| United States Marine Major General Holland M. “Howlin’ Mad” Smith (April 20, 1882 – January 12, 1967), center, commanding the 5th Amphibious Force, and United States Marine Major General Julian C. Smith (September 11, 1885 – November 5, 1975), commanding the 2nd Marine Division, inspect Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll. Marines under their command had just seized the island from the Japanese. Major General Holland Smith, V Amphibious Corps Commander, flew to Betio and spent an emotional afternoon viewing the carnage with Julian Smith. “Howling Mad” Smith was shaken by the experience. In his words: “The sight of our dead floating in the waters of the lagoon and lying along the blood-soaked beaches is one 1 will never forget. Over the pitted, blasted island hung a miasma of coral dust and death, nauseating and horrifying.” Major William K. Jones (October 23, 1916 – April 15, 1998), Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, recalled that Holland Smith had tears in his eyes as he walked through the ruins. Robert Sherrod (February 8, 1909 – February 13, 1994) also accompanied the generals. They came upon 1 sight that moved all of them to tears. It was a dead Marine, leaning forward against the seawall, “one arm still supported upright by the weight of his body. On top of the seawall, just beyond his upraised hand, lies a blue and white flag. a beach marker to tell succeeding waves where to land.” Holland Smith cleared his throat and said, ‘How can men like that ever be defeated?’” Impressed by the Japanese defenses, Holland Smith remarked to Sherrod, “These Japanese were masters of defensive construction. The Germans never built anything like this in France. No wonder those bastards were sitting back here laughing at us! They never dreamed the Marines could take this island, and they were laughing at what would happen to us when we tried.” 3 marines were killed by Japanese snipers on the western end of the island shortly after the 2 Generals Smith had passed that point. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1599.jpg |
| Image Size | 8.13 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5700 x 4430 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 24, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Betio |
| State or Province | Tarawa |
| Country | Gilberts |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-212220 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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