Many people helped make this book a reality. The manuscript has changed radically over the years, and their contributions may not be explicit in this published version, but I am grateful to them all for their kind assistance.
History Flight: Eric Albertson, Kristen Baker, Drew Buchner, Corinne D’Anjou, Paul Dostie and Buster, John Frye, Harlan Glenn, James Goodrich, Ed Huffine, Reid Joyce, Kautebiri Kobuti, Marc Miller, Hillary Parsons, Glenn Prentice, Katherine Rasdorf, David Senn, Paul Schwimmer, Rick Snow. Above all, Mark Noah.
Tarawa veterans: Ed Bale, Max Clampitt, Leon Cooper, C.J. Daigle, Roy Elrod, Elwin Hart, Norman Hatch, Allen E. Heminger, Dean Ladd, Victor Ornelas, Robert Sheeks, Marvin Sheppard, Karol Szwet.
Other World War II veterans: Bill Bower, Edward Wood, Jr.
Tarawa MIA and veteran family members: Carol Bryant, George Clerou, Jim Crue, Patricia Donigian, Rick Gilliland, Paul Govedare, Jr., Michelle Guy, Pat Hallin, Lulane Harrison, Ron Harrison, Michael Heminger, Michael Hibner, Leroy Kisling, Jr., Robert Kossow, Ken Lally, Cory Maupin, Katherine Moore, Alan Leslie, John Murphy, Kenneth Oetjen, Frederick F. Penna, John Ratomski, John Saini, Theresa Schaede, Jennifer Sheppard, Jane L. Shumate, David Silliman, Kirk David Stewart, Ellen Stoll, Jennifer Torgerson, Rick Voorhees, Garret Vreeland, Robert Zalesky.
Family: Margot Atkinson, Alexander “Al” Bonnyman, Anne Bonnyman, Brian Bonnyman, Gordon Bonnyman, Jr., Jean Webb Bonnyman, Isabel Ashe Bonnyman, 1st Lt. Norman Bonnyman (Army National Guard, First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry), Frances Bonnyman Evans, Catherine Evans Lambert, Margot McAllister, Hugh Nystrom, Alexandra Bonnyman “Alix” Prejean, Alexandra “Andra” Prejean, Alexander “Sandy” McKeon, Robert McKeon, Brooke Stanley, Jr., Isabel Bonnyman Stanley.
Researchers: Katherine Rasdorf, Tim Frank, James E. Nierle, Rich Boylan, Daniel Flores, Hana Y. Masters, Danielle J. Miera, Bill Niven, Dennis M. Spragg.
Archives and libraries: Hoover Institution (Stanford University), Santa Rosa (NM) Public Library, National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center, United States Marine Corps Museum, National World War II Museum, Norlin Library (University of Colorado Boulder).
Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command/Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency: Bill Belcher, Gregory Fox, Tyler Green, Anthony Hewitt, Michael S. Linnington, Ernest Nordman, Ramon Osorio, Wayne Perry, Rachel Phillips, Stephen Tom, Jay Silverstein, Lee Tucker, Johnie E. Webb. Armed Services Network: Navy Petty Officer First Class Justin Whiteman.
Veterans, active-duty military, and veterans’ organizations: Marine Corps League, Bonnyman Detachment (Knoxville), Marine Corps League, Jake Puryear Detachment (Rome, Georgia), Hubert Caloud, Brant Clark, Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, Dave Collins, Dennis Covert, Chris Diplock (Australian Royal Navy), East Tennessee Veterans Memorial, Jack Garber, Don Gomez Jr., Travis Haan, William T. Hathaway, Matthew Hoh, Kurt Hiete, Gerald A. Meehl, Patriot Guard Riders, Melinda Plett, Carroll Prejean, Roland Sharette, Dan Sidles, Ted Somes, Durk Steed, Walt Stewart, Wes Stowers, Gary Stump, David L. Vickers, Edward W. Wood, Jr., Michael Wizotsky, Virgil Young.
Authors and historians: Joseph Alexander, Don K. Allen, William Astore, Mike Campbell, James Carroll, Eric Hammel, Chris Hedges, Howard Jablon, Karl Marlantes, Peter McQuarrie, Douglas Pricer, David Smallwood, Frank Wallace, John Wukovits,
Tarawa residents, past, present, and part-time: Susan Barrie, Zahra Boluri, Kantaake Kerry Corbett, Toka Rakobu, Scott Dawson, Kim T. Harrison, Mareta Hinokua, Kautebiri Kobuti, Lisa Leidig, David Little, Chris Mahoney, Tamana Natanaera, Bill Newton, Kelle Rivers, Sister Margaret Sullivan, Petis Tentoa, Reire Timon, President Anote Tong, J.J. Williams, Tekinaa Taboaki, Temoana Tabokai.
Journalists, videographers, and webmasters: John Becker (WBIR), Fred Brown (Knoxville News-Sentinel), Matthew M. Burke (Stars and Stripes), Mark Emmons (San Jose Mercury News), Paul Freedman, Michael Goldstein (Princeton Alumni Weekly), Jim Hildebrand (Tarawa on the Web), Marc Miller, John Reitzammer, Ted Rowlands (CNN), M.E. Sprengelmyer (Guadalupe County Communicator), Jeremy Edward Shiok, Steve Terrell (Santa Fe New Mexican), John Torigoe (CNN).
Santa Rosa: Mayor Joseph Campos, Davy Delgado, Daniel Flores, the family of Jerry and Patricia Gallegos, George Gonzalez, Joe Martinez.
Knoxville: Jayme Rich Beeler and all the staff at Berry Highland Memorial, Patrice Collins, Joleen Dewald, Tim Eichhorn, Mary Tate, Ann Young.
Editors, readers, and advisers: William Astore, Robert Castellino, Margaret Coel, Jody Frank Evans, Tom Irwin, Jennifer Knerr, Bruce Leaf, Jerry Meehl, John Reitzammer, Elizabeth Scarboro, James Scott, John Shors, Brooke Stanley, Jr., Daniel Zantzinger.
And many thanks to my agent, Maryann Karinch.