1 Nov 2024 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

[Ovidio]

Is that a fallen Marine on the left, behind the kneeling guy?

---------- Post added at 10:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 AM ----------

And maybe another one is floating in the sea… Looks to be looking up…

[Sapper740]

Tarawa?

[frankderrico]

Ovidio, I think so, and maybe three more in the picture. Sad to see our guys down.

[jond41403]

Yes if you look in the middle left side, you can see what looks like to me at least one boot with the toes pointing down and the heel pointing up and then what looks like a leg that goes underneath the sand. May just be trunks of palm trees that look weird, But it sure looks like a guy laying face down to me. The one floating in the sea that has already been mentioned and three right in the middle of the grouped up Marines.very sad indeed

[CINDERS]

I got 5 KIA in the pic 2 centre Rt of pic, 1 fore front rt, 1 left face down & 1 floating sad thing is there was no time to bury them.
Sadly the powers that be underestimated the ferocity that was Tarawa a veritable Verdun of the Pacific Island campaigns.

[jond41403]

Does the island curve around to the left and that is what they are all looking at or focusing on? I can't tell if that is the ocean or if that is land in the direction they are all looking. I also wonder if this was taken with an early colorized camera or if it was a black and white image that was later colorized

[jond41403]

Not to be too graphic but there may be a sixth KIA in this picture as well. At the bottom of the picture I have circled what looks to be the remnants of a Marine or at least his gear. The smaller circle I can't help but think is someone's elbow still in its sleeve that has been blown off, or maybe even a knee. Or it could be from one of the five we have already noticed, it's too hard to tell

[Mark in Rochester]

Another view of LVT 39

[jond41403]

That second set of pictures really put it into perspective. That is a lot of dead Marines laying there. That is one of the saddest pictures I have seen. The Carnage in that picture of the aftermath is brutal.