World War II Photograph from Battle of Tarawa

World War II Photograph: An alligator in the lagoon at Tarawa is snapped by a U.S. Coast Guard combat photographer during the invasion of the bomb battered atoll in the Gilbert Islands. “they were used for everything; crawled up out of the lagoon day and night, “ said a Coast Guard officer who participated in the assault.

An alligator in the lagoon at Tarawa is snapped by a U.S. Coast Guard combat photographer during the invasion of the bomb battered atoll in the Gilbert Islands. “they were used for everything; crawled up out of the lagoon day and night, “ said a Coast Guard officer who participated in the assault.

National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland (26-G-2194)