18min | Documentary, Short, War | 2 March 1944 (USA)
Documentary depicting the harrowing battle between the U.S. Marines and the Japanese for control of the Pacific island of Tarawa.
Tarawa, or Betio Island, was assaulted on November 20th, 1943 by the 2nd Marine Division. The Japanese defended Tarawa with approximately 3,000 men of the 7th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force, "Japanese Imperial Marines," and 1,000 Korean laborers. By the end of the battle 990 U.S. Marines were listed as killed-in-action. Out of the entire Japanese garrison 1 officer and 16 Japanese enlisted men survived. The American public was outraged; by the 3,286 casualties, inflicted on the Marines, for an island 1 square mile in size.
"With the Marines at Tarawa" won an Academy award for: Best Short Documentary in 1945
Director: Louis Hayward
Stars: Alexander Bonnyman Jr., John Borich and Merritt A. Edson