Contents

Chapter		Page
Foreword		iii
Introduction		1
Preparing the Attack		7
	The Planning Begins	7
	Makin Atoll	9
	The Tactical Plan	16
	Training and Equipping the Attacking Force	21
The Assault From the Western Beaches		29
	The Approach	29
	The Assault Begins	34
	The 1st BLT Advances	41
	The 3d BLT Advances	44
	Conditions at the Beach	47
Taking the West Tank Barrier		51
	Landings at YELLOW Beach	51
	The Mission of the 2d BLT	64
	From YELLOW Beach to the West Tank Barrier	69
	Advance to the West Tank Barrier from the West	75
	Holding Action to the East	81
	Situation at the Close of D Day	87
The Drive Eastward		93
	The First Night	93
	Preparing the Second Day's Attack	95
	The Second Day's Advance	100
	The Second Night	107
	The Advance Beyond the Bight	111
	"Saki Night"	118
	The Island's Tip Is Reached	121
The End of the Makin Expedition		125
	Preparations for Departure	125
	Reembarkation	128
	Mopping Up	130
Conclusion		132
Annex No. 1 Abbreviations		136

Illustrations
	Page
Maj. Gen. Ralph C. Smith	6
Butaritari	10
Alligators at Makin	19
Western Beaches	34
Landing Barges Circle	35
RED Beach 2	38
Troops on RED Beach 1	39
Terrain Torn Up	43
A Flank Patrol	45
Infantry Moves Along Main Island Highway	48
Western Half of YELLOW Beach Area	51
YELLOW Beach Under Attack	52
Causeway of King's Wharf	55
Terrain Near the West Tank Barrier	58
Storming YELLOW Beach	60
Second Wave Approaching YELLOW Beach	61
Engineers at YELLOW Beach	63
Section of Antitank Trench	66
Command Post Message Center	70
Well-Concealed Pillboxes	73
Antitank Gun Emplacements	74
Light Tanks	76
West Tank Barrier	78
Action From Eastern Half of YELLOW Beach	82
Fox Holes on YELLOW Beach	88
Battalion Medical Aid Station	90
Enemy Dual-Purpose Gun	94
Medium Tanks Shelling King's Wharf	96
Observation Tower	102
Many Bomb Shelters	103
Japanese Radio Transmitting Station	104
Interior of Enemy Radio Station	105
Third Battalion	113
East Tank Barrier	114
Japanese Tankette	116
Tanks Return From Eastern Butaritari	122
A Japanese Prisoner	125
Column Marching Toward YELLOW Beach	128
Airfield Construction Equipment	130

Maps
No.		Page
1	Central and South Pacific	x
2	The Gilberts and The Marshalls	2
3	Makin Atoll	8
4	Butaritari Island	13
5	Attack from the West	14
6	The First Night on Butaritari	86
7	The Second Day's Advance	100
8	Reaching the Eastern Tip	110
9	Main Defensive Area of Butaritari	Inside back cover
9a	Attack from the Lagoon (Overlay)	Inside back cover

Charts
No.		Page
1	27th Division Task Force (5206) at Makin	22
2	Loading Plan	26
3	Organization for Makin Expedition	32