Gallant Defense of Wake

The Importance of Wake
Admiral Kimmell, at Pearl Harbor, not as incompetent as he has been made out to be, wants to use Wake Island as a pivot to strike at the Japanese.

"It could prove highly valuable to us in observing the Marshall’s, or in covering the advance of our forces." He writes in April 1941.

He further hints at plans to use Wake to trap the Japanese fleet.

"If Wake be defended, then for the Japanese to reduce it would require extended operations…thus offering us an opportunity to get at naval forces with naval forces."

Kimmell goes on to urge the immediate deployment of troops, planes, and ships, in large numbers.

The Navy obviously agrees, but is slow to react. The first troops begin to arrive in August 1941, 179 Marines from the 1st Defense Battalion. Two months later their leader comes, Major James Devereux, who is disliked by his men for being a martinet. They are soon to learn of his genius.

Along with the Marines come coast defense guns, formerly old battleship armament. They will eventually deploy 6x5 inch and 12x3 inch artillery, as well as various light weapons. There will never be enough Marines to man the guns.

12 Wildcat fighters are ferried to Wake by aircraft carrier on December 4, barely in time. Far from the number hoped for by Kimmell, they are most welcome by the Wake defenders.

The Japanese attack
Sunday December 7 is December 8 on Monday, Wake Island time. The Marines are at breakfast when news of the strike on Pearl Harbor comes. Orders are given for the launch of a patrol plane but Jap bombers arrive first.

From 600 miles on Kwajalein Atoll come 36 long-range Jap bombers. When they have finished their attack, 7 of the precious Wildcats are destroyed and 23 Marines lay dead or dying. Another attack kills 10 civilians.

The next day on the 9th, the enemy return, killing more civilians at the base hospital. An attack on the 10th causes extensive destruction but only one fatality.

At midnight the Invasion Force comes. The Japanese are expecting an easy landing and sends a miniscule, almost trivial fleet. It consists of 3 old light cruisers, and some old destroyers as well as 450 troops on transports. The enemy is showing his contempt for the Americans.

Major Devereux’s plan
At daybreak on December 11, The warships draw near to shore Fortunately for the Wake defenders, Major Devereux does not underestimate the Japanese. Knowing the long range guns of the cruisers can outrange his own, he skillfully holds fire until the enemy are close inshore. At 4500 yards the Marines start shooting.

A lucky shot strikes the light cruiser Yubari, and several more sends her out of the fight. Accurate fire then reaches the destroyers, one blowing up, another out of action. Those left flee behind a smoke screen.

The Japs send three more destroyers on the other side of the island to catch the Marines in a hail of fire, but Devereux’s men are ready. Well-aimed gunfire again chases off the enemy.

Now it’s the fighters turn to join the fray. The 4 Wildcats take off with tiny 100-LB bombs and loads of courage. It is enough to send another enemy destroyer to the bottom.

Two hours after daybreak, it is all over. The humbled Japs turn tail and run, leaving behind 2 destroyers sunk and 500 men dead. It is an amazing victory and the Americans are understandably jubilant. Now all that’s left is to hope for reinforcement from the Navy.

The Relief Force
Admiral Kimmell, back at Pearl, has plans for just that. Despite the humiliation of the December 7th surprise attack, the admiral is determined to save Wake and redeem the Navy’s honor.

His efforts will prove vain, though, due to navy foot dragging, faulty intelligence, and Japanese aggressiveness. Basically, the commander of the relief force, Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, dawdles refueling his destroyers while the Japs overrun the island.

Just as events are happening at Wake, changes in command occur at Pearl Harbor. Admiral Kimmell is relieved and replaced by Admiral Nimitz, but Nimitz is still back in the States and in the meantime the Pacific Fleet will be led by the next senior officer, Admiral Pye.

Admiral Pye doesn’t have the moxy of Kimmell, and in fact borders on the side of caution. He is hesitant to risk the loss of his carriers to what he considers the unknown Japanese strength at Wake. On December 22, Pye recalls Fletcher and his ships. There would be no relief of Wake Island for three long years.

The fall of Wake
Meanwhile the Japanese have returned, this time with overwhelming force. The three old cruisers return, along with six heavy cruisers, more destroyers, a seaplane tender, and fresh from the Pearl Harbor strike, two aircraft carriers.

Wake has been undergoing continuous bombing by aircraft flying from local islands, but on the 21st they are hit by carrier bombers. To defend themselves the Marines are left with two operational fighters. The next day, these are gone.

At 2:30 the morning of December 23, the landings begin. The Japanese warships have learned a lesson from the previous battle, and withhold their fire, so as not to alert the Wake defenders. Half an hour before dawn, they have a foothold on the island with 1000 to 1500 troops.

The defenders radio Pearl Harbor: "The enemy is on the island. The issue is in doubt."

The Marines fight the invaders at every point, but are relentlessly forced back. Still, they cling to the hope of the coming of the Navy, unaware of Admiral Pye’s order to Fletcher.

By 7:30 AM, the Marines realize their cause is hopeless. To spare the remaining civilians and his own men, Major Devereux surrenders to the Japanese. 122 of his troops are dead, but they have the satisfaction of taking over 800 Japs with them, and of giving the Japanese Navy its first setback, howbeit temporary.

It will be said that the gallant defense of Wake Island was "an epic that should give every American hope."

Suggested reading:
Eagle Against the Sun by Ronald Spector

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