The invasion of Tarawa marked the first major action by American forces in the Central Pacific. Waves of Marines were badly mauled as they struggled to cross reefs and assault the beach. 

In her December 8, 1941, My Day column, Eleanor Roosevelt reflects on the moment she learned of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor and other locations, describing the nation’s shift from uncertainty to resolve. 

In October 1944, the largest naval battle ever fought raged in the Pacific. The Battle of Leyte Gulf ended in American victory—but the outcome could have been very different.

General Douglas MacArthur vowed to return to the Philippines in 1942—and more than two years later, he delivered on his promise.

The USS Stewart, a Clemson-class destroyer, earned the nickname after having the unique distinction of serving under both the American and Imperial Japanese navies during World War II. 

While becoming an "ace" pilot requires a number of finely honed skills and exceptional aeronautical ability, it is even harder to achieve this status in only one day.

With Japan on the strategic defensive and her combat power waning, another fleet moving against the island nation also felt the wrath of Mother Nature.

The remains of Private Randolph Ray Edwards were identified and accounted for more than 80 years after his death. 

In her September 16, 1943, My Day column, Eleanor Roosevelt reflects on her visit to Guadalcanal, where she witnessed the lasting impact of the sacrifices made by US soldiers.

Underscoring its ferocity, future commandant of the Marine Corps General Clifton Cates argued that “the fight for Peleliu was one of the most vicious and stubbornly defended battles of the war.” 

While Peleliu remains a fixture of Pacific war memory, Morotai is overlooked and virtually forgotten in histories of the Pacific theater.

World War II was a global conflict involving nearly every country in the world. But who was on each side—and why?