8/3/2016 The Stamford Historical Society, Pride and Patriotism: Stamford's Role in World War II, Battles: Eniwetok

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The Battles

The

The Battle oi'Eniwetok was fought between 17 February and 23 Fcbrua1y 1944 on Eniwctok Atoll in the , 330 miles northwest ofKwajalein. The objective was to take the island so as to have an airfield and harbor to support attacks against the to the northeast. The island had initially been lightly defended, given the , . belief of the Japanese command that the US forces would attack the southwestem Marshall Islands first. Nevertheless, .-.. :·--.·.·I III A.AJJ~.U 4 the Japanese 1st Amphibious Brigade had reinforced the island in January 1944. The commander of this force, Major • lf\1.•\. 1$U.NOS General Yoshimi Nishida, had started to build defenses, but the size of the coral islands made it impossible to ~-&rl~. --r· construct elaborate works and the frequent air attacks made it even more difficult.

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GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS 1943

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http://www .stamfordhistory.org/ww2_ eniwetok.htm 1/2 8/3/2016 The Stamford Historical Society, Pride and Patriotism: Stamford's Role in World War II , Battles: Eniwetok

ENIWETOK ATOLl

February 19~• y ' ' ' f N•~IMi'------lWIJ.'£ Vice Admiral Raymond Spmance preceded th e invasion ofEniwetok by , a carrier strike against the Japanese base at Truk Lagoon in the . This operation resulted in the destruction of I 5 warships and more the 250 planes, rendering Eniwetok more vulnerable by cutting off its supply line and its support. Carrier air strikes had also increased by January 1944. The overall US Commanders at Eniwetok were Harry Hill and Brigadier General Thomas E. Watson, who was the Marine in overall command of so me I 0,000 assault troops. The U.S. forces were composed of two regiments. They faced 274 I Japanese.

Naval bombardment ofEniwetok began 17 February, while the 22nd Marine Regiment, commanded by Col. John T. Walker, la nded on Engebi Island, on the north side of the atoll, a day Ia cr. Engebi was secured within six hours with only light resistance offered. More than I 200 Japanese, Koreans and Ok in awans were on Engebi, only 19 surrendered. Captured information suggested a similarl y light defense on Eniwetok, so the bombardment on the island was short prior to the landing of the 1st and 3rd Batallions ofthe I 06th In fantry Regiment on February I 9th. Unfortun ately th e Japanese were well entrenched on the island and the U.S. advance was halted under heavy fire. The island was not secured until 2 I Fcbruaty. More than 800 Japanese defenders died on Eniwetok alone, compared with 37 U.S. troops. On Parry Island no assumptions oflight Japanese defense were made, but instead the Tennessee and Pennsylvania and other ships shelled the island with more than 900 tons of explosives. Battleships moved to within I 500 yards of the shore to fire on Japanese positions. When the 22nd Marin es landed on 22 February, resistance was li ght and by 23 February the whole ato ll had fa llen to the American forces.

By the end of the battle the Americans had suffered 262 killed, 77 missing and 757 wounded. The Japanese lost 2677 killed, 16 Japanese captured and 48 laborers captured.

Peter Canzano From the U.S. Am1y Center of Military Hi story: Estcm Mandates Elwood Lichack Breaking the Ou 1er Ring: Marin e Landings in the M~nshnl ll slands Pacific and Adjacent The:ttrcs 194:1 (map)

Iutroductio11 Vekn.ms Batlles Stamfind Sen,. ice Rolls Hometi·ont Ex hibit Photos Opening Day

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