WWII US Marine Combat Engineer - Tarawa 1943

The Battle of Tarawa (November 20–23, 1943) was a brutal World War II clash in which the U.S. 2nd Marine Division assaulted the heavily fortified Japanese-held island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll. Confident in their defenses, the Japanese commander boasted that 'a million men could not take the island in a hundred years'. This initially appeared to be the case as unexpectedly low tides stranded many U.S. landing craft on reefs, forcing Marines to wade ashore under devastating fire. However, after three days of fierce, often hand-to-hand combat, U.S. forces secured the tiny island. Almost 2000 Marines and sailors would lose their lives taking the island, just 2 miles long and 800 yards deep at the widest point. These extreme losses for such a small island were documented by Marine combat cameramen for the documentary film "With the Marines at Tarawa". Due to the unprecedented violence showing actual, real time combat and the bodies of Americans killed, Hollywood refused to produce the film, and a presidential order was required to release the film. Following notable war correspondent Robert Sherrod's advice that "our soldiers on the front want people back home to know that they don't knock the hell out of them every day of every battle. They want people to understand that war is a horrible, nasty business, and to say otherwise is to do a disservice to those who died" the film was released for public screening in 1944. It went on to receive an Oscar in 1944, and is known for shaping the public's understanding of modern warfare, as well as what viewers expect from war films to this day. 

The assault on Tarawa would require specialized Marines to engaged deeply entrenched Japanese positions with a variety of weapons. Combat engineers came ashore with the first assault waves with everything from TNT to flamethrowers. Later waves would quickly arrive with bulldozers required to seal the complex Japanese bunkers dug into the sand and coral. This figure represents one such demolitions man, photographed giving his account to a war correspondent. My art showcases an open front utility jacket with printed chest and dog tags details, as well as the equipment belt peeking out from the jacket caught over the canteen. I've also added a new detail of the theatre made M1 carbine ammunition pouch. Although the new carbines had been issued out, and saw widespread use by specialist troops on Tarawa, the corresponding ammunition pouches had not yet made it to the 2nd Marine Division. Pouches were hastily made by cutting down Thompson pouches to fit the shorter carbine magazines, which can be seen peeking out from underneath his jacket. On the side of the figure is a WWII disposable demolitions bag, which came to be known as the ubiquitous 'satchel charge' and contained 8 pounds of TNT blocks. Completing the figure is a new print for the WWII anti gas or flash shield goggles. These clear disposable goggles were meant to prevent eye exposure to gas irritants, and are most known for the captured British pair worn by Rommel in North Africa. 

This is a great figure for someone who wants to build a Tarawa beach landing MOC to match the reference image, or add him to your build of a Marine squad assaulting a bunker! 

Editions: 

Original Proof Copy - 1 of 1, first complete minifigure out of the printer. Signature by Landon Reimer, plastic protective sleeve with 1x6 display brick. 

Collectors Edition - Signature by Landon Reimer, hand numbered, plastic protective sleeve with 1x6 display brick. 

Base Model - Complete figure in hand-stamped numbered case inspired by WWII era packaging. This packaging again, is hand-stamped and is not intended to look perfect. 

Figure artwork includes:

• Custom printed BrickArms frogskin M1 Steel Pot Helmet with eye shield goggles 
• Custom printed wrap around M1 helmet straps minifigure head 
• P1941 Dungaree uniform  
• Marine N1 'boondocker' field shoes 
• M37 satchel charge 
• Marine contract M1936 pistol belt 
• Theater made cut down Thompson pouch for M1 carbine magazines 
• Marine P2 canteen cover 
• Light nougat torso chest printing 
• Marine dog tags 
• Inside leg cuffed Marine dungarees printing 

Information: Art and printing by Lando (that’s me!) on genuine factory direct Lego minifigure elements & BrickArms headgear.

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