What significant event occurred during the Battle of Tarawa?

The statement regarding the Japanese commander's claim that it would take a million Americans 100 years to conquer Tarawa reflects the strategic and psychological mindset prevalent before the battle. This claim highlighted the Japanese military's belief in the strength of their defensive positions on Tarawa, which they fortified in anticipation of a prolonged siege rather than a direct assault. However, this underestimation of American forces did not hold true as the Marines, with their planning and resources, were able to rapidly secure the island.

While the other statements present facts about the battle, the claim from the Japanese commander stands out as it captures the confidence and miscalculations of the leadership at the time. The high casualties experienced by the Marines, the battle's duration, and its significance as an amphibious assault are all important aspects of the Battle of Tarawa but do not encompass the specific rhetoric that framed the combatants' perceptions leading into the engagement.