Description
Object description
American war correspondent embedded with United States Marine Corps in Pacific, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as war correspondent embedded with 2nd United States Marine Div, III Amphibious Corps at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Pacific, 11/1943: reasons for American attacks on Tarawa Atoll and Mariana Islands; voyage with 2nd Marine Div from New Hebrides to Tarawa, 1943; sight of Tarawa after bombardment, 11/1943; reaction to Japanese shelling of troop transport; realisation of continuing Japanese resistance after bombardment; problems of landing craft crossing coral reef at Tarawa; taking cover under pier whilst under Japanese fire; opinion of Japanese defenders and United States Marines.
REEL 2 Continues: Japanese use of old freighter and damaged American tanks; marines who initially refused to cross airfield to attack Japanese; character of Japanese defences; proximity to Japanese in bunker to Colonel David Shoup's command post; hidden Japanese sniper; effect of concentration of dead on small atoll; short duration of attack on Tarawa; destruction of tops of coconut trees; effect of naval bombardment of island; question of whether Tarawa invasion was necessary.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as war correspondent with United States Marine Corps on Saipan, Mariana Islands in Pacific, 6/1944-7/1944: opinion of Japanese defenders of Saipan; reaction to invasion of Saipan; Japanese civilian suicides at end of battle. Aspects of period as war correspondent with United States Marine Corps on Okinawa Island, Japan, 4/1945-6/1945: threat of Kamikaze attack; reaction to landing, 4/1945; increase in action during advance to Shuri Castle Line; sinking of Japanese battleship Yamato; contrast between Admiral Chester Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur; background to President Franklin D Roosevelt's accepting two pronged attack on Japan and General Douglas MacArthur's role.
REEL 4 Continues: impressions of General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz; strength of American drive across Central Pacific in contrast to South Pacific. Aspects of period as war correspondent with United States Marine Corps on Iwo Jima, Japan in Pacific, 2/1945-3/1945: contrast between landings on Tarawa and Iwo Jima; Japanese use of caves on Iwo Jima; Japanese not opening fire on landings; character of volcanic sand; Japanese artillery shelling, mortaring and rocket fire; United States Marine Corps casualties; Japanese defenders; effect of underground volcanic noises; behaviour of Japanese prisoners of war; treatment of Japanese prisoners of war.