In the immediate aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, as Japanese forces launched a sweeping offensive across the Pacific, a small, isolated American outpost became the scene of a dramatic and determined defense. The Battle of Wake Island, fought from  8 December to 23 December 1941, pitted a vastly outnumbered contingent of U.S. Marines, sailors, and civilian contractors against a formidable Japanese invasion force. While the battle ultimately ended in an American surrender, the tenacity of Wake's defenders captured the imagination of the American public and became a powerful symbol of resolve in the early, dark days of the war.

Right: Peale islet in May 1941: The bridge across the channel goes to the rest of Wake. The Pan-American buildings, pier into the lagoon, and seaplanes are seen. Source: Wikimedia. Click to enlarge.

Wake Island, a coral atoll comprising three small islets—Wake, Wilkes, and Peale—was a crucial strategic asset in the central Pacific. Situated approximately 2,300 miles west of Honolulu and 2,000 miles east of Tokyo, it served as a vital refueling stop for Pan American Airways' "China Clipper" service and was designated by the U.S. Navy as a key forward air base. In January 1941, the United States began fortifying the atoll, dispatching elements of the 1st Marine Defense Battalion and a large contingent of civilian construction workers from Morrison-Knudsen Company to build an airfield, seaplane base, and defensive emplacements.

By December 1941, the garrison was far from fully prepared. The defenses consisted of six 5-inch coastal artillery guns, twelve 3-inch anti-aircraft guns, and numerous smaller machine guns. Critically, Marine Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) provided the island's only air cover with twelve F4F-3 Wildcat fighters. The total military contingent numbered approximately 449 Marines and 68 Navy personnel, under the overall command of Navy Commander Winfield Scott Cunningham. Marine Major James P.S. Devereux commanded the 1st Marine Defense Battalion. They stood alongside nearly 1,200 civilian contractors, many of whom would volunteer to support the defense.

Hours after the devastating strike on Pearl Harbor, on the morning of December 8 (Wake being on the opposite side of the International Date Line), the first Japanese attack commenced. Thirty-six Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" medium bombers, flying from bases in the Marshall Islands, appeared over the atoll. With no early warning radar, the defenders were caught by surprise. The raid focused on the airfield, destroying seven of VMF-211's twelve Wildcats on the ground. The remaining aircraft had been on patrol and escaped destruction, but the squadron's combat capability was immediately halved. The bombing also inflicted numerous casualties and damaged vital infrastructure. Daily air raids continued for the next several days, systematically degrading the island's defenses. 

The initial Japanese invasion attempt was planned as a swift amphibious landing. On December 11, a Japanese task force under the command of Rear Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka arrived off the coast of Wake. The force consisted of three light cruisers, six destroyers, two patrol boats (converted from old destroyers), and two troop transports carrying approximately 450 Special Naval Landing Force troops. Believing the island's defenses had been sufficiently softened by air attacks, Admiral Kajioka ordered his ships to close in for a pre-landing bombardment. Major Devereux instructed his coastal gun batteries to hold their fire until the ships were well within range of the 5-inch guns. This disciplined fire control proved decisive. As the Japanese fleet moved closer, the American gunners opened a sudden and accurate barrage. 

Battery L on Peale Island engaged the flagship, Yubari, scoring several hits. On Wilkes Islet, Battery B, commanded by Captain Henry T. Elrod, targeted the destroyer Hayate at a range of 4,000 yards. The battery's third salvo struck the destroyer's magazine, causing a catastrophic explosion that tore the ship in two. The Hayate sank within minutes, becoming the first Japanese surface warship lost in World War II. The American gunners also heavily damaged the destroyer Kisaragi and other vessels in Kajioka's fleet. 

Left: Wreckage of Wildcats including 211-F-11, flown by Medal of Honor winner Captain Henry T. Elrod on December 11 in the attack that sank the Kisaragi. Source: Wikimedia. Click to enlarge.

Simultaneously, the four remaining Wildcats of VMF-211, led by Captain Elrod, took to the air. Flying multiple sorties, they strafed the Japanese ships and executed daring bombing runs, using 100-pound bombs. During one such attack, a bomb dropped by Elrod’s Wildcat struck the Kisaragi’s depth charge racks, igniting a massive explosion that sank the destroyer with all hands. Faced with fierce and unexpected resistance from both sea and air, a stunned Admiral Kajioka ordered a general retreat. The first Japanese amphibious assault of the war had been repulsed.

The successful defense on December 11 provided a significant morale boost to the American public, but the defenders on Wake knew their situation remained dire. They were isolated, low on supplies, and subjected to relentless daily bombing raids that gradually whittled down the remaining aircraft and anti-aircraft defenses. By December 22, the last two Wildcats were out of commission. Meanwhile, the Japanese, humiliated by their initial failure, assembled a much larger and more powerful invasion force. Admiral Kajioka's fleet was reinforced with the aircraft carriers Soryu and Hiryu, fresh from the Pearl Harbor attack. The invasion force now included heavy cruisers and a landing force of nearly 2,000 men. 

The final assault began on the night of December 22. Under the cover of darkness and a naval bombardment, the Japanese Special Naval Landing Force troops approached the atoll. This time, they did not attempt a daylight landing. The converted patrol boats, Patrol Boat No. 32 and Patrol Boat No. 33, were intentionally beached on the southern shore of Wake Islet to disembark troops directly onto the reef. 

Fierce, close-quarters fighting erupted across the island. The outnumbered Marines fought desperately against the landing forces, establishing defensive lines near the airfield. Major Devereux coordinated a mobile defense, shifting his men to counter Japanese advances. Despite inflicting heavy casualties on the invaders, the defenders were overwhelmed by sheer numbers. The Japanese forces established a secure beachhead and began advancing across the island, splitting the American defenders. By the morning of December 23, with Japanese troops controlling large sections of the island and no hope of relief, Commander Cunningham and Major Devereux faced a grim reality. Communication between their command posts was severed, and the remaining defenders were fragmented and exhausted. To prevent further loss of life in a hopeless fight, Cunningham authorized Devereux to surrender. At approximately 1:30 PM, the battle for Wake Island was over.

The 15-day struggle for Wake Island resulted in the deaths of 49 Marines, 3 Navy personnel, and approximately 70 civilians. The Japanese suffered significant losses, including two destroyers sunk, several other ships damaged, at least 20 aircraft shot down, and an estimated 700 to 1,000 casualties. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" during the defense, Captain Henry T. Elrod was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first aviator to receive the award in World War II. The captured defenders endured years of brutal captivity as prisoners of war. The battle itself, however, became a powerful rallying cry in the United States.

Bibliography 

"Attack on Wake Island." Naval History and Heritage Command. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/us-entry-into-wwii-japanese-offensive/1941-december-11-attack-wake-island.html.

"CHIPS Articles: Wake Island: The Other Story of December 1941." Accessed October 3, 2025. https://www.doncio.navy.mil/(k3pdil3u5j2c0ui1hw1s3e55)/CHIPS/ArticleDetails.aspx?ID=8555.

"The Wake Island Militia." U.S. Naval Institute. Accessed October 1, 2025. https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1997/december/wake-island-militia.