On November 19, 1943, Pfc. Clayton Jay of Lamesa, Texas, watched the sunrise from the attack transport Zeilin, aware that this would be his last peaceful moment before the assault on Tarawa. Dubbed Operation Galvanic, this assault was crucial in Admiral Chester A. Nimitz’s island-hopping campaign to defeat the Japanese by capturing strategic islands like the Gilbert Islands.
The assault force, the Fifth Fleet, was massive, including six attack carriers, five light carriers, seven escort carriers, 12 battleships, 15 cruisers, 65 destroyers, 33 transports, 29 LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks), and 28 support ships. Vice Adm. Raymond A. Spruance commanded the fleet, with Rear Adm. Harry W. “Handsome Harry” Hill leading Task Force 53.
Tarawa’s Defenses
Betio, the main island of the Tarawa atoll, was heavily fortified by the Japanese under Rear Adm. Tomanari Saichiro, a renowned engineer. The island, only three miles long and 800 yards wide, was surrounded by a log and coral seawall and boasted 500 pillboxes, tank traps, and numerous artillery and machine gun positions. One Japanese officer confidently claimed that “a million Americans couldn’t take Tarawa in 100 years.”
The Marines’ Plan
Lt. Gen. Holland “Howlin’ Mad” Smith commanded the V Amphibious Corps, with Maj. Gen. Julian C. Smith leading the 2nd Marine Division. Lt. Col. David M. Shoup’s plan included a preliminary bombardment and a feint landing to mislead the Japanese. However, Nimitz restricted the naval bombardment to three hours and canceled the Bairiki invasion, leaving the Marines with limited support and a frontal assault on the heavily defended beaches.
D-Day: November 20, 1943
At dawn, the naval bombardment of Betio began, with battleships like Maryland, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Colorado pounding the island. Despite the bombardment, the Japanese were well-entrenched and ready for the Marines. As the Marines landed, they faced devastating crossfire. Many landing craft were stranded on coral reefs, forcing the Marines to wade ashore under heavy fire.
On Red Beach 1, the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, faced murderous fire, with Company L suffering 35% casualties before reaching the beach. Pfc. Clayton Jay’s LVT was hit, and he witnessed the carnage as bodies floated in the blood-red water. Despite a shrapnel wound, Jay and his squad neutralized a Japanese gun emplacement, showing the relentless determination of the Marines.
On Red Beach 2, the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, were similarly pounded. Staff Sgt. William Bordelon of Company C destroyed multiple enemy bunkers before being killed, earning the Medal of Honor posthumously. The intense fighting continued throughout the day, with Marines like Lt. William Hawkins leading assaults despite severe injuries.
On Red Beach 3, Maj. Henry Crowe’s 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, landed under heavy fire. Crowe’s leadership and the support from destroyers allowed the Marines to gain a small foothold.
The Fight for Survival
As night fell, the Marines braced for a Japanese counterattack that never came. By dawn on D+1, the beaches were littered with dead bodies, and the smell of decay filled the air. The 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, faced devastating fire as they landed, with many Marines drowning or being cut down before reaching the shore.
Lt. Col. David Shoup, wounded and struggling to establish communication, continued to lead from the front, epitomizing the grit and resilience of the Marines. The introduction of Sherman tanks and continuous naval gunfire support began to turn the tide.
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Turning the Tide
On D+1, the Marines made slow progress, pushing inland with the support of flamethrowers and artillery. By late afternoon, the 6th Marines were brought into the fight, and Col. Shoup confidently reported, “We are winning.”
The battle continued fiercely, with individual acts of heroism, such as those by Lt. Hawkins and Major Ryan’s 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, who breached enemy defenses with tank support. By the end of D+2, the Marines had made significant gains, and morale was improving.
Securing Betio
By D+3, the arrival of fresh troops and continued pressure on Japanese defenses led to the Marines securing most of Betio. The Japanese, now desperate, launched night attacks that were repelled with heavy losses. On November 24, Tarawa was declared secured after 76 hours of brutal combat.
The cost of capturing Betio was high: 3,407 Marines were killed, wounded, or missing, while nearly 5,000 Japanese defenders were killed. The battle, though costly, was a crucial step in the Pacific campaign, paving the way for further Allied advances.
Legacy of Tarawa
Tarawa’s assault, despite its heavy casualties, proved to be a pivotal moment in the Pacific War. It demonstrated the necessity of thorough planning and the bravery required to overcome well-entrenched defenses. Admiral Nimitz declared that capturing Tarawa “knocked down the front door to the Japanese defenses in the Central Pacific,” setting the stage for future operations in the Marshall Islands and beyond.
The battle’s legacy is honored in military history, with TIME magazine commemorating the Marines’ sacrifice by placing Tarawa alongside historic battles like Concord Bridge and the Alamo. The valor displayed at Tarawa continues to inspire and remind us of the immense sacrifices made during World War II.
