Nov. 20, 1943: A soldier at Makin Atoll

While the Marines fought their way to victory on Betio Island at Tarawa, the U.S. Army's 27th Division squared off against the Japanese at Makin Atoll, on Butaritari Island. Private First Class John P. Earley was one of more than 6,000 soldiers who landed; he came ashore from the attack transport, USS Leonard Wood (APA 12). Nearly 62 years later, on April 2, 2005, Earley wrote down his memories of the battle and aftermath. Here are some excerpts:

On the morning of Nov. 20, 1943, we were about two miles off Makin Atoll, Butaritari Island, watching from our stations at the rail, what we hoped would be the total destruction of Japs on the island. The Navy was blasting the island with every gun they had. Carrier fighters and bombers were doing their jobs. The sight was unbelievable. About two hours later, with all the fire and smoke, you couldn't see the island.

As we headed to the beach (Yellow) ... the island was smoking and burning. We didn't think anyone could be alive. Amazing - out of the jungle burst a group of natives, maybe 50. Being on edge, not knowing what we might run into, we almost fired on them. Men, women, children. They stared at us, smiled and touched us. Very friendly. How did they survive the awful bombing? ... We had to push and shove our way past them to get off the beach into the jungle.

We moved forward about 100 yards and set up our own C.P. That's when we saw our first dead American. He was a B.A.R. man (auto rifle). He was sprawled on the ground over his weapon. I remember thinking why his squad didn't take his gun. Very strange. No emotion, we kept moving, like in a dream. I was sent forward to 69th "A" Co., 1st Batt., 2nd Platoon. I found them in time to help kill about 50 Japs, and see the flame thrower in action. I couldn't believe I actually shot three Jap Marines and took cover in a shell hole. Screaming Japs were burning. I was not shot - but I admit very shaky.

I returned to my squad C.P. to report. Here I must remark on the land crabs. Thousands of them! They were underfoot! All over! Between them and Japs, impossible to sleep. Artillery and tanks blasted the Jap lines until dark, then absolute silence. No talking or moving. It was eerie, and I was scared.

"From the Guadalcanal landing, we learned the Japs would send English-speaking men forward, whispering names. If you answered, they rolled a grenade at your position.... It was a nightmare, but we weren't dreaming. All night long, we heaved crabs off our chests. They must have landed on some of us. But not a sound! (We cursed about that next morning!) We also prayed that we wouldn't have to relieve ourselves - or lay in it. For the three nights on that island, I hardly ate and never slept. We were tougher than we ever imagined we'd had to be.

Second day, glad to see light, even if the Japs could see us. I wondered how the natives, only partially dressed, handled the crabs. Artillery opened up. We were advancing, Japs retreating. They were running out of island (five miles long, only 30 feet wide in places). Impossible to eat. Flies from the dead almost flew into your mouth.... To combat the flies, engineers sprayed something new called D.D.T. Flies died by zillions, and that produced another awful odor added to the stench of dead.

I heard some shots (and) yelling from a one-story concrete blockhouse under attack, a few dead Japs scattered about. I carefully worked around to the front. Two dead Japs near the doorway didn't stop our men. In they went. It was a Jap storehouse full of cans, bottles, and boxes, all in Japanese. I saw some guys eating peaches. Thinking of my squad, I picked up a canvas Jap bag. Threw about two dozen cans in. I left for my C.P., proudly carrying my bag of peaches like I had Hirohito's head. On arrival, I called the squad and handed out 25 cans. Were we disappointed! Six cans were peaches, 19 cans were carrots! Were they mad at me!

Third morning, Nov.22 ... the battle was winding down, except for a few isolated pockets of resistance that were quickly mopped up. Butaritari Island was secure by mid-afternoon. ... I shot more than 10 Japs. You see them fall, but don't know if they were killed.

"Day four, Nov. 23rd, 5 a.m. A Jap sub got to our convoy scattered across the ocean off the island, waiting to return us to Hawaii. They sank the converted carrier USS Liscombe Bay. The ship had been used to ferry Army fighter planes to Makin. Mass confusion broke loose. The convoy, laying there like sitting ducks, had to be dispersed fast. But not without us. They rushed us back to our ships in landing craft, while other boats carried in the garrison force. They would occupy and defend the island.

Reaching the ship, we got under way immediately under full steam, scattering the convoy all over the vast Pacific. They told us we could outrun subs. We all prayed! Our old tub shook so badly, we thought it would break apart and we would all drown! It was a very spooky feeling to look out at that Pacific Ocean and realize we were alone."

(Editor's Note: A total of 644 U.S. Navy sailors died from the Liscombe Bay (CVE 56) sinking on Nov. 24, 1943; another 43 sailors died Nov. 20, 1943, in a gun-turret fire on board the battleship USS Mississippi (BB 41).

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