Tarawa Talk

Kim ...Try this link :

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cBSyeoXFNzhYwHPtcsApMLx4p2EHF920?usp=share_link

It should be read only. I consolidated two aerial directories into one. Was running out of space. These were the aerials I obtained from Quantico some years back.

I did much the same thing in the mid to late 90s after I first found Tarawaontheweb. I joined the association too. I forgot how often they published it but they had a directory of the members who were in the 2ndMarDiv Assoc.  along with  which units they belong to and their addresses and phone numbers. I still have it somewhere with all of the E/2/2 Marines highlighted. Went down and sent letters to quite a few and got responses as well. Still have their letters back to me along with pics from the Canal, NZ and Hawaii.  My biggest failure at the time was not knowing how to ask the right questions. I, too, got a hand-written copy and a typed one of the 2nd platoon my dad was in. Jon posted hand-written one on TOTW.  I eventually got invited to a reunion but our first kid came along at the same time and I had to bail. Kind of trailed off after that and wished I had not. The last member of Easy Co that I know of died in 2017. Missed a lot of opportunities to correspond with many others that I now regret... Started to put together a Company history and hope to publish it on the web one day. ALL  these guys need to be remembered. They did extraordinary things....

From a 1991 Follow Me publication 2ndMarDiv Association. I found another copy. Every one I've ever come across has info, pictures, first-hand stories. I understand that before it folded, that archives were kept but unknown who has them. Sure wish whoever has them could scan them. They are an invaluable piece of history that might fill in a lot of lost info on the battle of Tarawa...  Guadalcanal, Saipan and Tinian too....

The October muster rolls have ship assignments for the different units of the 1st and 2nd 18th Marines. They were on maneuvers in New Zealand training for Tarawa. The ships had assigned battalions of the assault groups. The Zeilen  had 2/2 and I believe the Heywood had 2/8. Not sure if that helps. Also, there was a book written about a Marine in the 18th in the last couple of years. I can't seem to recall the name. Maybe someone out here does. My dad, 2nd Platoon of E22, had 4 Marines of the 18th (Flamethrowers) with them in their LVT-1.

Thank... Gunny had it right.

Thanks Gunny. I believed that it was the west end looking toward the east but could not get a feel for the exact location based on what I was seeing in the nearest part of the pic. I think one can barely make out the revetments on the left (or north end) when you enlarge the picture. Have not seen this one before and I have a lot!

Think that's what's up in the top right. Taking all those aerials probably... Not sure I've seen this one; at least did not notice the plane...

Gunny, I lost my 6th Marine musters for Nov 43. Have to go back and extract again at some point.  You can probably leave an inquiry on Missingmarines.com... I'm sure he would show up on the map  "The cost of Tarawa" but it's not sortable by anything other than name. Tried to go down starting at A but did not make it too far...