Battle of Tarawa in World War II

Battle of Tarawa in World War II The Battle of Tarawa was fought November 20-23, 1943, during World War II (1939-1945) and saw American forces launch their first offensive into the central Pacific. Despite massing the largest invasion fleet to date, the Americans suffered heavy casualties during and after landing on November 20. Fighting with fanatic resistance, nearly the entire Japanese garrison was killed in the battle. Though Tarawa fell, the losses incurred led the Allied high command to reassess how it planned and conducted amphibious invasions. This led to significant changes that would be employed for the remainder of the conflict. Background Following the victory at Guadalcanal in early 1943, Allied forces in the Pacific began planning for new offensives. While General Douglas MacArthurs troops advanced across northern New Guinea, plans for an island hopping campaign across the central Pacific were developed by Admiral Chester Nimitz. This campaign intended to advance towards Japan by moving from island to island, using each as a base for capturing the next. Beginning in the Gilbert Islands, Nimitz sought to next move through the Marshalls to the Marianas. Once these were secure, the bombing of Japan could commence prior to a full-scale invasion (Map). Preparations for the Campaign The starting point for the campaign was the small island of Betio on the west side of Tarawa Atoll with a supporting operation against Makin Atoll. Located in the Gilbert Islands, Tarawa blocked the Allied approach to the Marshalls and would impede communications and supply with Hawaii if left to the Japanese. Aware of the islands importance, the Japanese garrison, commanded by Rear Admiral Keiji Shibasaki, went to great lengths to turn it into the fortress. Leading around 3,000 soldiers, his force included Commander Takeo Sugais elite 7th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force. Working diligently, the Japanese built an extensive network of trenches and bunkers. When complete, their works included over 500 pillboxes and strong points. In addition, fourteen coastal defense guns, four of which had been purchased from the British during the Russo-Japanese War, were mounted around the island along with forty artillery pieces. Supporting the fixed defenses were 14 Type 95 light tanks. The American Plan To crack these defenses, Nimitz dispatched Admiral Raymond Spruance with the largest American fleet yet assembled. Consisting of 17 carriers of various types, 12 battleships, 8 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, and 66 destroyers, Spruances force also carried the 2nd Marine Division and part of the US Armys 27th Infantry Division. Totaling around 35,000 men, the ground forces were led by Marine Major General Julian C. Smith. Shaped like a flattened triangle, Betio possessed an airfield running east to west and bordered Tarawa lagoon to the north. Though the lagoon water was shallower, it was felt the beaches on the north shore offered a better landing location than those on the south where the water was deeper. On the north shore, the island was bordered by a reef that extended around 1,200 yard offshore. Though there were some initial concerns as to whether landing craft could clear the reef, they were dismissed as planners believed the tide would be high enough to allow them to cross. Forces Commanders Allies Major General Julian C. SmithVice Admiral Raymond Spruanceapprox. 35,000 men Japanese Rear Admiral Keiji Shibasakiapprox. 3,000 soldiers, 1,000 Japanese laborers, 1,200 Korean laborers Going Ashore By dawn on November 20, Spruances force was in place off Tarawa. Opening fire, the Allied warships began pounding the islands defenses. This was followed at 6:00 AM by strikes from carrier aircraft. Due to delays with the landing craft, the Marines did not move forward until 9:00 AM. With the end of the bombardments, the Japanese emerged from their deep shelters and manned the defenses. Approaching the landing beaches, designated Red 1, 2, and 3, the first three waves crossed the reef in Amtrac amphibious tractors. These were followed by additional Marines in Higgins boats (LCVPs). As the landing craft approached, many grounded on the reef as the tide was not high enough to allow passage. Quickly coming under attack from Japanese artillery and mortars, the Marines aboard the landing craft were forced to enter the water and work their way towards shore while enduring heavy machine gun fire. As a result, only a small number from the first assault made it ashore where they were pinned down behind a log wall. Reinforced through the morning and aided by the arrival of a few tanks, the Marines were able to push forward and take the first line of Japanese defenses around noon. A Bloody Fight Through the afternoon little ground was gained despite heavy fighting all along the line. The arrival of additional tanks bolstered the Marine cause and by nightfall the line was approximately half-way across the island and nearing the airfield (Map). The next day, the Marines on Red 1 (the westernmost beach) were ordered to swing west to capture Green Beach on Betios west coast. This was accomplished with the aid of naval gunfire support. The Marines on Red 2 and 3 were tasked with pushing across the airfield. After heavy fighting, this was accomplished shortly after noon. About this time, sightings reported that Japanese troops were moving east across a sandbar to the islet of Bairiki. To block their escape, elements of the 6th Marine Regiment were landed in the area around 5:00 PM. By the end of the day, American forces had advanced and consolidated their positions. In the course of the fighting, Shibasaki was killed causing issues among the Japanese command. On the morning of November 22, reinforcements were landed and that afternoon the 1st Battalion/6th Marines began an offensive across the southern shore of the island. Final Resistance Driving the enemy before them, they succeeded in linking up with the forces from Red 3 and forming a continuous line along the eastern part of the airfield. Pinned into the eastern end of the island, the remaining Japanese forces attempted a counterattack around 7:30 PM but were turned back. At 4:00 AM on November 23, a force of 300 Japanese mounted a banzai charge against the Marine lines. This was defeated with the aid of artillery and naval gunfire. Three hours later, artillery and air strikes commenced against the remaining Japanese positions. Driving forward, the Marines succeeded in overrunning the Japanese and reached the eastern tip of the island by 1:00 PM. While isolated pockets of resistance remained, they were dealt with by American armor, engineers, and air strikes. Over the next five days, the Marines moved up the islets of Tarawa Atoll clearing the last bits of Japanese resistance. Aftermath In the fighting on Tarawa, only one Japanese officer, 16 enlisted men, and 129 Korean laborers survived out of the original force of 4,690. American losses were a costly 978 killed and 2,188 wounded. The high casualty count quickly caused outrage among Americans and the operation was extensively reviewed by Nimitz and his staff. As a result of these inquiries, efforts were made to improve communications systems, pre-invasion bombardments, and coordination with air support. Also, as a significant number of the casualties had been sustained due to the landing craft beaching, future assaults in the Pacific were made almost exclusively using Amtracs. Many of these lessons were quickly employed in the Battle of Kwajalein two months later.

