Best Semperfidelis Podcasts (2025)

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Chapter 15: The Long Thread of Fidelity 1:13:38

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5d ago1:13:38

1:13:38

This episode pulls together the long wars and the quiet missions that followed. It starts in Anbar and along the Syrian border, with Lioness teams at checkpoints, battalions fighting through al Qaim and Ramadi, and tribes turning against Al Qaeda. From there it tracks how Iraq shifted from brutal street fighting to fragile calm, only to see ISIS ri…

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Chapter 14: Beyond the Euphrates 1:26:43

6d ago1:26:43

1:26:43

The surge years in Afghanistan sit at the center of this episode. We start in Marjah and Sangin, where canals, poppy fields, and mud walls turned into kill zones. The story follows the grinding losses of the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and the slow shift from clearing ground to advising Afghan units. It ends at Kabul's airport in 2021, with Marines h…

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Chapter 13: The Long War 1:17:47

7d ago1:17:47

1:17:47

The Cold War ended, but crises kept coming. This episode opens in the Balkans, where Yugoslavia's breakup pulls Marines into a different mission. Offshore in the Adriatic, they fly strikes, launch rescues, and put infantry ashore as refugee camps, no-fly zones, and patrols blur the line between war and relief. From there, the story follows deployme…

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Chapter 12: The Burden of Good Intentions 1:28:04

8d ago1:28:04

1:28:04

Vietnam ended, but its shadow did not. This episode opens with Project 100,000 and the Pentagon Papers, where promises of opportunity and careful strategy give way to lowered standards, hidden escalation, and young men sent to fight under false stories. From there, we follow the Marines into uneasy interventions. Beirut begins as a mission of prese…

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Chapter 11: Honor in a Broken War 1:33:22

9d ago1:33:22

1:33:22

Vietnam began as a distant commitment and became America's longest war. This episode follows the Marines into that storm, from early advisers helping build the Vietnamese Marine Corps to the landings at Da Nang and Chu Lai that drew the Corps into a grinding fight across I Corps. We move from rice paddies and coastal hamlets to high ridges and bord…

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Chapter 10: From Tokyo Bay to the 38th Parallel 1:27:51

12d ago1:27:51

1:27:51

From the streets of London to the beaches of North Africa, Marines carried their purpose into every corner of a world at war. They trained with the Royal Marines, guarded embassies under fire, planned Allied landings, and fought in places where no division would ever march. When Japan fell, they raised the flag over Yokosuka and Nagasaki, guarded s…

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Chapter 9: The Last Steps to Japan 1:22:51

13d ago1:22:51

1:22:51

From the reefs of Tarawa to the cliffs of Okinawa, this chapter follows the Marines through the final and fiercest battles of the Pacific. It opens with the blood-soaked sands of Tarawa and the shattered airfields of Kwajalein, where new tactics and firepower reshaped amphibious war. Each island demanded more than the last, testing courage, enduran…

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Chapter 8: The War That Awoke the Sea 1:32:13

14d ago1:32:13

1:32:13

From the calm of a Sunday morning in Hawaii to the sands of the South Pacific, this chapter marks the turning of the tide. It begins with the shock of Pearl Harbor and the desperate stands at Wake, Guam, and Corregidor, small garrisons that fought to the last shot. It follows the first lonely outpost in Iceland, where Marines waited through wind an…

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Chapter 7: Building the Force That Would Win the Pacific 1:36:57

15d ago1:36:57

1:36:57

From the ridges of Blanc Mont to the jungles of China, this chapter follows the Marines as they emerge from the Great War hardened and transformed. It opens on the blood-soaked hills of France, where the Corps shattered German lines at Blanc Mont and the Meuse, then traces their return to a nation eager for peace but uncertain of their purpose. In …

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Chapter 6: From Small Wars to the Great War 1:32:24

16d ago1:32:24

1:32:24

From the jungles of the Caribbean to the wheatfields of France, this chapter traces the Marines' transformation from a small expeditionary force into a modern fighting corps. In the Dominican Republic and Haiti, they battled rebellion and unrest, forging legends in men like Smedley Butler, Dan Daly, and Herman Hanneken. Their story carries on throu…

