and his assault party storming Japanese stronghold. Bonnyman received Medal of Honor posthumously.| partof=World War II, Pacific War| date=November 20 – November 23, 1943| place=Tarawa| result=U.S. victory| combatant1=| combatant2= Empire of Japan| commander1= Julian C. Smith| commander2= Keiji Shibazaki | strength1=35,000 troops| strength2=3,000 troops,1,000 Japanese and 1,200 Korean laborers| casualties1=U.S Marine Corps: 1,000 killedOsprey Publishing Books. Tarawa 1943. Derrick Wright ISBN 184176 272 5 (Pag. 93)2,296 woundedOsprey Publishing Books. Tarawa 1943. Derrick Wright ISBN 184176 272 5 (Pag. 93) U.S Navy: 687 killedOsprey Publishing Books. Tarawa 1943. Derrick Wright ISBN 184176 272 5 (Pag. 93)| casualties2=All but 17 of 5,000 killedOsprey Publishing Books. Tarawa 1943. Derrick Wright ISBN 184176 272 5 (Pag. 94)17 Japanese and 129 Koreans captured}} The Battle of Tarawa was a battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, largely fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It was the second time the United States was on the offensive (the Battle of Guadalcanal had been the first), and the first offensive in the critical central Pacific region. It was also the first time in the war that the United States faced serious Japanese opposition to a U.S. amphibious landing. Previous landings met little or no initial resistance. The 4,500 Japanese defenders were well-supplied and well-prepared, and they fought almost to the last man, exacting a heavy toll on the American Marines. Medals of Honor were awarded to 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, SSgt. William J. Bordelon, 1st Lt. William D. Hawkins, and Col. David M. Shoup.