With the Marines at Tarawa (1944) – Full WWII Combat Documentary | Real Battle Footage

Witness the brutal reality of war in With the Marines at Tarawa (1944), one of the first U.S. documentaries to show uncensored frontline combat footage.
Filmed by Marine Corps cameraman Staff Sergeant Norman T. Hatch during the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943, this Academy Award-winning short documentary captures the savage fighting, courage, and sacrifice of U.S. Marines during one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific Theater.

🎥 Directed by: Louis Hayward
📸 Cinematography: Norman T. Hatch (actual combat footage)
🏝️ Battle: Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands
🎖️ Awards: 1945 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short
📅 Year: 1944
⏳ Runtime: 20 minutes
🗽 Status: Public Domain (U.S. Marine Corps production)