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Chapter 5: Steam, Steel, and the Birth of the Modern Marine 1:33:13

19d ago1:33:13

1:33:13

This episode traces the Marine Corps' transformation from the late 1800s into the modern force recognized today. It begins with the creation of Parris Island and the evolution of Marine training, from tents and marshland to a world-class recruit depot tested by war, tragedy, and reform. The story moves through Panama, where Marines became America's…

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Chapter 4: The Road from Mexico to Manassas 1:22:31

20d ago1:22:31

1:22:31

This episode follows the Marines from secret missions in Mexico to Civil War battlefields. We begin with Lieutenant Archibald Gillespie's covert journey that helped ignite the conquest of California and trace how that campaign laid the foundation for the Corps' presence on the Pacific coast and the birth of Camp Pendleton. From there, we turn inwar…

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Chapter 3: Ashes in the Capital, Blood on the Castle Slopes 1:27:50

21d ago1:27:50

1:27:50

From the burning of Washington to the storming of Chapultepec, this episode follows the Marines through a generation of transformation and war. It opens with the War of 1812's final acts. From there, we moves through the Second Barbary War and Archibald Henderson's rise as the "Grand Old Man," who reshaped the Corps into a disciplined, permanent fo…

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Chapter 2: The New Bloodline 1:24:37

22d ago1:24:37

1:24:37

After the Revolution left America without a Navy or Marine Corps, global tensions forced the young republic to rebuild its strength at sea. This episode follows the Corps' revival in 1798 and its first tests in battle, from the Quasi-War with France to the campaign against the Barbary pirates and the daring raid to burn the captured frigate Philade…

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Chapter 1: The Birth of a Corps 1:22:34

23d ago1:22:34

1:22:34

Born in a Philadelphia tavern at the height of the Revolution, the Marine Corps began as America's first seaborne fighting force. This episode traces that origin. Out of the smoke and uncertainty of rebellion, Samuel Nicholas gathered the first Marines from the city's streets. They were craftsmen, sailors, and laborers who became the sharp edge of …

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Chapter 1: The Birth of a Corps (Sample) 20:31

30d ago20:31

20:31

This is a special 20-minute preview from our 250 Years of the Marine Corps series. In this opening chapter, a handful of men in Philadelphia answer a new call to arms and unknowingly found one of the most storied fighting forces in history. The preview covers the earliest days and how ordinary men began a legacy that still defines Marines today. Su…

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WWII E162 - The Silent Warriors: Marines' Unseen Role During WWII 36:33

20d ago36:33

36:33

In 1941, as the world plunged deeper into war, a small contingent of U.S. Marines found themselves far from the Pacific jungles, engaging in missions that would not capture headlines but were no less critical. Deployed far from the Pacific, they prepared the groundwork for larger Allied operations. In London, amidst the Blitz, they protected the Am…

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WWII E161 - The Final Weeks on Okinawa: From Shuri to the Sea 38:45

1M ago38:45

38:45

In the spring of 1945, the Battle of Okinawa became the bloodiest fight of the Pacific War. What was meant to be the final step toward Japan turned into a storm of mud, coral, and fire that tested every limit of courage and endurance. This episode follows the Marines through the final weeks of the campaign. It is a story of bravery and exhaustion, …

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WWII E160 - Breaking the Backbone of Shuri 38:14

2M ago38:14

38:14

By May 1945, Okinawa had become a war of exhaustion. The island's southern ridges, scarred by months of bombardment, hid Japan's last and strongest defensive line. When the Tenth Army resumed its drive on 11 May, the Marines faced terrain as deadly as any in the Pacific. To the east, the 1st Marine Division attacked into Wana Draw, a maze of ravine…

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WWII E159 - Into the Silence of Okinawa 39:40

2M ago39:40

39:40

This episode begins with the thunder of Easter Sunday, 1945, when Marines and soldiers of the U.S. Tenth Army hit the beaches of Okinawa. After weeks of naval bombardment, they expected hell on the sand. Instead, they found silence. The Japanese had pulled back, choosing to fight from caves and ridges deep inland. That calm didn't last. Within days…

