Mantle of Heroism: Tarawa and the Struggle for the Gilberts, November 1943

by Michael B. Graham

Fifty Years Ago, American troops came perilously close to disaster on the Pacific's remote Gilbert Islands. Just before dawn on Sunday, November 20, 1943, Operation Galvanic was launched - the first major amphibious operation against Japanese-held islands. Over 100,000 men and the largest assembly of warships in history were in place off islands shielded by razor-sharp barrier reefs. An easy and "glorious" victory was anticipated in this battle, the symbolic first step toward Tokyo. Confidence was high as the Americans boarded their landing craft. It seemed impossible that any living thing could have survived the intensity of the naval and air bombardment that had been aimed at these small spits of land for the past few days. But the Japanese had prepared well. Just a few hours later, at Tarawa Atoll, the confidence changed to horror as the amphibious vehicles were torn apart by murderous fire, and the Marines, forced to wade ashore, were cut down by enemy machine guns. The few survivors who made it to the beach huddled behind a seawall amid piles of bodies and hideously twisted wreckage, numbed by the ferocity of the resistance. Based on careful research of all unpublished and published sources - the first such synthesis of all available material - Michael Graham has written one of the most readable pieces of military history to be published in many years. The capture of Tarawa and Makin atolls was billed as a stunning victory, but the cost is questioned to this day.

Genres: World War II, Military History

360 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1993

Reviews

[Professor Lightning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detail oriented account of Operation Galvanic in the Pacific Theatre campaign of World War II. Though the reading at times was more like an encyclopedia or textbook and I had to push on to the end it was also this same attention to detail that earned my respect and trust of the author. Graham did offer small antidotes throughout to pepper the account with a human element. Recommended for anyone interested in learning in depth about the significance and the cost of taking Tarawa.

[Katherine Bivins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good historical account. He does a great job giving background information for those that do not already know a lot about the battle. He tells individual stories, which keeps it very interesting. This book made me very proud of and thankful for our brave soldiers.

[Steve Dedier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an excellent book. It has the right mix of personal accounts and bigger picture information. The writing style keeps you engaged without adding too much minutia.

[James Teener · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than Tarawa, Operation Galvanic was the initial assault in the Central Pacific, and, for both the Marine Corps and the Army, the first amphibious landing opposed by enemy forces. For the latter, it was light and basically ineffective. For the 2nd Marine Division, it was a cauldron of fire not seen before or since in such a small area. Some 1100 plus marines died, and over 2200 were wounded on the less than one square mile that was Betio island. Almost 5000 Japanese servicemen were killed in the same area. That this was furious is the fact that all of this took place in 78 hours.
However, Galvanic claimed another 1500 casualties. The Makin Island operation of the Army had 200, and Navy losses came to nearly 1100 as one escort carrier, USS Liscome Bay, and two submarines, Sculpin and Corbin, were sunk; and USS Lexington and USS Independence were struck by Japanese torpedoes.
Mr Graham has done an excellent job of describing the planning, build up, execution, and consequences of the operation. His prose is easy to understand. He is also a critic of distinction, opining with logic on mistakes made, and on the personalities and foibles of the commanders. I recommend this as one of the better histories of a complicated, and early, operation of the Pacific War.

[Rod Pyle]

A slightly alternative view of this searing moment in history.