A daring 1942 raid on Makin Island failed its goals but birthed a legend

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In August 1942, 211 Marine Raiders launched a surprise attack on a Japanese garrison in the Gilbert Islands. While the mission struggled to meet its strategic objectives, it became a vital test for new tactics and a powerful morale booster, eventually inspiring a famous Hollywood propaganda film.

The raid on Makin Island, conducted from August 17 to 18, 1942, was one of the earliest American offensive ground operations of World War II. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson, the 2nd Raider Battalion arrived via submarines to target the 62nd Guard Unit, a Japanese force of about 80 personnel. The operation aimed to destroy local installations, gather intelligence, and divert Japanese attention from the ongoing Guadalcanal campaign. However, the landing was hampered by rough seas and equipment failures, and the force ultimately failed to secure prisoners or meaningful intelligence.

Combat on the island was intense. Raiders faced sniper fire, machine guns, and banzai charges before successfully neutralizing the majority of the Japanese garrison. Despite this, the withdrawal proved disastrous. Heavy surf prevented most of the inflatable boats from reaching the submarines, leaving many Marines stranded. A rescue attempt was thwarted by Japanese aircraft, forcing the submarines to submerge. Eventually, 72 survivors escaped using a makeshift raft, but nine Marines were left behind, captured, and later executed on Kwajalein Atoll. Admiral Abe Kōsō was eventually held accountable for these deaths.

The raid's long-term impact was complex. While it failed to divert significant Japanese forces, it inadvertently signaled vulnerabilities in the Gilbert Islands, prompting Japan to bolster its Pacific defenses. This buildup likely increased the difficulty of later American campaigns. Nevertheless, the mission provided a crucial proving ground for Raider tactics and served as a morale-building narrative for the American public. By 1943, the event was dramatized in the film Gung Ho!, with Carlson himself serving as a technical advisor. Decades later, in 2000, the remains of nineteen Marines were recovered from the island, with thirteen receiving honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

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