Makin Island Raiders

H/T Bill

On 17 Aug. 1942, a raiding force from 2nd Raider Battalion launched from two submarines, the USS Argonaut and the USS Nautilus, landed on Makin Island (now Butaritari Island) and defeated a numerically superior Japanese garrison. 21 Marines were killed during the operation, including Sgt. Clyde A. Thomason, who became the first Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II. The leader of the force, Lt. Col. Evan Carlson was awarded the Navy Cross.

The successful action by the Raiders is considered to be the Marine Corps’ first special operation.

The remains of 19 Marines from the raid were recovered in 2001. Among those recovered was Cpl. Mason O. Yarbrough, a native of nearby (to me) Sikeston, Missouri. Our local Marine Corps League (Det. 1081) is named after Yarbrough.

Part 1

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otSx7xlvE8I

Part 2

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7qgTgXg_f8

Marines now train at the Sgt. Clyde Thomason Amphibious Skills Training Facility in Coronado in amphibious landings.