In November 1943, the US Navy launches an island hopping campaign through the central Pacific during the Pacific War. Marines face challenging situations that will teach important lessons but cost many lives, leading the Navy towards iconic assaults in places like Iwo Jima.
The battle for Tarawa Atoll was a brutal conflict, fought in November 1943 between the U.S. and Japan for control of the Gilbert Islands, resulting in heavy losses.
The Island Fighting book from Time Life's series on WWII shares primary source accounts that paint vivid pictures of the chaotic and devastating events. The book shares stories of Japanese vehicles being blown up as they attempted to transport Marines to the beach, leaving them stranded in the water.