Andrew Polmaskitch, Jr.

PFC Andrew Polmaskitch served with Mike Company, 2nd Marines during the battle of Tarawa. He trained as an 81mm mortarman and carried part of the heavy weapon, or its ammunition, into combat.

On 20 November 1943, Polmaskitch’s battalion was assigned the task of spearheading the assault on Betio’s Beach Red One – a curved stretch of sand running several hundred yards from the “bird’s beak” in the west to Red Two in the east. The natural shape of the beach created a crossfire for the defenders, and the area became known as “the Pocket.” Slow-moving landing craft were quickly targeted from multiple angles, and many were knocked out as they approached the shore. Hundreds of men were killed or wounded before stepping foot on dry land. Those who survived faced a network of obstacles manned by determined Japanese defenders, and the fighting was close-in and savage.

The Marines of Mike Company were distributed among the assault units of the battalion, bringing their heavy weapons ashore to lend their firepower where needed. Polmaskitch and the 81mm platoon were slated to land with the battalion reserve, Love Company. These troops faced an especially horrific ordeal. “LCVs grounded on the reef about 500 yards from the beach and [the men] disembarked into the water,” states the battalion report. “They were heavily hit both by machine gun and large caliber fire while in the water. Most of the fire came from the left, so as a consequence , the company landed on the right half of Beach Red 1. The casualties to this company at this time amounted to about 35%.”

Andy Polmaskitch was aboard one of the boats that grounded on a sandbar near the “Bird’s Beak.” His mortar squad splashed into the water with one man, PFC Richard “Dirk” Offringa, using a mortar baseplate as a shield. Offringa saw a number of his buddies taking cover in the water behind the sandbar. The men steeled themselves to continue, and then began to stand up.