A detailed examination of this bloodied battle in the Pacific, including maps, artworks, and archival photographs.

The Betio Island in Tarawa Atoll was defended by the elite forces of the Underwater Demolition Team, whose commander, Admiral Shibasaki, proudly declared that "the Americans could not take Tarawa with a million men in a hundred years." In a pioneering amphibious assault, the Marines of the 2nd Marine Division were sent to prove otherwise, overcoming serious planning errors to deliver a 76-hour battle of unparalleled savage intensity.

The cost would be more than 3,000 Marines lost out of a garrison of 3,700 men. This richly illustrated edition provides an in-depth look at the battle and the lessons learned, which would forever dispel any illusions the Americans had regarding the combat quality of the Japanese.