USS Hopper Commemorates the Battle of Tarawa
Story Number: NNS031201-01
Release Date: 12/1/2003 11:47:00 AM
By Lt. j.g. Tiffany Hill, USS Hopper Public Affairs
BETIO, Tarawa (NNS) -- Nov. 20, 1943, U.S. Marines landed on Tarawa, taking the island after 76 hours of intense and grueling battle against the Japanese. Once the smoke cleared, 3,301 Americans had been killed, wounded or injured.
Exactly 60 years later, Sailors from USS Hopper (DDG 70), 15 Marines from Marine Forces Pacific and three Marines from the 2nd Marine Division Color Guard, Camp Lejeune, N.C., participated in a commemorative ceremony there.
The ceremony was held Nov. 20 at the U.S. Marines War Memorial in Prince Philip Park here and on Red Beach 2, where the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Marine RCT landed. Once again, the American flag flew tall and proud on the same beach where Marines shed blood, tears and sweat 60 years ago.
The Pearl Harbor, Hawaii-based Aegis guided-missile destroyer made a routine port visit to Kiribati while in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. Tarawa Atoll, part of the Gilbert Islands, is a triangular atoll about 80 miles north of the equator. The southwest island of Betio was the scene of the battle. The island, now part of the Republic of Kiribati, is part of an atoll 12 miles by 18 miles.
The trip made by the Marines and the crew of Hopper was filled with emotion. The excitement of traveling to a new place and the pride of participating in a ceremony in the remembrance of a battle that was extremely significant in the lives of all Americans and the world 60 years ago, was at times overshadowed by the sadness of the lives lost there.
At sunrise Nov. 20, Sailors and Marines attended the memorial ceremony coordinated by the U.S. Peace Corps. In attendance was the President of the Republic of Kiribati, his Excellency Anote Tong, and the U.S. ambassador to Kiribati, David Lyon. The ceremony was attended by all regional Peace Corps volunteers of the Tarawa Atoll, young trainees of the Marine Training Center of Kiribati, the Betio police band, government officials and numerous locals, as well as Hopper’s crew.
A dedication and remembrance was paid to all those who had fought 60 years prior. Ambassador Lyon and President Tong each spoke about the importance of the battle and placed wreaths at the foot of the U.S. Marines War Memorial. The Marines proudly displayed the American flag and the U.S. Marine Corps flag, while honoring those Sailors and Marines who had gone before them with a 21-gun salute.
The ceremony then moved to Red Beach 2, one of the three designated landing beaches assaulted by the Marines. Two veterans of the battle, Harry Jackson and Joe Sobol, attended the ceremony. Jackson spoke about his experience there. He talked about the horrors of the battle, the valor displayed by both sides and the relief felt when victory was achieved. Jackson and Sobol then walked side-by-side and laid a wreath on the sea wall of the beach they had stormed more than a half-century ago. The wreath accompanied one that was presented earlier by Cmdr. Michael Selby, commanding officer of Hopper.
Chief Gas Turbine Systems Electrician (SW) Jerry Hunt said ceremonies like these show other countries just what our servicemembers’ sacrifices mean to the American people.
"It says something for our country and military, that we would travel such a great distance to show other countries our dedication to honoring the memory of those who have sacrificed before us for the freedom we now enjoy," he said.
