2-612-022 - Keystone Archives/Heritage Images

US Marines fighting on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, World War II, November 1943. Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman (4th from right) and his assault party storming a Japanese stronghold. Bonnyman received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions. The Americans landed on Tarawa on 20 November 1943. They suffered around 6000 casualties over the three days it took to capture the small island from the Japanese, who fought almost to the last man. Only 17 of the 2619 Japanese soldiers defending the island were taken prisoner.