Stranded 2,500 Miles from Pearl Harbor - Wake Island - The Loneliest Battle of WW2

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
  • Pictured: Japanese Patrol Boat No.32 and Patrol Boat No.33 beached and burning in attempt to land an amphibious invasion force on Wake Island in December of 1941.
    The Battle of Wake Island is often referred to as the loneliest battle of World War II. On December 8, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor surprised American military forces in Hawaii an occupied much of America’s collective imagination. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor was only one of a collection of offensives the Japanese conducted on that day. Stranded nearly 2,500 miles away from Hawaii, halfway to Japan, a small assembly of Marines held back a fierce amphibious assault by Japanese forces as they awaited reinforcements. The frustrated Japanese Navy would have to call in a second invasion force while the US’s naval Task Force 14 raced to relieve the island...
    ---
    Dark Docs brings you cinematic short military history documentaries featuring the greatest battles and most heroic stories of modern warfare, covering World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and special forces operations in between.
    As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
    All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.

ความคิดเห็น • 808

  • @tonyhouk9047
    @tonyhouk9047 3 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    Was privileged while I was in the Navy to have stepped foot on Wake Island. I walked down to the rock that the people’s names were inscribed on. That along with going to Iwo Jima are two of the proudest moments of my career. Tony

  • @bmouch1018
    @bmouch1018 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Defended with honor, skill, and true grit. The Defenders of Wake Island deserve to be remembered by every servicemember to follow in their footsteps

    • @leatharay3565
      @leatharay3565 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      My dad was there my hero

  • @CC-te5zf
    @CC-te5zf 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    We got to visit Wake in 1989. We were on a flight back to the US from Clark Air Base, Philippines on an Air Force C-141. The plane encountered a mechanical issues, so we had to land. We diverted to Wake. It took about 12 hours to get another plane there to pick us up. It was a solemn place. There were plaques marking places where people were killed. I'll never forget it. God bless the brave warriors that gave all at Wake.

    • @wayupnorth9420
      @wayupnorth9420 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I was there in 86’. I walked the beach imagining what the civilians and Marines were thinking back in 42’. Some of the guns and other historical items were still on the beaches. I’m sure a lot has changed since we were there. Hard to believe we were only 40 years from the end. Fuck I’m old.

  • @shaunmolamola9923
    @shaunmolamola9923 4 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I’ve been there. It was an amazing experience. Walking the airfield and thinking of what happened was heart wrenching.

  • @mr.m1garand254
    @mr.m1garand254 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    The greatest Marine Corps battle ever and everytime I read or listen about the battle it brings tears to my eyes listening to the bravery of the Marines and Civilians

  • @TraditionalAnglican
    @TraditionalAnglican 4 ปีที่แล้ว +69

    The Philippines wasn’t attacked until 8 hours after Pearl Harbor & Bataan didn’t fall until April 9, 1942, & Corregidor didn’t surrender until May 6, 1942. The last 2 occurred months after the fall of Wake Island.

    • @josejr.llanes8285
      @josejr.llanes8285 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      And the japanese high command send reinforcement from china to finally crushed the stubborn resistance of the USAFFE in Bataan.

  • @michaelhowell2326
    @michaelhowell2326 4 ปีที่แล้ว +328

    One shot is a lucky shot, but 3 shots is skills.

    • @Solnoric
      @Solnoric 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Well, the luck was in hitting the magazine, which is a small and well armored part of the ship

    • @charlesreid3482
      @charlesreid3482 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      What does that mean 3 shots is 3shills

    • @bobcranberries5853
      @bobcranberries5853 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Charles Reid That is one confusing typo

    • @ut000bs
      @ut000bs 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Solnoric destroyers had no armor. That's why they were called "Tin Cans."

    • @Robert-tl2vg
      @Robert-tl2vg 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Your grammar is shocking

  • @A_roN88
    @A_roN88 4 ปีที่แล้ว +177

    Wake Island... Oh the memories.

    • @eyesofstatic9641
      @eyesofstatic9641 4 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      BF1942?

    • @someone28
      @someone28 4 ปีที่แล้ว +50

      @@eyesofstatic9641 BF1942, BF Vietnam WW2 Mod, BF2, BF 2142, BF Heros, BF Online, BF3 and BF5.

    • @cheyennereynoso4116
      @cheyennereynoso4116 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Yeah!! That’s where I remember that from!

    • @AuburnHuntress
      @AuburnHuntress 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      BF1943

    • @slothythebadger7726
      @slothythebadger7726 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I still play 1942 and Vietnam. Pretty big cult following

  • @EnterpriseXI
    @EnterpriseXI 4 ปีที่แล้ว +195

    Fighter jet? Be nice if the marines did have p-80 jets instead of wildcats

    • @showaltermicro
      @showaltermicro 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      one opps over the years- not bad

    • @NIGHTFLIGHTVIDEO
      @NIGHTFLIGHTVIDEO 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Oops

    • @sarttee
      @sarttee 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Would have been nice if the USAAF had made the P-59 usable in 1942, the U.S Could have had a Jet in the war by 1943

    • @matehavlik4559
      @matehavlik4559 4 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Well, they could’ve easily had starships too, three and a half centuries after the late 19th century..

