No word from Third Battalion, Second Regiment. My Command Post, center of Beach Red 23, The 'climited beach-headn was about 300 yards wide and 30 to 50 yards in average depth around the head of the pier, while on Beach Red 2 it extended on a shallow front about 450 yards. All through the night and into the early morning hours of November 21, boats held back from the Line of Departure tried to run the gauntlet to the beach. There were casualties. The transportsby now were being converted into hospital ships. Marines on top of the pier weathered heavy enemy shelling as they struggled to bring ammunition ashore. The inferno lighting up the shore prevented any chance of secrecy. 2:00 a.m.: Firing from behind was discovered as coming from the wrecked hull of a Japanese tramp steamer on the reefs off Beach Red 2. The Task Force promised: Will bomb at daylight. The pier was of white coral grit. The quarter moon was bright. These, the white sand, and the blazing background made perfect targets of every man who had to cross the stretch. The nightls unsung heroes were the Marine working parties . . . unloading, sweating, carrying, dying. Where the japs were left on the pier, the line would tighten up. Betio burned like a bonfire. At dawn, November 21, 1943, D plus I Day, dive bombers blasted and pounded the hull on the reefs off Beach Red 2, and still, when the first Marines come onto the reef that morning, there was additional fire from the wreck. 'cWe are engaging Target 228 Cat the southern Kip of Beach Green, where Japanese 8-inch coastal emplacements had been concentratedj at 7 until 7:20 a.m., with Fire Support Group 12. We are engaging the east end of Betio at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. for 20 minutes with Fire Support Groups 31 and 22. Fire Support Groups consisted of destroyers and cruisers. Their accuracy was unbelievable. The tiny islet was divided into squares on the target map. Planes and destroyers were allotted to each battalion and worked under the battal- ion commander's orders. Marines storming Tarawa airport 5:22 a.m.: General Smith sent a message to Golonel Elmer Hall commanding the Eighth Marine Regiment, to land his first battalion on Beach Red 2 at once. They started in at a quarter past seven wading in shoreward over the reef. For the men ashore there was little to do but watch, hope, and pray. Many turned away. The battle ahead was better than this. As the First Battalion of the Eighth Regiment was wading in, Golonel Hall sent a message to Golonel Shoup that he and the remaining waves were laying off. Impossible to land vehicles and equipment because of heavy enemy firef' During the initial stage of the second day of battle, Jap mortars got the range of some revetments that had been captured and in which many of the Sherman tanks had been placed for the night. While shells were exploding around them their crews manned them and began a desperate zig-zagging to escape the blasts. They escaped the concentration and were shortly back in the fight. 8:23 a.m.: Golonel Shoup to General Smith: Urgently request rations and small arms ammuni- tions landed on the beach. The great majority of the men ashore had been fighting for over 24 hours without rest and with only the canteens of hot medicated water and the one ration they had brought ashore with them. Working parties were sent out to search the bodies of dead Marines for ammnuition, first-aid packs and water. Rations lay out there on the water. Thursday would be Thanksgiving at home. 9:22 a.m.: Golonel Shoup notified General Smith that he was making every effort to occupy the north and west ends of the island. During the next hour the tempo increased. Gradually the laps were forced back from most of the airstrip. There were a good many casualties, but the men did get across the strip and to the far side of the islet. 10:30 a.m.: General Smith to Golonel Shoup: Do you have suiiicient troops to occupy Betio? Request additional information before committing division reserves elsewhere. 10:50 a.m.: The Third Battalion of the Second Regiment reported it was pinned down. They wanted dive-bombers, they wanted tanks. Both requests were filled. 11:30 a.m.: Colonel Shoup reported the situation still critical. 'cRequest rubber boat battalion of the Sixth Marine Regiment landed Beach Red 2 and attack through area now held by the Second Battlion Eighth Marine Regiment. 12100: First indications Japs were beginning to break were reported. Gases were starting to be found of hari-kiri. The flame throwers of the Eighteenth Regiment Qengineersj were tirelessly covering the different sectors of the iight. The flame guns were especially effective in cleaning out pill boxes. Flame would turn corners in compartmented pillboxes. There was still little food ashore. 12:35 p.m.: Remnants of the Third Battalion of the Second Regiment and isolated personnel of the Second Battalion reached the southwest tip of Betio and secured Beach Green to a depth of about 150 yards. Division headquarters ordered a battalion landed on the south half of Beach Green and Uprepare to continue the attack immediately. The tide had turned definitely, in favor of the Marines. 1:40 p.m.: Sixth Marine Regiment was ordered to put a landing team ashore on Beaches Blue 1 and 2 Hto prevent withdrawal hostile forces to the eastf' 2:50 p.m.: The afternoon wore on while the Marines butchered their way across Betio, with pains- taking slowness. Occassionally it required six to seven hours to cover 50 to 100 yards. NVhile dusk settled on Betio, Colonel Shoup summed up the situation: Our troops are dishing out hell and catching hell. Combat efficiency. We are winning. The long night hours were silent except when punctuated by p-i-i-i-n-g of snipers' bullets 2nd the drone of c'W'ashington Gharlieisn lone visit overhead. The men held their fire through all these hours. The lone Jap plane dropped its stick of bombs and left. This was the plan of attack for the third day of the battle: 1. The First Battalion, Eighth Marines, would swing west from its hinge on Beach Red 2, clear western portion of airstrip, and wipe out the -laps still nested between them and Beach Green. 