1st Marine Defense Battalion (" The Wake Island Defenders")

Unlike the mobile Marine forces involved in offensive actions, defense battalions were detached to key outposts and remained at the station they defended. On December 8th after the attack on Pearl Harbor the Japanese began their asssult on Wake Island (atoll).Being continuously under seige, heavily outnumbered and in need of critical equipment the survivors of the First Defense Battalion of the Fleet Marine Force surrendered to the Japanese on December 23, 1941 after a relief expedition had turned back. It was the first WWll loss of American soil. Being isolated and alone they were unable to receive their Disney designed insignia which however was published in WAR INSIGNIA STAMP ALBUM VOL.2,, Hearst Publications,1942. Hollywood created the stirring patriotic film WAKE ISLAND which was nominated for four Academy Awards,including best picture based (but containing many factual errors) on "The Wake Island Defenders".---Also published in DISNEY DONS DOGTAGS by Walton Rawls, Abbeville Press, New York, 1992, p.82.