    • @squirrele.1266
      @squirrele.1266 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      P80 shooting star

  • @TheSeanBampton
    @TheSeanBampton 4 ปีที่แล้ว +236

    "the island was all but neglected for 3 and a 1/2 centuries"
    I don't think that's accurate.

    • @clarencemcgregor8568
      @clarencemcgregor8568 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Neglect makes time pass very, very slowly!

    • @zipfish
      @zipfish 4 ปีที่แล้ว +70

      There's at least 5 glaring fuckups like that in this video. My favourite one is "from satellite imagery the island looked like....." In 1942 FFS

    • @MonoMan1
      @MonoMan1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      @@zipfish Also they had fighter jets, apparently. I'm surprised they didn't kill more enemy planes....

    • @thomasjarrow391
      @thomasjarrow391 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Sean_B Please give him a break...he prob meant 3 and a half decades.
      Yeah, 'fighter jets'...this guy need a copy reviewer. Lol
      However, the reporting of relevant facts is detailed, fascinating and meaningful for some of us.
      My Uncle was held as a Japanese POW...fill in the rest.

    • @krossen4
      @krossen4 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I replayed that part like three times.....what?

  • @allonzehe9135
    @allonzehe9135 4 ปีที่แล้ว +63

    Fun Fact: despite being only 6 years long, over 98% of all events in human history took place during WWII. Source: Dark Docs.

    • @viperdynamite5830
      @viperdynamite5830 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      How did 98% of world events happened in WW2 ? please explain.

    • @hiteshadhikari
      @hiteshadhikari 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@viperdynamite5830 he meant major events, wars, attacks, and such incidents
      Also a highly exaggerated fact

    • @jonlamontagne2626
      @jonlamontagne2626 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@viperdynamite5830 he is having fun saying that because this is a visual medium the first largely video covered war and inavative plans, attacks, and last ditch assualts hence an overwhelming amount of this channels videos covering the WW2

    • @redaug4212
      @redaug4212 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@viperdynamite5830 @HITESH ADHIKARI
      *WHOOOOOOSH*

    • @albertbatfinder5240
      @albertbatfinder5240 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Also, WWII is pretty morally black and white for the victors. Like Lord of The Rings, you don’t need to bother wasting any time explaining the complexities of the bad guys.

  • @RedcoatsReturn
    @RedcoatsReturn 4 ปีที่แล้ว +116

    Cap off to the USMC! 🇺🇸 Damn shame Elrod and those boys were not backed up, that was bad! ☹️😔

    • @richardschaeffer3204
      @richardschaeffer3204 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I can't agree more... Supply planes from Pearl Harbor could have gotten there before the 2 air craft carrier fleet of Japan

    • @northlandgaming8460
      @northlandgaming8460 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@richardschaeffer3204 Not like they just got bombed or anything bruh

  • @gregryan7761
    @gregryan7761 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The Marines had a great exhibit at Quanico, VA. when the museum was right next to OCS barracks. I took my son there back about 30 years ago, three quonset huts housed the museum and they proudly showcased the struggle the Marines had on Wake. Now I think they have built a "proper" museum facility, but I wish they still had the huts.

  • @paveltolz6601
    @paveltolz6601 4 ปีที่แล้ว +145

    These rapid fire documentaries are potentially great snippets of history but, they are getting painful to listen to. 'Neglected for three centuries after US Ceremonies in 1890'...'First pilot to destroy a warship from a "fighter jet"...'two task force's prepared to depart Wake Island'... "Common man!" get it together.

    • @ejdiii333
      @ejdiii333 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      You nailed it, incorect info and the rapid fire delivery only adds to the problem

    • @uss_04
      @uss_04 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ejdiii333
      I mean, we get what we “pay for”
      10 minute rapid fire infotainment. Nice to check out but not necessarily something you’d want to cite as a source.
      The theme/mood makes it sound like a hidden history for the layperson who really doesn’t know about this stuff.

    • @oscartiongco7049
      @oscartiongco7049 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@uss_04 5

    • @bmouch1018
      @bmouch1018 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      It's not meant to be a specialized history piece. Whoever runs Dark Docs and its affiliated channels runs through many different subjects spanning the better part of a century. If you'd like more focused documentaries, there are more focused channels, such as Drachinifel or Mark Felton or Lindybeige

    • @leptok3736
      @leptok3736 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Satellite images as well. I get some mistakes, but man, that shouldn't make it passed one proof read

  • @browserrr1
    @browserrr1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +116

    I can understand that it isn't easy to find fitting footage, but using Heinkel HE111's is down right silly.

    • @olengagallardo8551
      @olengagallardo8551 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      What about the clip of British troops fighting Rommel in the dessert war.

