The following are excerpts from Dick Hannah, Tarawa: The Toughest Battle in Marine Corps History, p. 1944, pages 50 and 51.
Much of the credit for finishing off the last pocket of Japs went to a mortar platoon headed by Capt. Lyle Specht, Silverton, Oregon. Tribute to the outfit was paid by a regimental commander, Colonel Maurice G. Holmes, Pontotoc, Mississippi, who said the mortar men, "filled a gap in our lines and proved the major factor in turning back the enemy's charge."
The 200 Japs who had been bottled into Betio's tail gathered their remaining strength on the fourth night for one final fanatical charge against two Marine rifle companies which were closing in. Major William K Jones, Joplin, Missouri, said the desperate, last-ditch attack almost split his front line rifle companies, and Captain Specht's outfit was sent in to fill the dangerous breach. The mortar men went in to do their work with fixed bayonets, so serious was the threat. The story of the surprising and desperate charge which follows was told on the fifth morning (November 24) to International News Service correspondent John R. Henry by Captain Specht.
"The Nips opened up at 7:00 p.m. and again at 11:00, and shortly before 4:00 o'clock this morning they tried to rush us again," said the captain. "We pitched everything we had at them and when the melee of grenade-throwing, machine-gunning and bayoneting was finished, we moved forward across piles of dead Japs. In some spots, the bodies were four and five deep."
"Captain Specht's mortar outfit additionally reinforced the rifle companies which withstood the brunt of the Jap attack and refused to give ground even though heavy casualties were suffered by the time the mortar outfit arrived."
The unit photo and information was submitted by Vernon Bryant who writes:
"My father, W. R. Bryant, had written the names of the men on the back and I have transcribed what he had written and added the casualty information. There is at least one person, Cpl. Charles Porter, that joined the platoon after the picture. Additionally, the casualty information was gleaned from Sherrod and a 2 volume set listing Marine Corps Casualties from WWII."
This photo was taken on 14 August 1943 in New Zealand.
Click the picture for a larger version.
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Name (left to right)
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State
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Tarawa
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Other Battles
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Bottom Row
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Taska, C. L.
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Texas
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Bryant W. R.
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Texas
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WIA (x2)
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|
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Williamson, J. T.
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Mississippi
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WIA
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|
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Whalen, P. J.
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Illinois "C"
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||
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Harvick, L. (Lt)
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Minnensota
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WIA
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|
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Shaw, S. P. (Lt)
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Massachusetts
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WIA
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|
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Oregon
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WIA
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Reeves, H (Mgst)
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|||
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Homer, W. T. (Gry Sgt.)
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Missouri
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||
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Ollie, M.
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Texas
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Clemmensen, V. C.
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Illinois "C"
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KIA
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Schleppe, W. C.
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South Dakota
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Second Row
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Heuser, R. P.
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Illinois "D"
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Bolin, L. T.
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Indiana
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Zieike, E. H.
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California
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||
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Deicher, N. W.
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Wisconson
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||
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Bomba, J. W.
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Illinois "C"
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WIA
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|
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Spain, A. R.
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Oregon
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||
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Brislan, J. B.
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Kentucky
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WIA
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|
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Curlin, H. D.
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Mississippi
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||
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Flynn, M. E.
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South Dakota
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Johnson, V. A.
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Minnesota
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Fahy, J. T.
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Third Row
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Stoddard, D. D
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Colorado
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KIA
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|
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LaHaye, R. M
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Montana
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||
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Sovey, F. R.
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Michigan
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WIA
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|
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Pompeo, W. D..
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Illinois "C"
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||
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Hay, H. L
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Illinois "C"
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Dyer, R. M.
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Indiana
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||
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Paluch, B. A.
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Pennsylvania
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||
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Hayes, A. S.
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Iowa
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WIA
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|
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Cruz, P.
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Texas
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WIA
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|
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Barker, M. E.
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Mississippi
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WIA
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|
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Elsele, K. R.
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Colorado
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WIA
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|
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Stepwell, J. C.
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Illinois "C"
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Top Row
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Peters, J. J.
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Minnesota
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WIA
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Trechell, E.
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LA
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WIA
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|
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Jinks, R. D.
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South Dakota
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KIA
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Van Harlingen, W. J.
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Ohio
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Smith, S. M. P.
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California
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Cocoa, W.
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Florida
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Chapman, D. O.
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Washington
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Jefferies, E. A.
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Kansas
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Essert, W. R.
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WIA
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If you have any more information on the mortar platoon or the Marines pictured,
please send an email via the link below.
Thanks for sharing your research Vernon!!
Email - [email protected]
copyright 2001 Wheaton, Illinois
Created 21 July 2001
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