Tarawa 1943 by Derrick Wright

Tarawa 1943 by Derrick Wright

Author:Derrick Wright
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Tarawa 1943: The Turning of the Tide
ISBN: 9781782002390
Publisher: Osprey Publishing


A Wounded Buddy (Kerr Eby) Corpsmen, the navy medics attached to the Marine Corps, were revered by the Marines. In the thick of the fighting, ‘Doc’ would be available to treat the most appalling wounds and get the casualties to the nearest doctor or field hospital. (Navy Art Collection, Naval Historical Center)

Maj Michael Ryan, commander of L Company 3-2, who assembled and led a mixed force of Marines on the western side of Red Beach 1. His capture of Green Beach on D+1 proved decisive, allowing the 6th Marines to land on an uncontested beach. (USMC Historical Collection)

Acting upon what information was available to him, Julian Smith radioed Holland Smith, who was with the Northern Task Force off Makin: ‘Successful landings on beaches Red 2 and 3. Am committing one landing team from divisional reserves. Still encountering strong resistance throughout.’ Holland Smith was perturbed; he knew that it was unusual to commit reserves this early in the battle.

It was at around 1130hrs that Shoup ordered Maj Ruud’s 3-8 to land on Red 3 in support of ‘Jim’ Crowe. There were no amtracs available at the line of departure, and Ruud and his men were left to come ashore the hard way, by Higgins boat.

The Japanese gunners had now worked out the range to perfection, and the first salvos arrived just as the boats reached the reef. As the ramps came down the Marines – most of them laden with heavy equipment – leaped into the water amid a furious barrage from the artillery at the eastern end of Betio. Many disappeared into deep water and drowned; others began the long slog toward the shore amid a criss-cross of machine-gun and small arms fire.

From the shore, Crowe’s men could only watch in horror as the ever diminishing figures struggled forward amid exploding landing craft and spouts of artillery fire. LtCdr MacPherson, overhead in his Kingfisher spotter plane, said: ‘The water never seemed clear of tiny men, their rifle over their head, slowly wading beachward. I wanted to cry.’ Seeing his men facing annihilation, Maj Ruud took the courageous decision to order the fourth wave back. His wisdom was confirmed minutes later when the regimental commander, Col Hall, ordered: ‘Land no more troops.’

Julian Smith was now left with only one reserve unit, Maj Lawrence Hays’ 1-8, and they were ordered to the line of departure in readiness. At 1330hrs Julian Smith radioed Holland Smith asking V Corps of the 6th Marines to be returned to his command. Permission was granted at 1430hrs, and he now felt confident enough to ask Shoup where he wanted 1-8 to land. His message never got through, so he instructed Hays to land at the extreme eastern end of Betio and work his way northwest to link up with Shoup on Red 2. Yet again the communications foul-up persisted, and this message went missing, with the result that 1-8 spent the remainder of D-day and the whole of the following night embarked in their landing craft and awaiting instructions.



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