Editorials / Opinion

Not the first

I was astonished to read that the 1943 battle of Tarawa was incorrectly described as “the first major amphibious assault in World War II” [“Anniversary of WWII battle noted,” Nation & World, Nov. 21].

As most U.S. Marines and many civilians know, the battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, commencing Aug. 7, 1942, occurred more than a year before the battle for Tarawa. Guadalcanal was not secured until sometime in 1943 after many months of bitter fighting and many dead and wounded U.S. Marines.

Guadalcanal is the first amphibious assault by the U.S. in World War II.

To the memory of the brave men who served in these engagements, we salute them and their sacrifice.

— Michael Brown, Mount Vernon