Combat· World War II
Gilberts Campaign
The Gilbert Islands were a chain of low coral atolls in the central Pacific.
Taking them would give the Allies airfields and a base to push toward the Marshalls and the heart of Japan's defenses. The main prize was Betio, a tiny but heavily fortified island in Tarawa Atoll, packed with bunkers, pillboxes, and big coastal guns. The 2d Marine Division drew the job of storming it. The plan called for amphibian tractors to carry the first waves across the wide reef that ringed the island. The tide ran lower than expected, so many later troops in standard boats had to wade in under heavy fire. Once ashore, the Marines clawed out a narrow beachhead and fought yard by yard to clear the bunkers. After several brutal days the island fell. The hard lessons learned at Tarawa reshaped every landing that followed.
Engagements in this conflict (2) Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 105