This Marine is part of the 1st Marine Defense Battalion, which numbered 450 men and was tasked with defending Wake Island. The first Japanese amphibious assault on the island, on December 8th 1941, was beaten off by the Marine defenders. Two weeks late the Japanese returned to Wake Island with a larger force. This time they were more successful and soon had the small Marine detachment surrounded. With no hope of relief the defenders had no choice but to surrender. Nevertheless, the Marines were able to inflict many casualties on the enemy before their surrender.
This uniform is the typical summer field utility of the Marine Corp defending America's Pacific outposts on Guam, Wake Island, and in the Philippines in the late months of 1941. He wears a light kahki uniform, canvas leggings and brown leather boots. His helmet is a WW I vintage M1917 model. Attached to the helmet is the USMC Eagle, Globe, and Anchor insignia. For the most part the EGA on the helmet was not standard practice in the USMC and was reserved for special units such as bands, honor guards and some senior officers. The M1917 helmet was America's primary combat helmet in the early stages of WW II. |
