| Original caption: “Death rather than dishonor – Two Japanese Imperial Marines who committed suicide by shooting themselves rather than surrender to a United States Marine.” Imperial Japanese Navy Special Naval Landing Force soldiers committed suicide by placing their toes on the triggers of their Arisaka rifles and pointing the weapons at their foreheads. United States Marines were left to find their remains. As D-Day plus 2 saw the consolidation and expansion of the Marine holdings on Betio, more and more rigosentai trapped behind American lines resorted to suicide rather than surrender. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2252.jpg |
| Image Size | 689.10 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2869 x 2142 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Marine Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 23, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Betio |
| State or Province | Tarawa |
| Country | Gilberts |
| Archive | Library of Congress |
| Record Number | LC-USZ62-98191 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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