Sophomore accounting major
Seventy years ago, thousands of Americans and Japanese fought desperately for pieces of coral less than half the size of College Park. When the dust settled, the American flag flew above the battlefield. But not before 262 Americans and 2,677 Japanese lost their lives in some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific War. Few know the existence of the Battle of Enewetak, and even fewer care. But we should.
Those pieces of coral, Enewetak Atoll, form a mere speck in the Pacific Ocean that has seen more than its fair share of destruction throughout history. Enewetak Island itself rises a mere 16.5 feet above sea level at its highest point. The atoll that comprises the island group is all but invisible on any world map. But for all of its obscurity, Enewetak and its atoll would play a vital role both during and after World War II .
Enewetak became an American naval base that supported the thousands of ships necessary to win the Pacific War. It provided an airfield and shelter to the U.S. Navy that allowed it to progress farther and farther west, freeing more and more people. Its name is relegated to a passing mention, a forward operating base of a vast and far more interesting naval fleet. After the war, Enewetak hosted several nuclear bomb tests, including the first hydrogen bomb test. Whatever your feelings toward nuclear weapons, this test was a significant event in the course of human history.
Yet for all Enewetak’s uses, we forget about its human costs. For the forward operating base, Americans gave their lives in a battle far less “glamorous” than battles remembered today. We often forget that inhabitants of the islands lost their homes and ways of life to conduct the nuclear tests.
I was fortunate enough to come across actual pictures and footage from the battle. If you watch them, you can get some sense of the Americans’ undertaking, some 70 years ago. Young Marines, many barely college-age, sped to shore after a short, fierce bombardment. Camera footage shows Marines crawling low to avoid Japanese bullets and medics frantically checking on comrades. Typical scenes of war contrast with the expansive Pacific in the background. Most somberly, however, I found a picture of a Marine dragging a dead comrade from the ocean. It was a sobering sight and a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made for us by people we will never know.
So today, I wanted to bring their sacrifices to your attention. Thousands of families and friends lost loved ones in that battle, so it is important we honor them.
Beyond the little atoll, there are millions of people and places that deserve our remembrance. We might not be able to hear all their stories, but each sacrifice is worthy of our honor. Today, these sacrifices continue. Just last week, two American soldiers, Spc. John Pelham and Sgt. First Class Roberto Skelt, died in Afghanistan. Most of us did not hear their names on the news, but it does not mean we should not honor their service to our nation.
We should make a conscious effort to honor our nation’s service personnel, past and present. It does not need to be a national holiday for us to be thankful for these great Americans.
Matt Dragonette is a sophomore accounting major. He can be reached at mdragonettedbk@gmail.com.