    • @vjrei
      @vjrei 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      They were desperate, they used whatever they had in hand.

    • @timhedges2859
      @timhedges2859 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes I noticed that at the beginning too lol they must think nobody knows their aircraft

    • @willmoore8708
      @willmoore8708 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      At first, I thought it was a figment of the imagination.

    • @99somerville
      @99somerville 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Mark Felton has no problem getting good footage.

  • @JimmyBlonde
    @JimmyBlonde 4 ปีที่แล้ว +104

    >referring to an aircraft as an F4F when showing a RATO test on an F6F on screen
    >calling them fighter jets
    Dark docs, are you drunk bro?
    If so, it's ok. So am I

    • @freakingabagool3510
      @freakingabagool3510 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      He also said wake island was neglected for 3 and a half CENTURIES instead of decades lol

    • @tomthx5804
      @tomthx5804 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hell, he shows an SBD while talking about the F4F

    • @codygaming181
      @codygaming181 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Still drunk?

    • @Komeuppance
      @Komeuppance 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I am drunk... I didn't notice lol

  • @opalprestonshirley1700
    @opalprestonshirley1700 4 ปีที่แล้ว +116

    The defenders of Wake gave them a hell of a butt whooping and great loss of face.

    • @marshallness8874
      @marshallness8874 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      What happened to the Morrison Knudsen contractors after the Marines were sent off to China? Forced to finish the defensive positions as slave labor, perhaps? Then allowed to starve to death and thrown into a mass grave somewhere on the island yet to be discovered.

    • @gordonhamilton5576
      @gordonhamilton5576 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Marshall, they were used as labor then when there was no food for them or the Japanese defenders they "escaped and made a final stand with two captured rifles" all 98 remaining were killed.

    • @marshallness8874
      @marshallness8874 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@gordonhamilton5576 Thank you Sir.

    • @blaisebaileyfinnegan
      @blaisebaileyfinnegan 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@marshallness8874 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wake_Island#War_crimes
      Executed when invasion appeared imminent. One escaped and scrawled a testimonial in Coral rock. He was captured and personally beheaded by the Japanese commander. They tried to cover up the massacre but the officers' cover story fell apart under interrogation. Commander was hung for it.

    • @VoodooActual
      @VoodooActual 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @Johnny RoadTrain not entirely. They lost, but definitely made the bigger Japanese force suffer greatly for a small blot of land

  • @ahumblerequest5222
    @ahumblerequest5222 4 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    8:09 true battlefield player

    • @alvinbratz2423
      @alvinbratz2423 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      He then swam into the ocean and commandeered a landing watercraft; spawn camping the zeroes before they could takeoff

    • @power2084
      @power2084 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@alvinbratz2423 hahahahaha !!!

  • @lennybusker8144
    @lennybusker8144 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    These old clips are always outstanding to see

  • @lanehale5669
    @lanehale5669 4 ปีที่แล้ว +63

    3:09 Centuries?? They’re living in 2249?

    • @redram5150
      @redram5150 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Lane Hale this is Star Trek, homey

    • @Etz-b37
      @Etz-b37 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I'm sure they meant 3 and a half decades

    • @samschellhase8831
      @samschellhase8831 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      There’s been quite a few mistakes like that. I’d rather have better, more quality videos than a video every- or every-other day.

    • @SECONDQUEST
      @SECONDQUEST 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yeah this channel isn't known for quality, but quantity.

    • @SECONDQUEST
      @SECONDQUEST 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Oh and ads. They're known for having lots of ads.

  • @cfegerton
    @cfegerton 4 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    at 8:00 "He became the first fighter pilot to sink a battleship using a fighter jet" ?1?1?1?1?
    It was prop plane. NOT a jet

    • @sealy3
      @sealy3 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      It is like someone is using google translate from another Language!
      Or they have no idea of what they are talking about!
      A Military Historian on staff would be of great help to edit this crap!

    • @bobgreene2892
      @bobgreene2892 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@sealy3 Reading around the margins, many other comments suggest the new TH-cam emphasis is on payment for quantity, not quality. Viewer response still counts, but total page views (especially click-throughs) count a lot more. TH-cam creators are under mounting, anti-creative pressure, which explains why so many of them move to syndicated formats like Patreon.

    • @g-ants7547
      @g-ants7547 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Ari GSD but they were using a "F4F wild cat prop plane
      not a F4F wild cat Jet plane
      but yes there are lots of planes with jet engines from the WW2 era

    • @Sickofsociety1
      @Sickofsociety1 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Ari GSD
      Really? Millions? During WWII?

    • @Sickofsociety1
      @Sickofsociety1 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@g-ants7547
      Actually there were few actual jets and only in combat late in the war. There weren't enough to make a difference.

