Raymond Barker at the Battle of Tarawa-- Part 1: His Tank Hit

When the Battle of Tarawa started  on the morning of November 20, 1943, Corporal Barker and his tank were transferred from the USS Ashland to an LCM that carried them across Tarawa's lagoon.  When the LCM grounded on the reef off Red Beach 3, the tank and its crew splashed into the water.

Barker followed his original orders and drove his tank  through the chaotic area going southbound.  Soon after crossing the taxi strip, his tank was targeted by a Japanese 75 mm anti-aircraft gun.  It was struck and the concussion of the shells caused an electrical malfunction and a red warning light lit up on the dashboard indicating that the engine was burning.

Joe Woolum, one of the tank's crew, remembered,  "Barker, our driver, said 'We're on fire.' "  The tank commander ordered the  crew  to exit the tank.

Barker's tank was photographed after the battle and shows that the gun tube's position prevented the driver's hatch from opening.  This left him two choices to get out:  the assistant driver's hatch or the emergency hatch, located behind the driver's seat.

Raymond Barker was probably the last man to leave the tank.

Corporal Barker apparently made it out, but his body was never recovered.

--GreGen