U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs uploaded a new video: With the Marines at Tarawa.


American Sniper might win best film this year at the ‪#‎Oscars‬, but did you know in 1944 a group of Marines including ‪#‎VeteranOfTheDay‬ Norm T. Hatch won an Oscar for their film "With The Marines At Tarawa?"


Norman was born in Boston, Massachusetts and when he was 18 years old he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1939.

He was assigned to the famous Marines publication Leatherneck Magazine and later transferred to the Navy public affairs office. Norman shipped out to New Zealand, covering training activities of the United States Marine Corps 2nd Marine Division.

After refitting in Hawaii, the 2nd Marine Division sailed for Tarawa.

During the Battle of Tarawa, Norman and other Marine cameramen would cover the fighting from the moment U.S. Marines landed until the end. More than 1,000 Marines died at Tarawa during the 76 hours of intense fighting.

Norman went on to film the fighting at Iwo Jima, where he landed on February 19, 1945, and stayed for 18 days until he left for Washington, D.C., in order to clarify the issue of the famous Joe Rosenthal’s photo of the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi.

Thank you for your service, Norman, and Semper Fidelis!



Watch the movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JolhiCbU_u8