2. The other two battalions of the Eighth would swing east from their hinge and sweep to the end of the airstrip. 3. Third Battalion, Second Marines, were to hold what they had on Beach Green. 44... ' . --4-.. ii?V , Tamwa Beach Scene During Battle 4. Fresh tr0Ops Of the First Battalion, Sixth Regiment, were to strike out along Beach Black fSouthj where the japs had their fortifications in greatest strength and concentration, ultimately to push through the 200 yard front end of the airfield. 8:15 a.m.: The Marines along the south coast went into action. Orders were to advance 1,400 yards along the south beach on a 200 yard front and attain its objective by nightfall. This stretch was about the toughest to crack on the islet. There were at least six pillboxes in every 100 yards, occupied by three to twenty Japs. Naval gunfire had not knocked out these minature fortresses. They had to be neutralized with tank fire, flame throwers, and hand grenades. Marines walked in front of tanks, directly into Jap fire, to spot targets. When these men were wounded or killed, others took their places. All were volunteers. November 23, 1943. 11:45 a.m.: Colonel Holmes reported his first battalion just inland from the south end of Beach Green. This made our disposition stand roughly like this: On the north, where our initial landings had been made, we had extended in two narrow columns on either side of the pier, piercing the airstrip and boxing the area in along the south beach. Colonel Holmes, battalion had secured the entire length of the west beach for a depth of 200 yards. The laps in the west areas were encircled. 11:59 a.m.: Colonel Shoup received this message: CG with small advance party will land Beach Green QNorthj about 12:00.'3 General Smith found it necessary to take to the water before he reached the beach. His landing boat grounded 100 yards off shore. After visiting command posts he returned to the beach for an amphibious tractor, it was the only way to get to Beach Red 2. During the trip the driver was wounded in the head by a bullet and the tractor disabled. Another tractor was sent for, after half an hour delay the General reached his command post. Colonel Shoup notified the Flagship when the General arrived. 1:00 p.m.: On the southern beach the First Battalion of the Sixth Marines renewed its push. It took six hours to cover the next 600 yards. Casualties were again heavy. Medium tanks had to be dis- patched to replace light tanks in neutralizing pillboxes. 3:05 p.m.: f'Land available personnel of Combat Team Two on Beach Green as labor details? 3:30 p.m.: HB Medical land on Bairiki, establish field hospital as soon as possible. A and C Medical land Beach Red 2 soon as possible. Bring morphine, plasma, dressings, stretchersf' 3:50 p.m.: ffLand guns, ammunition and personnel of 'Xi Defense Battalion as soon as possible at pier? Request detail to clear bodies around pierf' 4:00 .m.: f'Situation not favorable for ra id cleanu of Betiof, P P P Before digging in for the night the companies re-formed and moved into defensive positions. f'Unsling packs and dig in. They spoke in whispers to prevent the unseen Japs in front of them from detecting their positions. The sky deepened from rich purple to blackness. The first stars began to shine. Silence settled, disturbed only by the faint scuffing of shovels as the men went on digging their foxholes. Then - 'fBanzai V' Blood for the Emperor! Two words went through the line: H- ffStand fastf, The first Jap counter-attacks lasted an hour. The .Iaps leaped from their holes and charged, running like possessed demons, waiving sabers, tossing hand grenades, firing light machine guns from the hip, charging with fixed bayonets. With knives, bayonets, rifle butts, the Marines fought them back. They were repulsed but not before opening a gap between A and B companies of the Sixth. Our wounded could not be moved. Men opened their first-aid kits, bandaged their buddies in the darkness, and gave them water from their canteens. Non-commissioned oflicers moved among the men, shaking them, warning them to stay awake. Major jones, at the Command Post, had to turn down a request for reinforcements. He sent up a mortar platoon, all the water they could, hand grenades and a supply of small-arms ammunition. 8:00 p.m.: Three thousand yards off shore a destroyer fired the first round on squares 201 through 207 to prevent the japs' from reorganizing and to disrupt their communications. The ground shook as the shells exploded. NI-low was it? CKEW c'Fifty yards ahead of their lines. They want more in the same spotf, More on the same target. Tell them the shootingls greatf' 10:30 p.m.: Major Jones ordered artillery fire on squares 208 and 210. 11 :00 p.m.: The japs attempted to create a diversion. A few minutes later they charged as before, screaming Banzai!,' The Marines stopped the charge and threw the Japs back. 3:00 a.m.: The enemy moved machine guns into some of their wrecked trucks and began firing. 