  • @morgenzagaros6028
    @morgenzagaros6028 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just wanted to say thank you very much for making this. My grandfather was on this island and great to see his story being told to people

  • @constitution_8939
    @constitution_8939 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Your narration, as Always, is Superb... you have this Very distinguished voice and inflection thereof that gains you a Cut above All others. It is enjoyable just to listen to you.
    A side note: this is one of the three levels in the "Battlefield 43" on line game that is still an Amazing game to play, if it's still available as I have Not been able to have the pleasure of doing so for almost 5 years now ; (

  • @lfteri
    @lfteri 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Elrod: First to sink an enemy warship with aircraft bombs from a fighter jet. What.

    • @dylanfoster7037
      @dylanfoster7037 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Small caliber bombs, fighters fire explosive shells or atleast now they do. So I assume they did back then too

    • @g00gleminus96
      @g00gleminus96 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Not a jet stupid. There were no operational fighter jets in 1941.

  • @doom-generation4109
    @doom-generation4109 4 ปีที่แล้ว +122

    "From satellite imagery..."
    Wait, what year was this?

    • @fernandomarques5166
      @fernandomarques5166 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Hes describing how the atoll looks. From google maps. A odd line to say. Yes. But not reason for nitpicking.

    • @deaterk
      @deaterk 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Doom - I caught that too & also found it odd.

    • @doom-generation4109
      @doom-generation4109 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@fernandomarques5166 Looked, not looks. He phrased it in the context of the time, ("From satellite imagery, Wake Island seemed like nothing more than a broken wishbone") so I stand by pointing it out.

    • @johnforrester9120
      @johnforrester9120 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      doom-generation 1941

    • @johnforrester9120
      @johnforrester9120 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      doom-generation 1941

  • @appallokelley3207
    @appallokelley3207 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I sure do like these videos but I binge watch them, There’s never enough.

  • @arcticviper252
    @arcticviper252 4 ปีที่แล้ว +58

    Great documentaires guys, but seriously, tone down the ad frequency, this is ludicrous

    • @matthewf1979
      @matthewf1979 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      AD Blockers do work on TH-cam. If you want to whitelist certain TH-cam channels, you can with the channel homepage URL. Getting TH-cam Premium is also recommended, the time saved by not watching ads is worth it to me.

    • @Folfah
      @Folfah 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I was gonna say the same thing but “support your youtubers blah blah blah” the amount of ads seemed weird for a vid a lil over 10 mins long.

    • @Folfah
      @Folfah 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Matt Fields maybe hes like me and using mobile. At home i use it though. I swear yt knows and makes up for it

    • @matthewf1979
      @matthewf1979 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      LowDefinition I know that the Luna VPN works for iOS devices, but they sell your activity to advertisers. That’s why I just pay TH-cam for premium. Channels get mor money per view from premium vs Ads too.

    • @captianmorgan7627
      @captianmorgan7627 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hasn't youtube instituted automatic ads now? Unless you manually disable them, there will be a bunch of ads placed on any and every video, even older ones, longer than 8 minutes.

  • @Alexander-ir6do
    @Alexander-ir6do 4 ปีที่แล้ว +51

    3:12 should say 3.5 decades

    • @Alexander-ir6do
      @Alexander-ir6do 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It says centuries

    • @matteaspennachio6547
      @matteaspennachio6547 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Random Rc And Things and?

    • @nickw7619
      @nickw7619 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Its every video with these guys! I mean the topics are interesting but it blows my mind that no one is checking this stuff before they release it

    • @joeyjamison5772
      @joeyjamison5772 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes, I noticed that too. He needs to proof his scripts more closely.

    • @bobgreene2892
      @bobgreene2892 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      With surprise, I saw your comment just after placing mine, above. While we might wonder at the century-vs-decade error, the producer apparently has no editorial assistant, and is a one-man shop, focused entirely on the volume of videos he can post under Dark Docs. Most of the Dark Doc titles are interesting enough, if only he could avoid errors of oversight. All that would require is to review his own script after 24 hours-- with editing, speed kills.

  • @thebonesaw..4634
    @thebonesaw..4634 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    8:01 - The United States did not posses any "fighter jets" at the time of the Battle of Wake Island. The U.S. began testing their first jet prototype on October 1, 1942. The P-80 was the first operational jet fighter and was introduced in late 1944, but this was still a testing phase, and no P-80 saw combat during WWII.

    • @mrFalconlem
      @mrFalconlem 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      the p- 80 did see combat in 1950. the first jet kill!

  • @Landwy1
    @Landwy1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    My Father (Colonel Robert Ulmer, Ret USAF) a young Army AirCorps Lieutenant was an intelligence officer that flew in B-24Rs out of Hickam Field Hawaii.Wake was strategic but also a long ways from Hawaii. He convinced the brass to fly four B-24R aircraft from Hawaii to Wake Island and snap photos of the Japanese garrison that now controlled the island. The plan was to fly in a criss-cross pattern so the Japanese didn't know where they came from. However...there was a problem...fuel calculations indicated that the recon planes could not make it back to Hawaii as they would be several hundred miles short. A volunteer mission was devised that had some ships lined up so that when they had to ditch they could be picked up.
    My Father was put in charge of the mission and had Captains and Majors working for him. They stripped off everything unnecessary on the plane. They made the flight and snapped the photos. The cameras minus the film were dumped out along with anything else they could find to remove. They mostly came back on two engines and were expecting to ditch in the sea. However, they made it back to Hickam and two of the aircraft couldn't even make it to the taxiway without running out of fuel!! At the time it was the longest flight in the world.
    The photos were analyzed and Japanese positions were known. However, rather than invade the island, the brass decided to jus quarantine Wake rather than invade it. Island hopping was just loosing too many men, mostly Marines throughout the Pacific Theatre. Unfortunately any Americans not sent to prison camps were slowly worked to death building Japanese fortifications.

