Across the Reef: The Marine Assault of Tarawa

by Joseph H. Alexander

In August 1943, to meet in secret with Major General Julian C. Smith and his principal staff officers of the 2d Marine Division, Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commanding the Central Pacific Force, flew to New Zealand from Pearl Harbor. Spruance told the Marines to prepare for an amphibious assault against Japanese positions in the Gilbert Islands in November.
The Marines knew about the Gilberts. The 2d Raider Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson had attacked Makin Atoll a year earlier. Subsequent intelligence reports warned that the Japanese had fortified Betio Island in Tarawa Atoll, where elite forces guarded a new bomber strip. Spruance said Betio would be the prime target for the 2d Marine Division.
General Smith’s operations officer, Lieutenant Colonel David M. Shoup, studied the primitive chart of Betio and saw that the tiny island was surrounded by a barrier reef. Shoup asked Spruance if any of the Navy’s experimental, shallow-draft, plastic boats could be provided. “Not available,” replied the admiral, “expect only the usual wooden landing craft.” Shoup frowned. General Smith could sense that Shoup’s gifted mind was already formulating a plan.
The results of that plan were momentous. The Tarawa operation became a tactical the first, large-scale test of American amphibious doctrine against a strongly fortified beachhead. The Marine assault on Betio was particularly bloody. Ten days after the assault, Time magazine published the first of many post-battle
Last week some 2,000 or 3,000 United States Marines, most of them now dead or wounded, gave the nation a name to stand beside those of Concord Bridge, the Bon Homme Richard , the Alamo, Little Big Horn and Belleau Wood. The name was “Tarawa.”

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, American History

79 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 2, 2015

About the author

Col. Joseph H. Alexander, USMC served in the Corps for 29 years as an assault amphibian officer. He has written six books, including Utmost Savagery and Edson’s Raiders. He was the Naval Institute Author of the Year in 1996 and Naval History Author of the Year in 2010. He was the principal historian and writer on the exhibit design team throughout the construction of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. He lived in Asheville, North Carolina.

Biography taken from http://www.usni.org/author/colonel-jo...

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the battle for Guadalcanal between Allied and Japanese forces involved land, sea and air forces in greater numbers than took place on Tarawa, it could not match the concentrated savagery. In the battle for Guadalcanal that came earlier, the Japanese forces eventually withdrew rather than fighting to the end. That was not the case with Tarawa.
After the Japanese forces in control of Tarawa realized that the Allies would eventually attack, they spent a year fortifying the islands against an assault. This was not the case with Guadalcanal. The overall size of the islands of Tarawa were also small, so that there was no real room to maneuver, therefore both sides knew that it was going to be a frontal assault against well prepared positions. The Japanese forces also understood that there was little chance of any aid arriving. Those forces were the elite of the Japanese military, known to be willing to fight to the death.
On November 20. 1943, the Allied attack began. It took only three days for the Marines to secure the island. Of the approximately 2,600 Japanese soldiers on the island, only 17 were taken prisoner. Of the over 2,000 Korean laborers on the islands, only 129 survived. Over 1,000 U. S. Marines were killed. Most of the killing was done on Betio island, only 0.59 square miles in area. This works out to 358 acres or approximately 15 deaths per acre.
This brief book summarizes all of these facts as well as the lessons that were learned by both sides. The American forces understood how tenacious and unrelenting the Japanese forces would be in future battles as well as how effective the Japanese were able to fortify their positions. As is pointed out, the brutal lessons learned on Tarawa were applied when additional Japanese island fortresses were attacked later in the war.
The Japanese military leaders also understood that without significant aerial and naval support from their side, the American forces would be able to overwhelm and destroy any Japanese installation, no matter how strong the fortifications. After Tarawa, both sides knew that the war came down to a simple formula, how many casualties the American commanders were willing to take in order to destroy the Japanese military installations.

[Chuck DeLorme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarawa; another terrible lesson in war but once again a job well done by Marines


A good read for a military history buff like me..a must read for current and military leaders to understand the truth in a battle especially when the enemy is able and willing to fight for their leaders. War is very bloody but often brings out the best in men who are lucky to survive and can do battle that inspires others on the battlefield and after. Thank God for these Marines and their sacrifices.

[Robert James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, detailed, and informative.

Fascinating, detailed discussion of the assault and capture of Tarawa by US Marines in WWII. The author communicates clearly the detailed preparations, courage of the attackers and defenders, and the resulting incredible carnage. Well written, carefully researched, presenting a close up view of the planning, preparation, execution, and aftermath of Operation Galvanic. Recommended for anyone interested in the history of amphibious warfare, the Marines in WWII, and military history.

[thomas bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical record for wwII.

All students of military history especially pacific war and island hopping to Japan prior to the atomic bomb and end of the war

[Howard Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read by Col. Alexander , you vasn almost feel the heat .

[Al Lock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief, concise account of the assault on Betio (Tarawa) by the 2d Marine Division with emphasis on the mistakes made, the lessons learned and the individual heroism of Marines and Sailors.

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting in-depth look at a battle during WW2.

[RBSProds · Rating 5 out of 5]

IN 1942, US FORCES ATTACK JAPANESE FORCES IN THE BLOODY TARAWA ATOLL ASSAULT, October 5, 2017




Five INTREPID Stars. “Across The Reef: The Marine Assault of Tarawa” is by author Joseph H. Alexander. This 2016 short story describes “Operation Galvanic”, conceived as a ‘lightning fast’ amphibious military action in the Central Pacific Ocean area of operations by Allied forces to take an area of the Gilbert Islands from the Japanese forces during World War II. The author gives a thoughtful, detailed description of the opposing forces, the geographic area, the strategic significant of the Tarawa Atoll, and the Allied plan of operation. From “D-Day at Betio” on November 20th, 1943, Alexander gives a gut-wrenching, gory description of the tragic results of what actually happened, populated by colorfully-named people like “Handsome Harry” Hill, “Howling Mad” Smith, and “Terrible” Turner, but mostly populated by a very brave, intrepid group of gutsy officer and enlisted Marine, Navy, and Army heroes battling a determined enemy across the atoll. Heroes would rise, Medals of Honor would be earned in this encounter, and the ‘after action’ evaluations were extensive. This is yet another chapter in the annals of notable World War II battles. My Highest Recommendation. Five IMPRESSIVE Stars. Kindle (Endymion Press. “Distribution by Pronoun.” 56 pages. Note: There is an “illustrated” version of this short story available. There is also a YouTube 80 minute, "age-restricted", US National Archives video shot by the US Marines before, during, and after the assault by the US Military, which is not for the faint of heart to view.) (RBSProds)

[William J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few interesting facts in this version of the terrible battle but is much too short. The book's length is deceptive because the last pages are filled with the names of those that either died or were injured in battle.

[Julianna Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was helpful in understanding the battle of Tarawa in World War two .The purpose is to highlight a very important and brutal part in our history for our marine force. It follows the war, setting the stage for the reader, giving many officers names, and battles as though they are telling the story as they are watching it. This was an overall good book, although the pictures and maps are somewhat unhelpful, as well as not very much backround to as the military terms being used. It was very insightful although to the efforts of the marines and what they had to go through. Over all this is a very good book, that should be read by anyone wanting more knowledge on world war two. It was quick and concise which is very convenient for anyone to read.