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WWII E158 - Okinawa: The Last Barrier 38:39

2M ago38:39

38:39

By 1945, Okinawa stood as the last barrier before the homeland, vital to both Japanese defense and American invasion plans. The Japanese abandoned beach defenses and instead transformed ridges, caves, and limestone plateaus into layered strongholds, preparing to bleed the invaders inland. The United States assembled the Tenth Army to launch the lar…

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WWII E157: When Valor Became Common 45:16

2M ago45:16

45:16

The battle's later weeks were a relentless grind through Iwo Jima's strongest defenses. Marines battered the "Meat Grinder" of Hill 382, Turkey Knob, and the Amphitheater, where progress was measured in yards and companies were reduced to fragments. Caves, reverse-slope positions, and night counterattacks forced constant, costly use of tank–infantr…

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WWII E156 Into the Meat Grinder: The Fight for the Motoyama Plateau 38:27

3M ago38:27

38:27

While the photographs from Suribachi raced around the world, the Marines prepared for a new and even more punishing fight. Their next objective was the Motoyama Plateau. Three airfields surrounded by a citadel of pillboxes, bunkers, and caves woven together to bleed the invasion dry. At the heart of this defensive belt lay three features: the heigh…

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WWII E155 Mount Suribachi: Cutting Off the Serpent's Head 41:39

3M ago41:39

41:39

No picture is more tied to Iwo Jima than the flag raising on Mount Suribachi. On February 23, 1945, Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment when six Marines raised the Stars and Stripes over the rocky summit. It has been sculpted in bronze, carved into memory, and etched into the collective image of the Marine Corps. For man…

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WWII E154 Into the Black Sand: The First Days on Iwo Jima 43:22

3M ago43:22

43:22

On the morning of February 19th, 1945, the invasion of Iwo Jima began. The Marines were coming in force. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions led the assault, backed by the 3rd in reserve. Offshore, hundreds of ships filled the sea, their decks crowded with men climbing down cargo nets into landing craft and amphibious tractors. This episode takes us i…

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WWII E153 The Doorkeeper to Tokyo: Setting the Stage for Iwo Jima 37:32

3M ago37:32

37:32

By early 1945, the Pacific war had reached a turning point. The United States held the Marianas. From there, B-29 bombers struck directly at Japan, but the road to Tokyo was still dangerous. Halfway along that road lay Iwo Jima, a tiny volcanic island of black sand, jagged rock, and sulfur fumes. On the map it looked insignificant, but its location…

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WWII E152 Marine Airpower in the Philippines: The Forgotten Wing of MacArthur's Return 35:07

4M ago35:07

35:07

The Philippines became the centerpiece of General Douglas MacArthur's promise to return. The Army was to lead, but when setbacks on Leyte bogged down operations, Marine aviation and artillery were rushed in. Within hours after their arrival, they were flying convoy cover, striking Japanese shipping, and dueling enemy aircraft. Despite crude airfiel…

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WWII E151 The 7th Marines: Final Chapter at Peleliu 45:27

4M ago45:27

45:27

The 7th Marines landed on Peleliu under the command of Colonel Herman H. Hanneken. Veterans of Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester, they now faced a new kind of hell. Their mission was to seize the island's eastern shore, then pivot south to clear Japanese positions threatening the airfield. Over weeks of unrelenting combat, they fought through blockho…

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WWII E150 Across the Airfield: The 5th Marines on Peleliu 30:15

4M ago30:15

30:15

In this episode, we examine the 5th Marine Regiment's role in the brutal Battle of Peleliu. As part of the 1st Marine Division, the 5th Marines were tasked with seizing the island's strategically vital airfield. They advanced across open terrain under withering fire, securing the airfield despite intense Japanese resistance and extreme environmenta…

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WWII E149 Storming Peleliu: The Brutal Fight of the 1st Marines 33:26

4M ago33:26

33:26

In this episode, we explore the brutal experience of the 1st Marine Regiment during the early days of Peleliu. Under relentless enemy fire, Marines fought their way across beaches and through rugged coral ridges against deeply entrenched Japanese defenders. They endured extreme heat, devastating casualties, and severe logistical challenges that tes…

