Elmer Edward Paner

Private Elmer Paner served with Company L, 2nd Marines during the battle of Tarawa.

On 20 November 1943, Private Paner’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.

Love Company, designated as the battalion reserve and embarked in boats instead of tractors, 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%.”

Elmer Paner was one who fell; he suffered a gunshot wound in the chest and received preliminary medical treatment on the beach. Hospital corpsmen tagged him for evacuation and instructed Paner to make his way back to a transport by any means necessary. This was the last time anyone would see him alive.