
Chapter 9: The Last Steps to Japan
From History of the Marine Corps by Robert Estrada
November 20, 2025 · 1h 23m · Season 250 · Episode 9
About this episode
This episode covers the final battles of the Pacific during World War II, focusing on the Marines' experiences in Tarawa and Okinawa.
From the reefs of Tarawa to the cliffs of Okinawa, this chapter follows the Marines through the final and fiercest battles of the Pacific. It opens with the blood-soaked sands of Tarawa and the shattered airfields of Kwajalein, where new tactics and firepower reshaped amphibious war. Each island demanded more than the last, testing courage, endurance, and faith itself. By Okinawa, the Marines had mastered their craft but seen its cost beyond measure. Support the Series Listen ad-free and a week early on historyofthemarinecorps.supercast.com Donate directly at historyofthemarinecorps.com Try a free 30-day Audible trial at audibletrial.com/marinehistory Social Media Instagram - @historyofthemarines Facebook - @marinehistory Twitter - @marinehistory
People in this episode
Host: Robert Estrada
Topics covered
- Marine Corps history
- Pacific battles
- amphibious warfare
- military tactics
- courage and endurance
Keywords
- Marine Corps
- Tarawa
- Okinawa
- Kwajalein
- amphibious warfare
- military history
- Pacific battles
Sponsors
Supercast, History of the Marine Corps, Audible
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
Places: Tarawa, Okinawa, Kwajalein
More episodes of History of the Marine Corps
- WWII E165 - Demilitarizing a Defeated Empire · January 12, 2026 · 31 min
- WWII E164 - Into The Empire: Marines Enter Japan · December 29, 2025 · 38 min
- WWII E163 - Waiting for X-Day: Marines in the Shadow of Downfall · December 8, 2025 · 33 min
- Chapter 15: The Long Thread of Fidelity · November 28, 2025 · 1h 14m
- Chapter 14: Beyond the Euphrates · November 27, 2025 · 1h 27m
- Chapter 13: The Long War · November 26, 2025 · 1h 18m
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