![]() ![]() Makin’s invasion was in danger of stalling on the beach.Īmid this chaos, soldiers began hearing the deep bark of tank cannons. infantrymen stopped advancing and took cover. Shocked by the loss of their colonel, raw U.S. Leaders made excellent targets-the American regimental commander was shot between the eyes while rallying his troops. Japanese snipers, hidden within a tangle of fallen trees and shell craters, took an alarming toll on the attackers. Critical items such as flamethrowers, rocket launchers, and radio sets all got soaked-with soldiers later paying a heavy price for this ruined equipment. Their wood-hulled landing craft could not cross Makin’s barrier reef, so riflemen had to wade 250 yards to shore under heavy machine-gun fire. In reality, almost nothing went right for the Americans. commanders estimated it would take about two days to accomplish this mission. The plan was to overwhelm Makin’s defenders with crushing air and naval barrages followed by an amphibious landing intended to mop up any lingering enemy resistance. Opposing them were a mere 284 Japanese naval infantrymen along with some 500 support personnel and civilian laborers. 5th Fleet area of operations.Makin should have been a pushover. On November 20, 1943, a force of 3,500 highly trained American soldiers invaded this Central Pacific atoll located 2,000 miles southwest of Hawaii in the Gilbert Islands. Makin Island is the flagship of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Commander, Amphibious Squadron Five, is conducting maritime security operations and supporting theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Any Makin Island sailor who already has a Battle "E" award from a previous command can now add an additional "E" device to the ribbon. Makin Island sailors who were members of the crew any time during 2016 are now eligible to wear the Battle "E" ribbon on their uniforms. “No big deck has done that in a long time, and the men and women aboard this ship should be proud of that accomplishment.” “The crew’s efforts sustained the health of the ship, and we were able to support a range of critical maritime security operations without stopping for ,” Melson said. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. Due to the crew’s accomplishments, Makin Island departed Naval Station San Diego on time for deployment to the U.S. Makin Island spent the first three quarters of 2016 working through the basic and integrated training phases, and successfully completed a Board of Inspection and Survey assessment. Makin Island was recognized for excellence in maritime warfare (Black “E”), command and control (Green “E”), logistics management (Blue “E”), and ship safety (Yellow “E”). Ships and squadrons competing for the Battle “E” must attain at least four of the five Command Excellence Awards throughout the competitive period. The sailors of this great warship should wear their ribbons with pride.” With every inspection, this crew demonstrated that they were the waterfront standard and their performance on a combat deployment continues to inspire me. ![]() “It is a testament to the crew’s hard work and ownership that make this the best ship in its class. Mark Melson, the Makin Island’s commanding officer. ![]() “The Battle ‘E’ means more than just a pat on the back,” said Navy Capt. Pacific Fleet, released the naval message announcing the award, which recognizes a command’s ability to perform efficiently in an operational environment and sustain superior overall performance in each department. Thomas Rowden, commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. ![]()
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