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Oct-22-2010 00:24printcomments

Perpetual Tarawa Website Looking for a Few Good Marines

Commemorating the Second Marine Division's assault on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, 20-23 November, 1943.

Assault Engineers, Tarawa
"Assault Engineers, Tarawa" by Richard M. Gibney, a 21-year old assault engineer at Tarawa.

(VICTORIA, B.C.) - The Web team at Tarawa Talk [tarawaontheweb.org/] has an important project underway to pay tribute and express thanks to those veterans for at their participation in the Battle of Tarawa, 20-24 November 1943.

They are posting a roster of known living Tarawa veterans on 20 November 2010 commemorates the 67th anniversary of the start of that battle, according to former Marine John Oberg in Victoria, B.C.

In particular, he is asking for names and unit designators of any living Tarawa veterans, especially those from 2nd Marines, 6th Marines, 8th Marines, 10th Marines and several smaller attached units [complete list of units available at tarawaontheweb.org/leather.htm].

To assist in the creation this roster of living Tarawa veterans, a set of 22 questions is attached which veterans are asked to use in supplying background information on yourself OR on other living Tarawa veterans you may know.

Perhaps a phone call to the veteran OR a forward of this email to that person is all that is needed. Perhaps you already know the answers to the questions. Oberg says he is trying to make this information collection process as easy, efficient and accurate as possible.

"The cut-off date for my receipt of any information you can assist in collecting is 15 November 2010. However, this roster will be kept open to include information received in the weeks and months after 15 November 2010. Please try to get the requested information to me on or before 15 November. At a minimum, that will leave me 4 days to organize and prepare the posting I intend to make late in the day of 19 November, in time for these veterans and their families to read the roster on 20 November, the 67th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Tarawa."

With thanks for your help,

SEMPER FI!

Marine John Oberg

2764 Tudor Avenue Victoria, BC   V8N 1L7 Canada jcoberg@shaw.ca

TARAWA ROSTER INFORMATION: 

FOR: DATE: 

[If any question deserves an extended answer, please utilize a separate sheet.  If you wish any answer excluded from publication, please indicate.  In all cases, please show the utmost discretion and respect to the Tarawa Veterans. 

Some may have strong reservations about sharing anything with anyone.]

  1. YOUR UNIT DESIGNAITON AT TARAWA (Including Division):     
  2. AGE WHEN ENTERING SERVICE:    
  3. AGE WHEN ASSSAULT ON BETIO BEGAN:
  4. AGE NOW:
  5. HOME TOWN: 
  6. WHICH TRANSPORT TOOK YOU FROM NEW ZEALAND TO TARAWA & WHICH ONE FROM TARAWA TO CAMP TARAWA ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII;       
  7. HOW DID YOU SPEND THE HOURS BEFORE DISEMBARKING FROM YOUR TRANSPORT IN THE EARLLY MORNING HOUR OF NOV 20TH:
  8. IN WHICH WAVE TO WHICH BEACH WERE YOU:
  9. HOW MANY MEN WENT WITH YOU IN YOUR LANDING CRAFT:
  10. ANY MEMORIES OF YOUR TRIP TO THE BEACH:
  11. ANY MEMORIES OF THE SOUNDS OR SMELLS ONCE YOU WERE ASHORE: 
  12. WHAT EQUIPMENT DID YOU TAKE WITH YOU TO THE BEACH:
  13. DID YOUR INIITAL OBJECTIVE ON THE BEACH CHANGE?  HOW?
  14. WHERE DID YOU END UP WHEN YOUR PART OF THE FIGHTING STOPPED:
  15. HOW LONG WERE YOU ACTUALLY ON BETIO: 
  16. POST BATTLE, WHEN AND IN WHAT OONDITION DID YOU RETURN TO A TRANSPORT:
  17. IN WHAT OTHER PACIFIC BATTLES DID YOU PARTICIPATE: 
  18. WHAT WWII MEDALS AND CITATIONS DID YOU RECEIVE: 
  19. ANY MEMORIES OF THE BATTLE YOU WISH TO SHARE
  20. ANY MEMORIES OF CAMP TARAWA YOU WISH TO SHARE:
  21. ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS YOU WISH TO SHARE:

If you use additional sheets please put your name and date on each sheet used.  Please Mail and or send via email the enclosed questionnaire and I will send to him via email:  John Stofiel 6204 Kansas St. Vancouver, WA 98661-6924 or send to Jfstofiel@comcast.net 

It is noted that the timeline of 15 November is only for honoring our Tarawa Marines on the website on the anniversary.  If the timeline cannot be met the information will still be sent to be included on the perpetual website for ongoing recognition.  Thank You!  Please take the time to call and or go see them to retrieve the information if they are willing to participate.

The Assault of the Second Marine Division on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll,

20-23 November, 1943 




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