Tarawa on the Web was created to be a tribute to the 2nd Marine Division of WWII and a historical resource to further the knowledge of an epic struggle that was an integral part of the march of the United States towards defeat of Imperial Japan. My main interest in the Pacific battles of the 2nd Marine Division is from my father, Gordon Stevens H&S 2. He was there on Tulagi and the fetid jungle of Guadalcanal. He waded to Red Beach 2 on Tarawa. He hit the beach on Saipan and Tinian. From my desire to know more about what he went through I began to gather information about the South Pacific battles of WWII. The results of my research have been compiled within this website which contains extensive amounts of pictures, maps, documents, and other resources. Historians, history buffs, and family members of WWII Marines should find the website helpful in their search for information. The bibliography section contains references for a large number of books and articles that recount in detail the many facets of Operation Galvanic. Nearly every week something is updated or added, therefore bookmark this website and visit often. Feel free to send any information about the 2nd Marine Division in WWII. I am especially interested in veteran's accounts, unpublished photos of Marines or any units, and pictures of the south sea islands of today. On the Tarawa Talk Forum a number of Marines regularly post messages and are usually willing to engage in conversation about the battlefields of their youth. "Tarawa on the Web" will hopefully be a beginning and not simply an end for those interested in one of the greatest battles of the Second World War.
Semper Fi and Hit the Beach!
Check the Updates page for the latest additions to T.O.T.W.
Jonathan Stevens, T.O.T.W. webmaster.
Associate Life Member 2nd Marine Division Association
15 June 2003
Amphibious tractors approaching Betio.
copyright 1998-2003, Wheaton, Illinois
Created 14 March 2001 - Updated 15 June 2003
Return to Index