The 2nd
Division Marines
November 1943
The 2nd Division
embarks in Wellington, NZ bound for parts unknown (to them).
A relief map of Betio is studied onboard ship
Marines climb down the ropes from a transport ship to waiting Higgins
Boats.
A few minutes later, further down the ropes.
Marines on the beach.
A unit is ready to advance inland.
A squad leader directs his men forward. Click
here for the large version.
This Marine is bringing up belts of machine gun ammo and the other is
ready
to lob a grenade at a Japanese position. For some reason the first Marine
is wearing his helmet backwards.
A .30 MG postion. Notice the various weapons and the empty MG belts.
This is probably on Red Beach 3. A large sand covered bunker is off to the
right.
Click here for large version.
A few Marines ready to lay down supressive fire. They are near one of
the searchlights.
Helping a wounded buddy back behind the seawall.
The corpsman patched up the wounded the best they could on Betio.
Sailors and Marines worked hard to evacuate the wounded to the ships.
Relief marches onto Betio. These Marines could be the 2nd Defense Battalion.
Bill Marshall wearing part of a Japanese SNLF uniform heads for the
beach to leave Betio.
After carrying his badly wounded Sgt. to an aid station Bill changed
from his bloody dungaree shirt to the only clothing he could find.
Send an Email:
copyright 2000 T.O.T.W.
Created 24 September 2000 - Updated 9 March 2008
Return to Index