Upon their return from Makin Island to the submarines USS Nautilus and the USS Argonaut ....Marines of the 2nd Raider Battalion enjoy a well deserved hot cup of coffee.
The mission, although deemed a success, was fraught with problems: boat motors refused to run making them break out the paddles, high surf tossed them like bathtub toys, intelligence failures on make up of enemy forces were just a few.
Once ashore, communications between LtCol Carlson and his unit commanders was non-existent due to the radios being soaked in saltwater during the movement ashore.
During the confusing movement from the island back to the submarines, 12 Marines were left behind. Those Marines were found and executed by the Japanese, including Sgt Clyde Thomason, the first enlisted Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor in WWII.
Bravery was not in short supply on that island those two days: in addition to Sgt Thomason's Medal of Honor, 23 Navy Crosses were also awarded.
The Nation rallied around the Raiders exploits and that ensured their legacy and near mythical status within the Marine Corps forever.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/48811/48811-h/48811-h.htm
1 comment:
Bravery was not in short supply among those Marines!
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