8-23
December 1941 A.D. U.S. Marines at Wake Island
8 December 1941: Japanese aircraft attacked Wake Island
within hours of the fateful attack on Pearl Harbor. Marines of the 1st Defense
Battalion and Marine Fighting Squadron 211 resisted Japanese invasion attempts
for over two weeks before finally succumbing to an overwhelming force.
23
December 1941: Japanese forces launched a predawn landing on Wake
Island and Wilkes Island, while their carriers launched air strikes against
Wilkes, Wake, and Peale islands in support of the landing force. After nearly
12 hours of desperate fighting, the three islands were surrendered
December 23, 1941 is the day Wake Island fell to the
forces from the Imperial Japanese Navy. The battle began on December 8, 1941,
which was December 7, and Pearl Harbor. Wake Island was on the other side of
the international dateline. Japan launched simultaneous attacks on many islands
in the Pacific to secure their foothold in the Pacific.
Almost as soon as the Wake Island Defense Force learned
of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the attack on Wake Island began. The Garrison
consisted of 450 US Marines, a handful of U.S. Navy personnel and approximately
1200 civilian contractors working on construction projects on the island. At
that time, wake Island wasn't even on the maps. It was however a stop off and
refueling point for the China Clippers. The island had strategic value to the
Japanese and to the US and the Marines were told to hold Wake Island until
reinforcements arrive.
Of all the mistakes that were made in the early days of
the Pacific war. The decision to not reinforce the Marines on Wake Island is
perhaps the most infamous. Adm. Pye, who was interim Commander-In-Chief Pacific
forces until Adm. Chester Nimitz could arrive and take over, Adm. Pye was
afraid to engage the superior Japanese force for fear of losing more assets.
This decision has been analyzed, second-guessed and armchair admiraled and no
consensus can be reached whether or not Pye made the right decision. One thing
is certain, the United States Marine Corps to this this day has not forgiven
Adm. Pye for this decision.
The music track accompanying this presentation is from a gentleman named Oscar Brand, folksinger active during the 40s, 50s and 60s. He made a career out of taking military songs, both official and made up and recording them. Most are hysterical and document historical events in both World War II and Korea. I hope you enjoy it.
The music track accompanying this presentation is from a gentleman named Oscar Brand, folksinger active during the 40s, 50s and 60s. He made a career out of taking military songs, both official and made up and recording them. Most are hysterical and document historical events in both World War II and Korea. I hope you enjoy it.
Oh, and it wouldn't hurt if you bought the album's
either. They are available on Amazon.com and iTunes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank
The Orchard Music, who administers Mr. Brand' s music and I hope they will
continue to allow the use of the song, Wake Island..
No comments:
Post a Comment