Marine, Cpl. Thomas H. Cooper,  Killed on first day of Battle of Tarawa WWII comes home

Marine, Cpl. Thomas H. Cooper, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., March 10, 2022. Cooper, 22, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was a member of Company A, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands during World War II, and was killed in action on the first day of battle

The Southern Attack Force (Task Force 53), commanded by Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill, USN, landed the 2nd Marine Division, commanded by General Julian C. Smith, USMC, on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll on November 20, 1943.  

The objective on the thin island was the airfield, located in the southwest corner.   Due to non-existent charts for the tides, the invasion force took a chance with the landing, which worked against them, as did pre-bombardment communication issues.  When the Marines landed on the Red Beaches, they met with fierce opposition, which was the first time this occurred in the Pacific Campaign.

   Colonel David M. Shoup, USMC, commanded the landed troops and later received the Medal of Honor for his heroic leadership despite being wounded upon landing.   Green Beach was taken the following day, but the Red Beaches proved to be a hard win as the Japanese bitterly fought, including a banzai charge on November 23, the day the island was secured.  

With major loss of life and injuries to the 2nd Marine Division, amphibious operations were reviewed with the recommendations:  landing ships to deliver heavier and more accurate fire; enhanced air support concentrated on bombing fixed positions; pre-invasion bombardment would be sustained until the last moment; more efficient landing craft for reefs, especially during tidal conditions; and the assault commander would be the focus of the landings with effective communication methods.