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WWII E148 Opening the Gates of Hell: An Introduction to Peleliu 34:56

5M ago34:56

34:56

Peleliu was part of the Allies' island-hopping campaign to capture key islands and build forward bases on the path to Japan. Expected to last only a few days, the battle instead turned into one of the Pacific War's longest and bloodiest fights. The island was strategically critical because of its airfield, needed for Allied operations and protectin…

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WWII E147 Napalm Drops on Tinian: A First in U.S. Warfare 43:43

5M ago43:43

43:43

Last episode, we walked through the intense landing at Tinian and how Marines clawed their way inland. Once they secured crucial positions, they wasted no time driving south, dismantling Japanese defenses one step at a time. Today, we'll conclude our Tinian series by exploring the campaign's dramatic final stages. We'll cover fierce clashes along r…

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WWII E146 Into the Breach: The Landing at Tinian 52:12

5M ago52:12

52:12

In this episode, we explore the strategic battle for Tinian, a crucial turning point in the Pacific War. As Marines launched an ambitious assault, intense artillery and naval bombardments battered Japanese defenses, paving the way for a daring landing on narrow northern beaches. Marines overcame challenging terrain and fierce resistance to secure c…

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WWII E145 Guam's Final Push: Mount Santa Rosa Falls 35:14

5M ago35:14

35:14

In early August 1944, the 77th Division prepared to launch a critical attack against Japanese defenses near Mount Santa Rosa. As enemy troops fell back into thick jungle cover, General Bruce carefully arranged his forces for one last, determined push. US troops overcame intense resistance and moved steadily toward crucial objectives. The capture of…

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WWII E144 All Hands on Deck: Marines in Every Job Step Forward 37:00

5M ago37:00

37:00

After weeks of brutal combat, relentless bombardment, and fierce resistance, the Japanese momentum on Guam finally collapsed. In this episode, we explore how a seemingly unstoppable Japanese counterattack quickly unraveled, leaving scattered, leaderless troops desperately hiding in caves and jungle ravines. Cooks, clerks, and engineers stepped bold…

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WWII E143 Into the Devil's Horns: Marines Assault Guam 34:31

6M ago34:31

34:31

After weeks of relentless fighting, Saipan fell into American hands. The strategic island of Guam was next, heavily reinforced and waiting. The enemy had fortified every possible landing spot, preparing meticulously for another bloody defense. Delays added frustration, but also time for crucial adjustments. On July 21, 1944, the Marines finally hit…

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WWII E142 Cornered and Desperate: The Final Assault on Saipan 31:35

6M ago31:35

31:35

By early July 1944, the brutal fight for Saipan had narrowed to a violent, grinding finish at the island's northern tip. Japanese troops, trapped and desperate, fought with unyielding fanaticism, determined not to surrender a single inch. Hidden machine guns, suicide charges, and ruthless ambushes took a devastating toll. Costly errors opened dange…

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WWII E141 Taking Tapotchau: Marines Conquer Saipan's Summit 36:33

6M ago36:33

36:33

In this episode, American forces on Saipan face intense Japanese resistance as they push northward toward Marpi Point. On July 6, soldiers from the Army's 27th Infantry Division find themselves trapped in brutal combat near Tanapag and Harakiri Gulch, encountering relentless fire from deeply entrenched enemy positions. As tanks struggle against min…

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WWII E140 Friction and Fury: Marines, Army, and Command Controversy 27:24

6M ago27:24

27:24

As Marines advanced across Saipan, the naval battle for the Marianas reached a critical turning point. On June 19, despite dominating enemy aircraft in the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot," American ships faced Japanese coastal artillery and nighttime air raids. Meanwhile, Admiral Spruance launched a daring, long-range strike against retreating Japane…

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WWII E139 Holding Ground: Marines vs. Goto's Tanks 35:55

7M ago35:55

35:55

With Saipan's beaches secured but far from safe, Marines now faced the brutal inland fight. The Japanese launched desperate tank assaults near Red Beach with the goal of driving Americans back into the sea. Marine bazooka teams and grenadiers met the threat head-on. By dawn, the cost was clear: hundreds of enemy dead, rising Marine casualties, and …