An Online Degree for the Older Population Essay Example

An Online Degree for the Older Population Essay Example An Online Degree for the Older Population Essay An Online Degree for the Older Population Essay Online Degree We are living longer lives; modern medicine and our ability to care for ourselves more appropriately has extended our life spans so that we often have years ahead of us following retirement – a time that we can use to travel, spend time with loved ones, and follow those dreams that may have eluded us during the time in which we had a career and raised a family. One of the dreams that many people may have had to forgo – especially women of the older generation – is that of a college education. But now, with technology being what it is, people of all generations are able to live the dream again and earn an online degree. The Internet has insured that no longer is it necessary to drive to a campus in order to attend college classes. Instead, those who are able to find their way around a computer are able to sign up for the classes that they need to earn an online degree. By attending classes online, students are able to do their reading, complete their assignments, and turn in the work necessary to earn them credits toward a degree, including an online MBA if they so choose. For the older generation, the pursuit of an online degree means that they can achieve their dreams without forfeiting their time with their families, and without having to find their way around a college campus with students less than half their age. Rather, by taking advantage of the tools available to them, online degree candidates can make the most of their time.

How to Write a Great Reaction Paper

How to Write a Great Reaction Paper How to Write a Great Reaction Paper In order to write a great reaction paper, a particular order needs to be followed. For instance, one must read through the given document carefully, while noting the key points. Watching the documentary, or fully partaking part in the seminar for the reaction essay topic, is also crucial in preparation for writing a great reaction paper. Taking notes of key thoughts, during one’s participation in the reaction essay events, is also an important activity during the preparation. This is because the latter helps in the generation of several ideas from which an individual is able to choose their key points. Secondly, think of and briefly describe two key points that you want articulated in your reaction. In each key point, details like the various lessons learnt, the areas of agreement and the points with which you disagreed, need to be clearly stated. Since experts claim that a successful reaction paper is brief piece of work, the various points should be precise and clear. The third point on writing a great reaction paper is presenting a clear justification in support of the stated key points. The other step that is followed is the provision of a real life example regarding the subject of discussion, which must be clearly explained for a better understanding of it. Finally, a brief description of how the researchers point is connected to public relations is given. The bibliography entails presenting a list of various documents like books, magazines and other scholarly documents used during the research. In addition, the list of works the writer plans to consult in future can also be included in the bibliography section. Provision of research methods for a thesis is also a compulsory part of a thesis proposal. This section includes stating the various research questions to be addressed in ones findings. This section also gives details on how the stated project will be handled, in order to be completed within the stated period of time. This generally means that the plan to be followed, in order to get the work done in a shorter period, is given. In addition, the writer is supposed to convince their chosen committee that they are well prepared to conduct findings on the given topic, while providing various opportunities for the committee members. You never should forget about the custom writing services available for ordering a great custom reaction paper on any topic and discipline. The professional writers team will do all that’s possible to meet your expectations in regards to the research paper of any level. Simply place the order with an online custom writing service and, within your deadline, the paper will be sent to you. All you need to do is to select the custom agency with which you want to work. If you need quality reaction paper help visit now!

