"With The Marines at Tarawa" Video

[KG Erwin]

This is a 1944 classic, as shown in theaters. The war is brought home to America, and the scenes of dead Marines floating in the surf offer a shocking view of the price of victory.

The military establishment didn't want the carnage to be seen, but President Roosevelt didn't want to soft-sell this struggle. He decided that the uncut footage needed to be shown to the public.

The video is available here:

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history ... /video.htm

Scroll down to the video. It's a quick-time stream, with sound. This was a landmark, as the American public hadn't seen video of dead American soldiers (in this case, Marines), before this time. It was a wake-up call. Sales of war bonds soared, while (unsurprisingly), Marine enlistments dropped.

[Sgt Popov]

Nice find![:D]

[Korpraali V]

Yes, very nice! Thanks!

[Twotribes]

Just a note... The Marine Corps raised 4 more Divisons and numerous independent Battalions after Tarawa, I would suggest the "falling off" of recruitment was minor or didnt last.

[dje]

Outstanding post. Tarawa showed the need for UDT men. We learned from the battle yet the Japs didnt until Okinawa.