- published: 03 Apr 2013
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Wake Island ( /ˈweɪk/; also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll having a coastline of 12 miles (19 km) in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way between Honolulu, 2,300 statute miles (3,700 km) to the west and Guam, 1,510 statute miles (2,430 km) to the east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Access to the island is restricted, and all activities on the island are managed by the United States Air Force. There is also a missile facility operated by the United States Army. The largest island, Wake Island, is the center of activity on the atoll and has an airport with a runway of 9,800 feet (3,000 m).
On January 6, 2009, President George W. Bush included the atoll as a part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. For statistical purposes, Wake is grouped as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands.
Wake is located to the west of the International Date Line and sits in the Wake Island Time Zone, one day ahead of the 50 U.S. states.
In November 1941, Major Caton takes command of the small Marine garrison on Wake Island. His tendency toward spit and polish upsets the men's tropical lassitude, but Pearl Harbor changes everything. Soon the island is attacked and the Marines pull together day by day; but how long can they hold out?
Keywords: atoll, battle, battlefield, beach, blacksmith, bombardment, bombing, bravery, buddy-movie, cannon
Maj. Geoffrey Caton: Boys, the honeymoon's over. From now on you're marines.
Pvt. Aloysius K. 'Smacksie' Randall: The dumber those guys get, the more stripes you get.::Pvt. Joe Doyle: You oughta look like a zebra.
Pvt. Aloysius K. 'Smacksie' Randall: [Dressed in civilian clothes] World, here I come!
Pvt. Aloysius K. 'Smacksie' Randall: Any you guys who don't like this hat, you can come out here and try to knock it off. [looks at Doyle]... that includes you.::Pvt. Joe Doyle: I think you're beautiful. Go on, on your way, civilian!