Family dynamics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Family dynamics - Essay Example It is obvious that alcoholism has to be tackled in ways that are unique to each addict. While basic theories may be used to treat the underlying causes of the disease, it is necessary to address the issues that are unique to every alcohol addict in order to stem the excess use of alcohol by that particular individual. Demographics of Families affected by Alcohol In America today, there are approximately 15 men and women who are addicted to alcohol and use it on a regular basis. These alcoholics come from diverse religions and ethnic backgrounds, and can be found in all age groups. According to Babor (2010) 43% of the American population has had to deal, at some time or other, with an alcoholic within the family. Today, 18% of all American children live with an alcoholic in the family (Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2009). Of this figure, more than 55% are children who are still perceived to be dependants who rely on t heir parents for sustenance. According to Babor (2010), the consumption of excess alcohol kills more than 75,000 Americans on an annual basis. These deaths may result from binge drinking or simply continuous heavy drinking which wears down the body’s vital organs such as the liver. ... This is because there are pressures from peers that they have to deal with while also having to handle the pressure of starting new relationships as well as careers. The Effect on the Family The families of alcoholics are often greatly affected by their destructive addiction. They may have to live with the pressure of maintaining a facade of normalcy to the outside world while also having to bear the problems that the alcoholic causes. Alcoholics usually have short attention spans once they start to drink and can cause problems that they will not remember after the effect of the alcohol wear out (Joyce, 2011). The families of alcoholics may have to deal with violent behavior exhibited by the alcoholic, economic problems caused by the alcoholic’s use of family finances to support his or her problem, and low relationship satisfaction. Any children born into families where one of the parents is an alcoholic also learn quickly not to trust that parent (Joyce, 2011). Communication in such families is marked by constant criticism, blame, misplaced guilt, dissatisfaction in emotional relationships, and complaints (Babor, 2010). Chaos and conflict is common in families that have alcoholics. There is also a lot of unpredictability, and the breakdown of traditional family rituals. Physical as well as emotional abuse is also very common in such families. Theories of Alcohol Addiction There are different theories that seek to address the cause of alcoholism in people. The genetic theory holds that there are inherited mechanisms, particularly among people that had alcoholic parents, which predispose people to desiring alcohol or consuming it in excess (Hingson, Zha

Comparative Analysis of Tesco PLC and Primarks Capacity Management Essay

Comparative Analysis of Tesco PLC and Primarks Capacity Management - Essay Example n demand, retail service providing companies are faced with a challenge of managing, expanding and planning their capacity to meet increased demand for retail products. In this pursuit of retail capacity management, two main options have been considered by the retailers across the UK. The first option is the expansion of retail floor space by opening up new retail outlets and the second option has been to go online and make use of the omnipresent advantage. Tesco PLC and Primark, both of which are retailing companies, have catered this increase in demand and the challenge of capacity management by focusing on these options. However, it is pertinent to note here that both companies have different challenges to face; Tesco PLC has a large and mature customer segment which needs to be catered, managed and facilitated through conventional and unconventional means. On the other hand, with a comparatively small customer segment, Primark’s aim to build capacity is aimed at increasing customer base, rather than managing or facilitating it. Having taken into consideration the increase in retail customers’ demand, Tesco has considered a paradigm shift in its capacity planning and management. As per the interim report published by the company in company for the year 2012 – 13, the management is focusing more on online retailing rather than increasing physical retail outlets. The possible outcome of this strategy to increase capacity can be the catering of increased demand of the customers and to have a wider reach by nullifying the impact of constraints associated with physical outlets (Tesco PLC, 2012). Having considered the fact that the customers of the company increased significantly, Tesco PLC required a solution for increasing its capacity to manage growing customer... This esay sresses that Tesco PLC has a large and mature customer segment which needs to be catered, managed and facilitated through conventional and unconventional means. On the other hand, with a comparatively small customer segment, Primark’s aim to build capacity is aimed at increasing customer base, rather than managing or facilitating it. Having considered the fact that the customers of the company increased significantly, Tesco PLC required a solution for increasing its capacity to manage growing customer base. Having taken into consideration the increase in retail customers’ demand, Tesco has considered a paradigm shift in its capacity planning and management. This paper makes a conclusion that keeping in view the comparative analysis of Tesco PLC and Primark in this report with regard to their capacity management and initiatives taken in this respect by both of them, it is evident that there is a marked difference between the strategies of both companies. Tesco PLC, having a strong physical presence and large retail floor space in the UK, has been focusing on going online to target a greater customer base. In fact, the management at Tesco PLC is considering reducing its retail space, which will ultimately benefit the company in reducing its operating costs. On the other hand, Primark has persisted with its strategy of increasing retail floor space in the UK and has also planned to carry it forward in the future too.

