US Involvement In The Pacific Theater Of WWII

Wake Island is a small Pacific atoll (ring shaped coral reef), laying halfway between Hawaii and Midway, nearly a mile long and less than a half mile wide. The Island held a great significant to the United States military as line of protection guarding the West Coast from inevitable attack due to rising tensions with Japan. In 1941, hours after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked the Island taking control of it after a two week battle. In conjunction with Pearl Harbor and other Japanese attacks, Wake accelerated the US involvement in the Pacific Theater of WWII. The Battle of Wake Island has military and cultural significance to the US as an important part of the history of WWII in the Pacific. Prior to the war, the US territory of Wake
Two task forces were assembled to assist in resupply and evacuation of civilians TF11 and TF 14. In Washington the decision was made to relieve Admiral Kimmel from his command. Admiral William Pye would assume temporary command until Admiral Chester Nimitz took over as the CINCPAC (commander in chief, Pacific command) As temporary CINC Pye was leery of putting his crippled fleet in a risky offensive against the Japanese. TF11 was ordered to slow its speed to ensure a link-up with TF14 which allowed a concentration of the support. Pye ordered the fleet not to come within 200 miles of the
Admiral Pye became concerned that he would be sending his fleet into an ambush. It would be possible to make a fast run for the island, but it was unknown if the attackers knew about the task force. The was decided to send the Tangier alone and fuel the fighter planes on the Saratoga to maximize range sending them in to support the marines during the attack. Before the order was official the word came down to remand it sending the fleet back to Pearl Harbor. Shortly after the first dog watch (midnight) the Japanese began the invasion of the island. Comander cunningham tried to contact the US submarines working in the area, but received a message that no US vessels were continuing to patrol the area around Wake. The marines on the Island were left helpless to defend the atoll with out support. Marines assisted by volunteer civilians fired on the the Japanese Patrol Craft 33 hitting the magazine and sending the vessel down in flames. On Wilkes Island the Japanese landed taking the gun position when a group of Marines surprised them. The Marines drove the Japanese back killing 94 and capturing 2. Back on wake the fighting was desprate there was no infantry in reserve to add releif to the fight. “This is as far as we go,” said Major Putnam (Putnam 37). The sea of Japanese solders met the Marines with their hands