Tarawa Talk

Thanks for posting, Kim. Certainly looks a lot different with the palm fronds on the treetops instead of lying on the sand post battle!

That tractor is actually #11 Jon. Named 'IRON MIKE'. It was recovered and sent back to San Diego with a few others for evaluation and eventual disposal.
 

The man above the tennis racket appears to be a Navy Corpsman. Also, note the tank tracks in the sand leading to the area of the original post in this thread.

Interesting. From all that I have read about the battle, both men were killed when a 75mm shell burst in the LVT cabin while they were at the seawall on Red Beach One. Photos of the tractor show the large hole in the left side of the cabin. The Japanese also did not have "mortars" on Betio, although they did have large numbers of 50mm grenade throwers that many misconstrued as mortars.

Yes I saw that as well. Just hoped for a second opinion. LOL

Looks like a Kingfisher to me too. Curiously, I can't make out the Sadu Maru or the long pier at this angle. I'm thinking the dark smoke is coming from the pier but can no way be sure.

Yep. Looks like David M. Shoup to me.

Probably was not a mistake to take the island. The mistakes were made in the execution and some of the planning. Resulting in additional casualties. The navy was afraid of the Japanese navy so setting up artillery on an undefended nearby island the previous day was refused. The tides were a mistake and a disaster. Having to wade ashore ruined radios and resulted in much lost equipment. The tanks landed without a recovery vehicle and were sent ahead without infantry support. Heavy Japanese resistance at the beaches scattered and sank LVTs which damaged unit integrity. Using an old battleship as a Command vessel turned out to be another mistake. All of this was taken into account and things went much better a few months later at the Marshalls.