'fWashington Charlie dropped a stick of bombs and headed home. They missed the men. 4:00 a.m.: The Japs launched their final and most desperate attack. It was now or never. A few Japs were naked and armed only with knives. For an hour, hand-to-hand fighting went on. B Company lines sagged but did not break. Some Marines who ran out of ammunition fought with their hands, choking the enemy to death. Men gave their lives to save their buddies. 5:00 a.m.: The counter-attack ended. The stars were fading. Itis over. We stopped them. Send stretcher-bearers to evacuate the wounded. Navy corpsmen bandaged, applied tourniquets, injected morphine, lit cigarettes and stuck them between cracked lips and said, You,ll be all right, kid. Before the men unslung their packs they lined up at the water cans. It was warm water, dirty brown in color, with a repugnant taste, but it was sweet to them. They stretched out on the earth. Some slept at once, some too tense to sleep at first sat about in groups, talking and cracking jokes until the tenseness wore off. ' They took crushed packs of cigarettes and lighted up. It was forbidden at night in battle, cigarette discipline had been a great trial. V November 23, 1943. - 8:00 a.m.: The Third Battalion of the Sixth got the signal to push down the tail of Betio to the end of the islet and finish OH' the remaining Japs. Unable to coordinate, the Japs fought individually for their lives in confused fashion. It took the Battalion four and a half hours to push through to the end of Betio. Soon after the Sixth had finished its job, the First Battalion of the Eighth succeeded in cleaning out the last remnant of resistance on Beach Red 1. This pocket had held out during the entire fight. 1:12 p.m.: General Smith had the announcement carried by field telephone to all units on the islet and by radio to the ships of the task force that the battle of Betio was over. One Marine wrote his wife: 'C . . . All I can think of right now is coming home to you. Pray that it will be soonf' General Smith walked among his men. One youngster showed him a dent in his helmet. The general told him to keep the helmet always. Press representatives and Marine Corps combat correspondents, using water cans for chairs and a japanese torpedo for a desk, pounded away at their typewriters on a story that was to electrify the nation. Intelligence officers questioned prisoners. Chaplains moved among wounded Marines on stretchers Warehouse and ordnance section repaired weapons covered with rust and dirt that had been reclaimed from the reef Anti-aircraft batteries were landed and their guns placed in position Seabees were driving bull dozers onto the airstrip, getting it ready for the first American planes due the next morning. Naval and all' l7OIHlJ211'Cl111CHt had been purposely kept off the airstrip to facilitate repairs. Radio Tokyo broadcast this version of the battle 1. That five thousand Marines were sent to the bottom of the Pacific when their transports were sunk. 2. That subsequently the japs sank three large aircraft carriers, one battleship, one cruiser, and shot down eighty-nine planes H3. That heavy fighting still raged at Tarawa November 24 1943 The assault troops began leaving Betio. It was slow business. They were leaving many comrades behind, in shallow graves, still lying face down in the waters of the lagoon, lying along the battered beaches, hanging on brutal wire. They did not talk much, these men who had done the impossible There were no longer boys among them, only men Bloody, bandaged heroes Some natives reached Betio. One expressed his feelings succinctly: f'Betio, boom, boom, good! he said with a wide smile. Most of the Gilbertese felt like that The natives set to work with a will, happy to be paid in British coin instead of the two bowls of rice the Japanese had given them Cemeteries sprang up like patches of weeds. Most of the crosses had names of men printed on them in rough fashion. One read: U killed 10 japs, it will take 100 to avenge your death? 1 . ' . , , . . 93 L . , . 33 Besides the Marine dead, hundred of blackened japanese, seared and charred, lay in blockhouses and gun positions. Men explored. Walking around the islet after the battle, it seemed incredible that such an insignificant sand spit should have been worth so much in blood, that these few acres of coral sand could have been classed as one of the major military bases of the japanese in the Pacific. But it was true. Few noticed at first the two denuded palm trees just a hundred yards from the beach. Private First Class james Williams of Birmingham, Alabama, stepped forward and lifted his bugle to sound colors for the first time over Tarawa. His dungarees were very dirty from wearing them in a tank all through the battle, he was now wearing white. Major General julian Smith took one look at the white uniform of the Japanese Navy and said: Take those damn things off and keep them off! After this had been attended to, Technical Sergeant Vito Million of Philadelphia, and Corporal Mickey Frankenstein of Los Angeles took hold of the shrouds and raised our flag to the top of the tall, shrapnel-pocked palm tree trunk. The British flag was raised on the other tree a few minutes later. Men turned from digging foxholes, unloading boats, burying the dead. They stood at attention their dirty tired young hands at salute. Some of the wounded managed to stand up too. The more seriously hurt could only turn their heads as they lay on their litters. They lost a little of their weariness, a little of their sorrow. They could see their flag. It made them proud. For they knew, more than anyone else, what it meant to put it there. H1 Wzmaf M. 01 , , it-1 ,, 47' fn z 1 Um' Flag Mfvllllllf IJIWI' ff 11r11zz '11 nw., x... .. -.-ADA 4 1318 EKQM llffalhl-mmf 58135 s5.111'xQm ' of rusucs OFFICE. MNT DEPQITBIYU -1 f , Mfg AE. AML fn . ii.- NAVY 535,P4a5i3?lsE1i'S