On August 17, 1942, a force of 211 United States Marines landed on the Japanese-held Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. Their mission carried multiple objectives.
They were tasked with destroying Japanese installations, capturing prisoners for interrogation, gathering intelligence on the Gilbert Islands, and creating a diversion.
By drawing Japanese attention to this raid, American leaders hoped to reduce pressure on major battles taking place at Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Gavutu-Tanambogo.
The Marines chosen for this mission were part of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. Evans Carlson.
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They traveled to the island aboard the submarines Argonaut (SM-1) and Nautilus (SS-168), deploying to shore in large rubber landing craft under cover of darkness.
Although the men of the Raiders were already exceptionally well trained, one Marine in particular would distinguish himself for actions so courageous that they earned him the highest military decoration in the United States.
That Marine was Sergeant Clyde Aristide Thomason of Atlanta, Georgia. Standing at six feet four inches and weighing 190 pounds, Thomason’s large frame initially seemed like a disadvantage for a Raider, but his determination proved otherwise.
Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1934, he served until 1939 before joining the Fleet Marine Force Reserve. When World War II broke out,
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Thomason returned to active duty, joining Company A of the 2nd Marine Raiders. Despite concerns that his size would prevent him from qualifying, he insisted on serving in combat.
He wrote to his friends back home that he wanted to be “where things are happening.” His persistence led to a waiver, and his leadership impressed Carlson enough that he was chosen to command Company A during the landing at Makin.
On the night of August 16, the submarines surfaced near the atoll. In the early hours of August 17, the Raiders disembarked and moved to engage the Japanese 62nd Garrison Force. In the chaos of the fighting, Thomason demonstrated remarkable bravery and presence of mind.
According to witnesses, he led his company with outstanding judgment and “great personal valor.”
At one critical moment, a Japanese sniper positioned inside a building pinned down the Raiders. Realizing the danger, Thomason advanced directly toward the threat.
Without hesitation, he forced the door open and killed the sniper, removing the immediate danger to his men. However, during the subsequent assault that followed, Thomason was struck and killed.
The raid itself inflicted significant damage. The Marines killed at least 83 Japanese troops, destroyed two flying boats, and eliminated two small transport vessels. Yet the larger objectives were not achieved.
They failed to capture prisoners, did not secure useful intelligence for the upcoming invasion of the Gilbert Islands, and their diversionary effect was minimal. The evacuation of the Raiders was also poorly executed, leading to the loss of 19 killed, 17 wounded, and two missing.
Most tragic of all, nine Marines were captured by Japanese forces and later executed. Admiral Koso Abe, the commander responsible, was tried and executed after the war for this crime.
Despite the overall shortcomings of the raid, Thomason’s courage stood out.
His Medal of Honor citation recognized his “keen judgment and discrimination and, by his exemplary leadership and personal valor.” On January 20, 1943, his stepmother, Amie Thomason, traveled to Washington to accept his posthumous Medal of Honor from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal.
Marine Commandant Lt. Gen. Thomas Holcomb attended the ceremony, which marked a significant moment in Marine Corps history. Thomason became the first Marine non-commissioned officer to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II.
Thomason’s story did not end with his death. In 1999, his dog tags were discovered in a mass grave on Makin Island. His remains were later identified and returned to the United States.
On August 17, 2001, precisely 59 years after the raid, he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
The ceremony honored not only his sacrifice but also his enduring place among the most courageous Marines in history.
Although the raid on Makin Atoll was ultimately considered a strategic failure, it revealed the extraordinary courage of Marines like Clyde Thomason.
His actions under fire demonstrated the essence of the Marine Raider spirit—courage, sacrifice, and unyielding determination in the face of overwhelming danger.
His story continues to inspire because it shows how one man’s bravery can shine even in the midst of loss and uncertainty.
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