    • @bobgreene2892
      @bobgreene2892 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you for that-- I had wondered what rationale had kept Task Force 11 from relieving Wake, particularly after the force had refueled for the mission. Wake was not intended to be another Alamo, but to be relieved by friendly forces as they counterattacked the invaders.

  • @blindspotspotter.2352
    @blindspotspotter.2352 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you Grand Dad, Infantryman in the European Theater and his brother Claude Naval Pilot in the Pacific. My Grandfather J.T. Kincannon survived D-Day and later raised a family her in VA and even later he made time to raise me. I still recount his great WWII stories to my children, when they'll listen. His brother Claude Kincannon was shot down and Bailed out near Japan (Okinawa I think but I cannotbe sure). He was captured by the Japanese and never came home. Later, during the war trials his fate was disclosed. Uncle Claude had been summarily beheaded upon capture which was not uncommon for the unfortunate aviators who found themselves in enemy hands in the Pacific theater.
    Growing up with my grandfather I was told all his war stories countless times but the story of his brother, he shared only once.
    God rest you grandfather and thank you. I miss you.

    • @VanillaGorilla502
      @VanillaGorilla502 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      My condolences to your family. Thank you for sharing.

  • @deepscuba7384
    @deepscuba7384 4 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Surprised you didn't include the last communication received from Wake:
    "Enemy on island. Issue in doubt."
    Famous words that some how I knew you would forget. You should climb back into your 1942 fighter jet and go to the library for some good old fashioned research.

    • @benistingray6097
      @benistingray6097 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      If you knew he would forgot how could you be surprised?

  • @redram5150
    @redram5150 4 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Didn’t mention even once the heroic action of transport gunner Wanocki safeguarding the wristwatch of Marine Dane Coolidge

    • @evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879
      @evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      a man, whom, he'd never met....

    • @WILLNOTCOMPLY72
      @WILLNOTCOMPLY72 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That was Vietnam.

    • @evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879
      @evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@WILLNOTCOMPLY72 thr story goes through both world wars....great grandpa, to grandpa, to father, to butch....WW1, WW2 at Wake Island, Vietnam Hanoi Hilton.

    • @redram5150
      @redram5150 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      DNT TRD ON ME no, that was his father. Wanocki was Wake Island

  • @nzsaltflatsracer8054
    @nzsaltflatsracer8054 4 ปีที่แล้ว +62

    While I enjoy watching these video's, there are always WTF's like an He111 bombing Pearl Harbor, Malya instead of Malaya & sinking a ship with a fighter "jet"!

    • @simonkevnorris
      @simonkevnorris 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I was going to mention the Maliya (it sounded like that to me) rather than Malaya.

    • @chodeoriki4113
      @chodeoriki4113 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I second guessed myself on the “Malya” part. Thought maybe I’m just retarded. Glad to know that might not be the case

    • @AtlantaTerry
      @AtlantaTerry 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Chris_Wooden_Eye everyone knows the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.

  • @TheBic4
    @TheBic4 4 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    3:06 umm that math does not check out lol it still hasn’t been 3 and half centuries since then.

    • @chocolatefrenzieya
      @chocolatefrenzieya 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I caught that, too, and just thought maybe I was retarded.

    • @matthewjay660
      @matthewjay660 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I agree, the math does not add up. 1899? Three and a half centuries? 2149 is three and a half centuries. Brother, it’s only 2020. NO WAY 🙅🏻‍♂️ could it be “3 1/2 centuries.”

    • @TheBic4
      @TheBic4 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Matthew Jay I think he meant to say 3 and half decades because that would be the right time frame.

  • @ThisIsTheTowne
    @ThisIsTheTowne 4 ปีที่แล้ว +55

    "The island was neglected for 3 and a half centuries..." After being claimed by the United States... *decades kind of a big swing and miss there. You know, cuz America won't be 3 and a half centuries old for about a hundred and 6 years.

    • @jwingo7257
      @jwingo7257 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Neglected by the Spanish who originally discovered it several centuries ago

    • @josefschmeau4682
      @josefschmeau4682 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      🤓. Maybe he was using them 1619 “Reefer- Rancids” Uh , I mean references 🥸😜😜😜😜

    • @maplerice6226
      @maplerice6226 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      No kidding, I'm thinking more poor sentences in aid of supporting their argument. Could have been worded better but at the end of the day, hats off to the people who produce these uploads.

