Milton John Mayer

PFC Milton Mayer served with Mike Company, the heavy weapons unit of the Third Battalion, 2nd Marines. He was a member an 81mm mortar squad – possibly an ammunition carrier, as Mayer was still relatively new to the unit when they shipped out for Operation GALVANIC.

On 20 November 1943, Mayer’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.

In One Square Mile of Hell, author John Wukovits relates that PFC Mayer was shot in the foot within fifteen minutes of coming ashore. Although bloodied and hurting, Mayer was more upset at the thought of having to leave his buddies so early in the battle. He was finally prevailed upon to see the battalion surgeon, who promptly ordered the young PFC back to the beach for evacuation. Mayer spotted an LVT-1 with the number “56” painted on the cab and scrambled aboard for a ride back to the reef and a boat to safety.

As #56 reversed into the surf and began to paddle away, a Japanese anti-boat gun caught the tractor in its sights. A shell turned the LVT into a fireball, and the burning hulk lost power and drifted out of control.