Send us more Japs!

Many, many instances of the fighting spirit of Marines could be cited but one story in particular attracts the attention.

When the Japanese initiated the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, they did not neglect the tiny island of Wake which served as an outpost for Hawaii. Their plans had been for a speedy seizure of this objective; however, the Marine garrison thwarted their initial attempts.

Late in December, the enemy returned with an even more powerful armada. Attack after attack was mounted against the heroic defenders.

All Marine planes were shot down, casualties mounted, the situation was becoming desperate. However, communications were still maintained with Pearl Harbor. A relief expedition was mounted but the remnants of the Navy were so pitifully weak that the mission was canceled at the last minute.

Finally, Pearl Harbor queried Wake “Is there anything that we can provide?”

In one of the last messages from the doomed island came back:

“Send us more Japs!”