  • @diesel_dude1207
    @diesel_dude1207 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    My grandfather was one of the men in vf-111 and was from what he told me was more than disgusted with his commanders for the order to leave the island without evacuating his fellow countrymen and his friend was one of the guys still on the ground when the island surrended to the japanese

  • @puremaga17
    @puremaga17 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Sadly, we could not risk loosing any carriers at that point in the war. RIP Wake Island Hero's! Thank you DD!

  • @mattandrews8528
    @mattandrews8528 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The ads are getting on the heavy side for a video barely over ten minutes. Why not just do an ad or two and introduce a patreon subscription option?

    • @billrhodes5603
      @billrhodes5603 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      get a youtube adblocker extension for your browser. I NEVER see ads...

    • @noreaster08
      @noreaster08 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Firefox w/adblockerplus, brave browser.

  • @Ash-qd7qw
    @Ash-qd7qw 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Good video. But a bit light on the tactical details of the final fight ashore, which is interesting. Also wish you would have been specific on how many of the Marines were executed aboard ship heading to Japan as POWS, and how the civilian contractors were executed prior to the US retaking Wake...made it sound like they just died from maltreatment and malnourishment.

    • @bobgreene2892
      @bobgreene2892 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Where did you find these details?

  • @mysecond8581
    @mysecond8581 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Semper Fi. A great illustration of a hard rule of war: Never be out-gunned. I hope this generation learns this lesson gained at such great cost in the past....

    • @bobgreene2892
      @bobgreene2892 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      According to the narrative, Wake was not outgunned. Instead, the outpost was part of a two-step strategy-- defend the island with enough troops to prevent immediate invasion, and dispatch US forces to attack the invader, relieving Wake's defenders. As it turned out, the US Navy decided not to follow through on its plan to relieve Wake, and the island fell to the Japanese.

  • @ut000bs
    @ut000bs 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You gave an interesting talk with interesting footage (There are very few pictures or anything of Wake before the war.) and all people here can do is discuss "jets" and "3.5 centuries." :/
    Well, I appreciated it.

  • @ray1965ify
    @ray1965ify 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Sept 1965 while returning back to USA from Thailand on a 727 MATS plane we made a fuel stop on Wake Island. was to be discharged in a few days. did not think about the history of Wake during WW2 and all the battles fought there. this video was great because i now realize i have walked on ground brave meen fought and died for.a 727 airplane landing there and taking off was a wild ride.

  • @icaremore
    @icaremore 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent material. I very much enjoy your channel & greatly appreciate your efforts in keeping history alive.

  • @fallingzeppelin69
    @fallingzeppelin69 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I knew a man named Ralph Holowinski who was on wake island and was captured. Great man. Very interesting story

  • @mikes4357
    @mikes4357 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This was an interesting story that would’ve been made more enjoyable had someone taken the time to proofread the script.

  • @upperleftcoastchelseafan7718
    @upperleftcoastchelseafan7718 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    3:13 If Wake was claimed by the US in 1899 how did they neglect it for the next 3-1/2 centuries (think you meant decades). 8:05 Wow, how about those F4F Wildcat fighter 'jets'?

    • @timf2279
      @timf2279 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You forgot about the satellite imagery lol

  • @Kevtribal
    @Kevtribal 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always so many tears leading right up to the end of these documentaries, death is death, no matter what country you’re from, always sad

  • @babakbandpey
    @babakbandpey 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I am quite amazed by your narrations. 🙏🏼

  • @SobaBTW
    @SobaBTW 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    They're first mistake was thinking Marines would go quietly lmao.

  • @damiensadventure
    @damiensadventure 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    The music is really awesome. Especially around the middle onward

  • @dr.ofdubiouswisdom4189
    @dr.ofdubiouswisdom4189 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    To going from busting ass hard work - to mind numbing boredom - to being surrounded and incessantly attacked by Japanese, taken over, & then being abandoned, abused, & imprisoned. Heros, ALL.

  • @rexmann1984
    @rexmann1984 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    @7:00 lucky shots? Pfft. You greatly underestimate Marines.

  • @adambillitzer100
    @adambillitzer100 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great movie! thank you very much to the marines and civilians who were there and all other military

  • @raiderfandew
    @raiderfandew 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have been to Wake Island and stood at the "98 Rock," and it will chill you to the bone.

  • @ronaldmcdonald3965
    @ronaldmcdonald3965 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    "What do you think this is, a ball game?" Epic

  • @johnrodwell6355
    @johnrodwell6355 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Best doco I've seen on Guam island during WW2.

  • @ultimatedijon3247
    @ultimatedijon3247 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Once again a great video! If you where to put out a longer video like a half hour special I would be all over that! Either way I love the content, you are a machine.

  • @theshepkita
    @theshepkita 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Clearly, the Japanese hadn't fought the Marines, expecting a swift surrender.

  • @ut000bs
    @ut000bs 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    My father was a Machinist Mate on a destroyer that was in the yards at Hunter's Point, I believe. Otherwise he would have been moored in Pearl Harbor on the morning of the 7th. He had joined in 1937 and stayed 20 years.
    The Navy was ushering in the new senior enlisted rates of senior chief and master chief when Dad was retiring and they offered to hand him senior chief if he stayed 2 more years and he declined. I was born 2 years later to an Old Salt Destroyerman and woman who was an aviation machinist mate WAVE in WW2. I served many years in the Navy helping to keep Naval Aviation's radios and Radars working and I don't regret any of it. It was good for me.
    #SemperFortis

  • @crazygame2724
    @crazygame2724 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My Dad just missed going to Wake Island as a civilian contractor in 1941. He was supposed to go and missed his ship due to a surgical procedure gone bad when the surgeon accidently punctured his lung. His two buddies went and were killed by the Japanese after the capture of the Island. Dad later worked for Du Point at Hanford , the so called the Manhattan District...

  • @evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879
    @evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879 4 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    "none of those boys as any illusion that they were getting off that island alive...."
    "....he died of dysentery, he gimme da watch..."

    • @benjamingamache6441
      @benjamingamache6441 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      "He be damned any greasy slopes gonna put their dirty yellow hand on his boys birthright!"

    • @johnneill5960
      @johnneill5960 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Benjamin Gamache ^^^^^this

    • @benjamingamache6441
      @benjamingamache6441 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@johnneill5960say what?

  • @uslines
    @uslines ปีที่แล้ว

    Landed there in 1958 while on route to Japan from Travis AFB. . Prop plane so needed refueling. Very special.

  • @nonyabeeznuss304
    @nonyabeeznuss304 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    "The japanese expected minimal resistance"
    Proving that they had not yet figured out what Marines are yet.

  • @aliso-pv7ll
    @aliso-pv7ll 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    William Gordon Purvis, aged 25, died in the first attack on 8 December 1941 while manning a machine gun. After the war, his remains were moved to Honolulu Memorial and placed in a mass grave.

  • @xxchuangtzu6186
    @xxchuangtzu6186 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    11:23 "The Japanese interred the remaining Marines as POWs". Wot, you mean they were buried alive?

  • @johnrodwell6355
    @johnrodwell6355 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just read the some of the comments. Yes there are glitches but the sentiment of the event is very well portrayed. The world could do with a movie about this juncture in war about now.

  • @iaqueng
    @iaqueng 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    This has many contradictions and errors. satellite imagery before the 1940's?. The island was all but forgot for three and a half centuries after 1899... so still neglected then? 3:00. I'll keep watching but...

    • @clayz1
      @clayz1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ijq The satellite image comment was for nowadays, not supposed to mean satellites before christ. Really.

  • @Im-the-greatest
    @Im-the-greatest 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    An old man I used to work with called his junk hammerin Hank

    • @BA-gn3qb
      @BA-gn3qb 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Did he put his junk in your trunk? 😲

  • @deepbludude4697
    @deepbludude4697 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I did multiple TDYs 1996-2001 to Wake interesting place. lots of interesting artifacts still to be found. But the most moving was the 98 memorial Rock too some of the contractors and Marines executed by MG fire after the original POW contingent were moved off island, It was carved by a lone escapee of the 98 mascaraed pretty moving stuff.

  • @uss_04
    @uss_04 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wake Island is definitely not forgotten among Battlefield players. Especially 1942

  • @xxchuangtzu6186
    @xxchuangtzu6186 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Starting at 8:04: "He became the first pilot to destroy a warship from a fighter jet using small caliber bombs". Not in this war, friend. Dark, do you need some help with editing?

  • @NickRedstar
    @NickRedstar 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I had a great uncle stationed on the island when Japan invaded. He was a POW for the whole war.

  • @ericstefko4852
    @ericstefko4852 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    8:04 fighter jet??

  • @pyluserectusdungenhavenhoo5948
    @pyluserectusdungenhavenhoo5948 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Seriously love the narrator, he’s all business and serious I do like listening to ya bud.

  • @Jutilaje
    @Jutilaje 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I worked on Wake Island back in 2014. Many of the bunkers built by slave labor for the Japanese after the invasion are still there to this day, along with 98 rock, which has an incredible story behind it

  • @weirdshibainu
    @weirdshibainu 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Criminal what FDR and the brass did to the Wake Island defenders

  • @johnrockett5155
    @johnrockett5155 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    To everyone moaning about the satellite comment At no point did he say they had satellites he was just commenting on the shape of the island from his point of view

  • @daveblevins3322
    @daveblevins3322 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've been to Wake Island. 5 x 7 miles. Hats off to those tough men that served there. 👍

  • @TexasSteader
    @TexasSteader 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It’s tragic how little people know of the sacrifice at wake. The Alamo of the pacific.

