On the Parade Field.

A brass inscribed plaque mounted to a concrete pedestal.

The memorial remembers nine USMC Raiders who, by order of Japanese Vice Adm. Koso Abe, were beheaded near this location on Oct. 16, 1942. The Marines were captured following their participation in the Aug. 17-18 raid on Makin Island, and were brought to Kwajalein and held as prisoners of war until their execution.

Background: 

On August 17, 1942 at 3:30am two submarines USS Argonaut (SM-1) and USS Nautilus (SS-168) surfaced off Makin and deployed rubber rafts with outboard engines to land U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 2nd Raider Battalion including Company A and Company B led by Col. Evans Carlson and Major James Roosevelt (oldest son of FDR) landed on Makin Island. This was the first Marine operation launched from submarines. Also, the first significant U.S. military action against Japanese occupied territory in the Gilbert Islands.

The "Makin Raid" was to disrupt the enemy, destroy installations and divert reinforcements to Guadalcanal. The Raiders claimed 83 Japanese killed and destroyed installations, two small ships and two flying boats by Boys Anti-Tank rifle fired by Sgt Buck Stidham and Sgt Walter Carroll.

On August 18, 1942 by midnight, the Marines were forced to evacuate in the face of Japanese air attacks and reinforcements. They used the same rafts to return to the submarines and were forced to leave their dead behind. A total of nineteen Marines were officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). 

Source of Information: American Legion and Pacific Wrecks website.

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

2ND Marine Raider Battalion

"Gung Ho"

In memory of nine United States Marine Corps Raiders who, by order of Japanese Vice Admiral Koso Abe, were beheaded near this location on 16 October 1942. The Marines were captured following their participation in the 17-18 August 1942 raid on Makin Island, and were brought to Kwajalein and held as prisoners of war until their execution.

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we
should thank God that such men lived.
- George S. Patton, Ir