Wake Island Defenders or what happened after Pearl Harbor

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They're still remembered. The nick name of the current F-35B squadron VMFA-211 is the "Wake Island Avengers". This is the same squadron that flew the F4F Wildcats during the battle.

Many of the civilians that helped defend Wake worked for a construction company called Morrison-Knudsen.  I worked in the early 80's with one of the defenders that had helped defend Wake Island and then escaped with survivors on a commercial tug boat.  He was a mechanic by trade.  I wish that I had paid more attention to his and his comrades stories.  During the eight years that I worked for M-K, I was privileged to meet several of the WWII veterans.  One was a marine who was at Iwo Jima and another that had parachuted into Normandy the night before D-Day.  All truly honorable men that do indeed need to be remembered.  Your channel is great keep it up.  Thanks from another admirer of history.

My husband's uncle Robert O. Arthur, all of 20-years-old, was a Marine Wildcat pilot who, although wounded, flew one of the Wildcats until he couldn't. He was eventually captured and spent the entire war in different PW camps where many of his buddies were beheaded.

My grandfather was one of the civilians on Wake Island and endured the Japanese slave labor camps, ending up in Kyoto by the end of the war. He and some of his co-workers were treated to additional abuse by the Japanese military because they were Chinese. What's worse is that, after the war, the U.S. government did not recognize their service on Wake Island because my grandfather and his co-workers were in the U.S. at that time under false papers, like 99.99% of Chinese immigrants (thanks, Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882). It took an act of Congress in the 1990's before their actions were recognized and they received their POW/MIA and Pacific Theater medals. The vets never forgot, though. All the guys at our local VFW chapter came out to pay respects at his funeral. It was a very touching show of respect.

Americans fought. Even when outnumbered and over run, they fought. The Germans learned this in the Battle of the Bulge, even as American Units were overrun and command structure destroyed, Americans fought. Roads were mined, bridges destroyed, enemy units delayed. The Japanese learned this in the Philippines. This bought the time needed. Remember those Americans.

Wake Island and it's defenders has certainly not been forgotten by me. After the loss, the U.S. Navy saw the need for tradesmen who were more capable of defending themselves. The Navy started by recruiting skilled construction workers and on 5 March 1942, the Seabees were formed. My grandfather was in the Seabees from 1944 to 1952 and I was in from 2006 to 2013. Great video.

👍👍 Yes, they deserve to be remembered.

Thanks, History Guy!  I appreciate you doing a spot on Wake Island.  I was the archaeologist and Cultural Resources manager for Wake Atoll during most of the years that the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command owned and operated it.  (1994-2003)  I published the first detailed account of the murder of the 98 civilians in Navy History Magazine in 2001.  A follow on spot concerning the fate of the 1,100 civilians and their ordeal in Japanese POW camps would also make a great spot.  That story also deserves to be remembered.  Thanks!  Keep up the great work!

From the epilogue you delivered on this video, you seem to have been really moved by the courage and steadfastness of the Wake Island Defenders.  It's these types of stories that need to be shared regularly, and with the care and respect you have for them.  They're a testament to the human spirit at its best. And they set an example for us to emulate.

As a former member of the squadron that defended Wake, I can't help but wonder how you failed to mention Marine Captain Henry Elrod, who flew against the Japanese until there were no longer any flyable aircraft left, and then took up a rifle and fought as an infantryman until he was killed, thereby earning one of the first Medals of Honor awarded in WWII. You also forgot to mention the fact that one of the Marine pilots also sank a Japanese submarine. The squadron, which at that time was designated VMF-211 (F being the designation of a fighter squadron) had changed to VMA-211 by the time that I served with them in the mid 1970's. The "A" stands for "attack," meaning close air support of the Marines on the ground. We had A-4 Skyhawks in those days. The squadron eventually transitioned to the AV-8B Harrier II+, which it flew until 2016, when they transitioned to the FA-35B. At the time that they traded in their Harriers for the F-35B's, the squadron designator also changed to VMFA-211, indicating a combined role of close air support and air to air combat. (Fighter Attack) We are known as the Wake Island Avengers.

Thank you for this story. Our warriors (including the civilians) who fought brave and fearless should indeed be remembered. This is sacrifice, service before self and honor.

Thank you for this. Every time I hear of the heroism of the Wake Island defenders, it brings tears to my eyes.

Did not know about Wake island. Thank you for this Wake Island, WWII history. I am left stunned at the events and proud of the Americans who gave all there is to give. Wow.

I've had the distinct privilege of landing at Wake Island twice. The 2nd time I was able to convince one of the personnel to drive me to Prisoner Rock where the 98 American prisoners were executed. It's an historical site not many people are fortunate enough to visit. Wake Island is where America's day really begins.

Wow.... Just wow. I could hear the emotion in your voice at the end. I felt it too. Thank you for the excellent presentation. This battle does indeed deserve to be remembered.

Having a life long (71 years) passion for factual history of all ages I am thrilled to find your channel ! Thank You for your wonderful presentations !

That's such a great story, that I always revel in hearing. Over and over again. Thank you.

Sometimes it's not whether you won or lost but how much damage you did to your opponent and their weaknesses you brought to light.

Stories like this makes me proud to be an American!