Aesthetic Perspectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Aesthetic Perspectives - Essay Example It is an artwork using the media chalk, conte crayon and ink on paper, and is an example of a Realist painting (Horsley, 2003). In fact, Bravo was touted as the greatest Latin American realist (Horsley, 2003). The painting depicts a paper package of considerable size wound around by wire, seemingly in order to keep it secure and the contents of the package from being exposed. In terms of the FORMALIST (Art and Aesthetics, n.d.) theory of aesthetic perspectives, the painting can be analyzed in the context of space, form, texture, color, and lines. The painting of the package occupies most of the space of the canvas, so that all the observer sees is a paper package wrapped in wire. The form of the painting is very true to life, and immaculately arranged. The corners are crumpled just a little to give the painting a feeling of realism. It is very easy to infer the texture of the package; it is made of paper. The colors of the paintings are bland, and very real; the package is pastely cr eam in color, with the wire silver. As far as the formalist perspective is concerned, the artist has succeeded to portray arrangement and realism in the painting. This leads us to the other perspective, that of IMITATIONIST (Art and Aesthetics, n.d.) theory. As discussed earlier, this is a work on realism, a branch of Imitationism (Art and Aesthetics, n.d.). There is nothing more to the painting than a package wrapped in wire.... When an observer looks at the painting, he gets the feeling of enclosure and secrecy. Since the package occupies most of the space of the canvas, the observer cannot look at the surroundings of the package, and feels as if he is also wrapped around in it and closed tight. The wire around the package seems to protect the package from opening and the contents from being exposed. This gives a sense of secrecy to the painting. Nevertheless, the package is made of paper, and so it is fragile, and can tear open any time. This invokes a sense of suspense to the exposure of the hidden contents of the package, and the observer feels a thrill, as if by waiting and looking at the painting for a longer period of time, he might be able to break open the package and look inside. The real inspiration for the painting, as explained by the artist, was quite mundane: his sister arrived with some packages, and Bravo was fascinated by their form and texture (Horsley, 2003). His depiction of the painting , however, infuses more meaning to the package than just the artist’s fascination. The other artwork of the pair is â€Å"Rabbit† by Jeff Koons. Made in 1955, it is a sculpture crafted out of stainless steel (Holland, 2010). It is huge in size; to get an estimate, it comes to the waist of an average adult male, and since it is put up on a pedestal, it faces the observer with an eye contact (Holland, 2010). This artwork, too, can be studied in the three perspectives as discussed for the previous artwork. The discussion is as follows: In the perspective of the FORMALIST (Art and Aesthetics, n.d.) theory of aesthetics, the first point to be noted is the medium of the sculpture, that is, stainless steel. It should be noted that it is very difficult to carve

MOD 5 Discussion Determining Which Agency Should Command an ICS Post Essay

MOD 5 Discussion Determining Which Agency Should Command an ICS Post - Essay Example The infectious disease and chemical contamination are both hazardous to public health and require emergency response based on specialized tactics and strategic planning so that they do not threaten public safety or danger to public property. The ICS personal are specially trained for such events and therefore they should take over the command of the situation once the public announcement is made on the issue. Non-medical personnel/ managers often have make important decisions during a bio-terrorist attack because it involves integrated disaster response which also makes it necessary for them to develop quick networked solution that also includes close coordination of other agencies and volunteers to tackle the situation. Medical professionals are focused on the diseases and its impact on people but lack the managerial leadership to develop a networked approach that would expedite the process of early evacuation and treatment of victims/ patients (Ness, 2006). Most importantly, the expertise of ICS in disaster situation fundamentally relies on their abilities to coordinate different agencies and programs into a single agency for fast and efficient response to the crisis (Greene, 2002). They also have necessary skills, techniques and tools that can be deployed quickly for rescuing victims. (words: