On this day in 1943, U.S. troops stormed the Japanese-held Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. The bloody, 76-hour Battle of Tarawa is remembered as the first major American offensive in the central Pacific. For the full story, watch this clip from The Pacific War in Color: Island Hopping. | Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation

And the Oscar goes to....the Marine Corps! See the film that won the Corps their own Oscar at the 1945 Academy Awards. “With the Marines at Tarawa” won in the category of best short film documentary. It depicts the battle between the Marines and the Japanese for control of the island of Tarawa during World War II. The "With the Marines at Tarawa" Oscar trophy is on display at the Museum in the WWII Gallery. #Oscars #Marines #Oscars2019 #AcademyAwards | National Museum of the Marine Corps

282K views · 7.4K reactions | In November, 1943, the USS Enterprise supports a two pronged attack in the Pacific at the WW2 Battle of Tarawa. | HISTORY | Facebook

13K views · 789 reactions | On Nov. 20, 1943, U.S. Marines and sailors with the 2nd Marine Division commenced the Battle of Tarawa, a major offensive during #WWII. The ensuing 76-hour fight saw unprecedented bloodshed for both U.S. and Japanese forces. The U.S. emerged victorious, however, and would eventually defeat the Japanese in the Pacific in August 1945. | U.S. Department of War | Facebook