On the morning of 20 November 1943 "C" company, 1st Corps Medium Tank Battalion was launched from the Ashland in LCM's. Bill Eads writes, "Our tank landed in what I recall as the third wave. We were dropped off from the landing craft when it could no longer get over the reef." This of course was hundreds of yards from the beach. Cobra, the lead tank of the first platoon, landed on Betio just to the left of the "beak" on Red Beach 1. "We managed to reach the beach and somehow got to the airfield," Bill continues. The first few hours on the island were nothing but complete confusion and bodies were everywhere. Bill says, "I remember spending that night on the edge of the airstrip." It was here during the first night that "Buck" Webb their tank driver was killed.
Bill Eads - radioman, Buck
Webb, and sitting is Hank Travernicht - gunner.
Training in California.
Cobra Crew.
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copyright 2003 T.O.T.W.
Created 18 March 2003 - Updated 18 April 2003
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