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WWII E138 In the Shadow of Tapotchau: America's Gamble in the Marianas 40:06

7M ago40:06

40:06

Across the Pacific, Marines had fought fiercely to gain strategic positions that put Tokyo within reach. But the road had been costly, each step paid for in blood, sweat, and sacrifice. Now, all eyes were on the Marianas, a critical chain of islands that would determine the next phase of the war. This episode dives into the complex planning and int…

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WWII E137 Moving Up the Clock: Marines Storm Enewetak 38:29

7M ago38:29

38:29

The Marines barely had time to catch their breath after Kwajalein before their attention shifted northwest to Enewetak Atoll. Four islands in particular stood as crucial targets, heavily defended by thousands of Japanese troops racing to build defenses strong enough to repel any invasion. Initially, commanders planned the attack for months later, b…

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WWII E136 Marines Capture Roi-Namur 34:09

7M ago34:09

34:09

At Kwajalein and Roi-Namur, months of rehearsals, better intel, and hard-earned Tarawa lessons came together. The 4th Marine Division, fresh off the boat from Pendleton, made its combat debut alongside Army units already blooded in the Aleutians. They landed under real air cover, backed by real logistics, and fought smart, clearing bunkers with tan…

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WWII E135 Lessons of Tarawa: Marines Adapt in the Marshalls 35:38

8M ago35:38

35:38

After the brutal learning curve at Tarawa, the Marine Corps came into this fight prepared, equipped, and determined to lead the next phase of the war. For the first time, their landings were backed by meaningful fire support and rehearsed coordination. The chaos of earlier battles gave way to calculated strikes. This episode follows their path from…

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WWII E134 Chaos at Dawn: Tanks and Flamethrowers at Tarawa 39:21

8M ago39:21

39:21

The initial assault was chaotic—coral reefs slowed the approach, landing craft were wrecked, and units came ashore under heavy fire. But by the second and third days, the situation began to change. Officers like Shoup, Edson, and Jones made key decisions, reinforcements came in, and tanks managed to cross the reef. Despite exhaustion and limited gr…

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WWII E133 Khaki Shirts and Bayonets: Marines Storm Tarawa 42:41

8M ago42:41

42:41

We just finished the brutal slog through the Solomons, and now we're following the Central Pacific drive straight into Tarawa. This wasn't jungle fighting, it was open beach and shallow reefs, turning a straightforward landing into a nightmare. Marines found themselves stranded, wading through chest-deep water under relentless fire. Communication f…

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WWII E132 Turning Point in the South Pacific 33:32

8M ago33:32

33:32

In this episode, we dive into the coordinated landings on the Treasury Islands, the daring Choiseul raid, and the brutal jungle fighting that followed. From LSTs taking direct hits at Falamai to a New Zealand bulldozer operator burying a live pillbox under fire, the stakes were high from the first wave. We'll follow Loganforce's stand at Soanotalu,…

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WWII E131 The Fight for Hellzapoppin Ridge 35:56

8M ago35:56

35:56

In December, Marines fought one of their toughest battles on Bougainville—securing Hellzapoppin Ridge. This heavily fortified enemy stronghold loomed over Marine lines, threatening the expanding perimeter. For over a week, the fight raged in the thick jungle, where Marines faced relentless enemy fire and near-impenetrable defenses. Artillery barrag…

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WWII E130 The Battle for Piva Forks 33:46

9M ago33:46

33:46

In November 1943, U.S. Marines fought a brutal series of battles on Bougainville, pushing to secure key high ground. One of the toughest fights was at "Grenade Hill," where Marines faced relentless grenade attacks before the Japanese finally abandoned their position. By the end of November, the Marines had secured the high ground, breaking Japanese…

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WWII E129 The Fight for the Piva-Numa Numa Trail Junction 35:04

9M ago35:04

35:04

By early November 1943, the Japanese launched a desperate counteroffensive to reclaim Bougainville. Their plan called for a large-scale infiltration behind Marine lines, followed by a full assault. The Marines' quick response and overwhelming firepower shattered the enemy's ambitions. Artillery and airstrikes devastated Japanese forces, while the R…