  • @roylogan51298
    @roylogan51298 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wake displayed a fighting spirit that help carry the men of the Pacific through the war

  • @nerblebun
    @nerblebun 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I lived on Kwajalein, Marshall Island for several years, 88-95. Been to Wake a couple times with the dive club. Also stood on the deck of the USS Saratoga 90ft beneath the waves of Bikini Lagoon.

  • @CsBlake
    @CsBlake 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    GOD BLESS YOU SGT. HENERY BELL! AND ALL AMERICAN PATRIOTS AND ALIES AND AMERICANS.
    PAST AND PRESENT!
    THANK ALL OF YOU!
    GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 🙏🏻🇺🇸

  • @ROOSTER333
    @ROOSTER333 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Not 1 comment about inaccuracies has made an info video on anything

  • @eos6984
    @eos6984 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice video. Very interesting.

  • @RobertJones-ux6nc
    @RobertJones-ux6nc 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Learned this stuff in Marine Corp Boot Camp history classes.

  • @snowminkankles1401
    @snowminkankles1401 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love this channel and I hate to ask so much of you cuz you are already so great and wonderful but I have to know where you get your music from.

  • @shadetreejoe3986
    @shadetreejoe3986 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've been to Wake Island four times during my Marine Corps career. There was still a lost of history there. The gun emplacements and pill boxes still existed on Wilkes and Peale Islands in the late 1980, though I don't know what was lost in the hurricanes that followed. Oddly enough, the second to the last unit I worked for was VMA-211, formerly VMF-211.

  • @smith5312
    @smith5312 4 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    What happened to “ no marine gets left behind”. Isn’t that one of the things US marines are known for ?

    • @redaug4212
      @redaug4212 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Happened on Guam and Makin as well.

    • @smith5312
      @smith5312 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      N-Word Salesman so it’s only for propaganda purposes and Hollywood films ? I am ex military and understand it can’t always be done but is seems in real life they do leave marines behind.

    • @joshuablair7028
      @joshuablair7028 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      “No man left behind” became a thing in the us military post- WW2 I don’t think it was even a thing yet by the time of Vietnam, but in more recent wars, it is something that is deeply ingrained in our training. Never leave a comrade behind. Alive or dead. Obviously it doesn’t always work out that way in practice.

    • @ltournay
      @ltournay 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It is more on a tactical level than a strategical one

    • @joshuablair7028
      @joshuablair7028 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Pat0u1440TV it is without a doubt

  • @Leftoverlasagna26
    @Leftoverlasagna26 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    The best account of combat I have ever read was “Given up for dead” by Bill Sloan. It’s about Wale Island

  • @Noone-jn3jp
    @Noone-jn3jp 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cool info bro. Keep it up

  • @Alaska-jp8qk
    @Alaska-jp8qk 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    This story said at Wake Island on December 7th as the were finishing early morning chow, they received news that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. That's not possible, because that was almost 24 hours before the attack even took place. It occurred 5:55am December 8th on Wake Island time.

  • @Irishhaf
    @Irishhaf 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    If you havent read some of the books, this was a great summary butthe book adds some more information that is just astounding.

  • @BlankBrain
    @BlankBrain 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    2:34 Damn! I didn't know we had satellites in WW2!

  • @lambert8528
    @lambert8528 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always impressed with the research presentation and narration of your videos

  • @kracked5770
    @kracked5770 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Have a good day boys and girls

    • @theswaff699
      @theswaff699 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Nah I'm good

    • @SECONDQUEST
      @SECONDQUEST 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Blub blub blub

    • @SECONDQUEST
      @SECONDQUEST 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Wickity Wack poor attempt at critique of modern day culture.

    • @kracked5770
      @kracked5770 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wickity Wack Thanks mate

  • @philmitbart
    @philmitbart 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Those guys there... serious badassery!

  • @tempestfury8324
    @tempestfury8324 4 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Mark Felton: "Hold my beer"
    I like your enthusiasm and content but man, these pronunciations! Malaysia is spoken just like it's almost spelled. Mal-Asia.

    • @blaisebaileyfinnegan
      @blaisebaileyfinnegan 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It was 'Malaya' then but still, 'Ma-LAY-a' not -'Ma-LIE-ya'.

    • @nickw7619
      @nickw7619 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Thank you! Its seriously every video they put out has mistakes... I mean for real, do they not have someone proofing this stuff for mistakes before being released?

    • @sergiotheg1736
      @sergiotheg1736 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I can hear marks intro music already lol

    • @roybaker6902
      @roybaker6902 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      This narrator sucks, sounds like a chipmunk. Please hire someone who can speak clearly and in a normal voice.

    • @nickw7619
      @nickw7619 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @wargent99 honestly someone else said they do that just so people pike us will comment and boost their videos... Maybe thats it

  • @EldarKinSlayer
    @EldarKinSlayer 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    From a USA Navy vet, all I can say is GOD BLESS THE MARINE CORPS!

  • @EnterpriseXI
    @EnterpriseXI 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Wake Island Alamo of the Pacific