Overseas Saga of C-47A, "Army 452,"
ASN #42-93452 - #A010

- Leg #4 - TARAWA

By: "John R. Joseph"

7:00 AM., Oct. 20th, 1944, the crew of C-47, "Army 452" sure was happy for the morning departure from Canton, IS, and headed West for our next stop - #4 ----TARAWA---

Starting now, one of the most memorable 24 hour period in our lives. It took us roughly 6 flying hours to make the non-stop trip, but it took us 30 calendar hours to complete it. In addition to recrossing the Equator, we experienced another "first time" - we crossed the International Date Line, at the half way mark of this day's journey.

We took off at 7:00 AM, Oct. 20th, when we landed on the hallowed ground of TARAWA, it was 1:00 PM Oct. 21.

For three nights, at the movies, we looked at the US Army Signal Corps documentary, "The Marines at TARAWA," so we felt like we were heading towards familiar territory. We were eagerly looking forward to walking on its "hallowed ground," and after five hours flight time, we started straining our eyes, and passed our one set of binoculars from one person to another, looking for it on the horizon.

How do you find a sliver of land, 1/2 mile wide, and 2 miles long surrounded by water in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? You find it a most beautiful sight.

After many mistaken "THERE IT IS!" it finally did appear - looked like a piece of string or rope, floating on top of a wave, far away. It's hard to explain the feeling you get when that piece of rope takes on a more distinct shape and starts to unfold as a minute piece of land, that would soon feel the weight of our C-47.

We excitedly discussed our arrival, and then all at once, an absolute silence came over us. Visible now, the disabled landing craft jutting out of the water, but even more goose bump creating - the sight of the neat long white stripes marking the final resting place of the 1009 Marines who lost their lives. From the air, it looked like those crosses took up half of the island.

From the air, we saw one small green spot, while the rest of the island, other than the cemetery, looked like a wasteland of rubble from which projected the seared and blasted and stripped trunks of palm trees, with no foliage Looked like a giant forest fire had swept the island.

Silence still prevailed amongst our crew as we landed, parked, and secured our aircraft. After tending to the needs of our C-47, we took a tour of the island, with the first stop being the cemetery.

Pick out any State, any American Ethnic Nationality - they were all represented here, by the names on the crosses - Dutch - German - Greek - Irish - Italian - Jewish - Lithuanian - Mexican - Polish - Spanish - ?? All Americans. Not many words were spoken, but some Prayers were, as you ran across a name that SEEMED familiar. Didn't really know them, but name had Ethnic ring similar to a Buddy from school days, or a neighbor serving elsewhere in this World Wide conflict.

We saw the pillboxes, and walked through the blockhouse with the eight foot thick walls. We stood by and read the sign that stated "At this spot, 157 (or sim) Japs were buried with the use of a bulldozer".

We walked to the shore, and took off our shoes, as we wanted to walk in the same water as that battle hardened (also served on Guadalcanal) 2nd Marine Division had. The coral was too sharp, so we had to put our shoes back on, and then step in the water.

They didn't show us the Signal Corps Documentary "The Marines at TARAWA" that evening - they didn't have to, we saw the actual results. We did not sleep too well that night - guess we were reliving some of what happened here 12 months ago, and the memories of 1009 Marines who gave up their lives for this skinny piece of land, seemed to shriek, "Don't Forget Us."
To this day, I recall this stop countless times during the year. The sight of any Marine brings back, to me, the memory of TARAWA.

The military admits there were mistakes made, especially regarding the Tides at TARAWA, but the lessons learned helped in the planning of future invasions.

TIME Magazine, in November, 1943 contained the following: "Last week, some two to three thousand U.S.Marines, most of them now dead or wounded, gave the nation a name to stand beside those of Concord Bridge, the Bonhomie Richard, the Alamo, Little Big Horn, and Belleau Wood. The name was TARAWA."

I feel that this is my most memorable stop on our Overseas Saga. Even now, I occasionally watch the Signal Corp.'s "The Marines at TARAWA," but it means more to me now as I see some familiar spots. I should have sent this to you November 20, the 53rd Anniversary of the Invasion of TARAWA.

TARAWA is off the beaten track, and besides those of the Air Echelon of our own 318th Troop Carrier Squadron, who took this Northern Route, I don't think I know of a dozen people who had walked on "BLOODY TARAWA." I feel most privileged that I was offered the opportunity to do so.