Random Picture: The day after Tarawa

The Battle of Tarawa started on November 20, 1943, sixty-nine years ago. Below is a photo I scanned in of the aftermatch; a random 80-G find. LVT "alligators" damaged and unable to make it over the seawall. The exact date wasn't listed.

It turns out that the LVT-1 in the rear is somewhat famous and still around. She was named "My Deloris" by her crew and was the first to reach Betio's shore. The LVT-2 in front of her was from a follow-on wave. After the island was secure, "My Deloris" was shipped back to the U.S. as an exhibit for War Bond drives and later restored. She is now at the WWII/Korea LVT Museum at Camp DelMar, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.