American Valor Quarterly Issue 10 - Summer 2013 | Page 32

andria, Virginia. The biography, War
Shots, by Charles Jones chronicles the
story of his career as a war cinematographer.
The following is Major Hatch’s story,
in his own words.

I joined the Marine Corps against the
wishes of many people, such as my
grandmother, who thought it was a
bad idea. The Corps was small, only
about 18,000 people at that time –
smaller than the police force of New
York City – but I figured there was
an opportunity to really get someplace
because you could do things you
couldn't do in bigger organizations. I
was also drawn to the Marines because the routine of ship life really
got to me after working several winters on a boat with a friend whose
father was in charge of the ice patrol
for the Coast Guard in Gloucester,
Massachusetts.
My experience in the Marine Corps
ended up being both rewarding and
successful because I took my own advice by not waiting for things to happen, but by going out and making
them happen. I got my training as a
cameraman by applying to the The
March of Time three times and being
rejected three times, until my persistence eventually paid off.

Norman T. Hatch

After I was turned down a third time,
it just so happened that President
Roosevelt had ordered in a lot of reserve officers and one of them coming into Navy Public Relations was a
director of the series. After talking
with him, he put me in touch with the
producer who, through a series of connections, brought me into the fold.
The March of Time was created and
produced by Louis De Rochemont,

whose newsreels really defined the
medium during the 30s and 40s. He
had set up a pictorial journalism
school where I began training, and I
went on a lot of shoots and I learned
a lot of things by osmosis. I also
learned never to wait for something
to come to me, but to go after it first.
I tried to take advantage of everything
they could teach me, and always tried
to be proactive in searching out stories.

very much in doubt, with many saying it would be impossible.
The Battle of Tarawa, which lasted
from November 20 to November 23,
1943, was the second American offensive in the Pacific during World
War II and the first in the central Pacific. It used the largest force yet assembled for a single operation in the
theater. Marines from the 2nd Division prepared to take on a heavily fortified enemy, determined to fight
to the death.
General Keiji
Shibazaki, commander of the
Japanese forces at
Tarawa, boasted,
“It would take
one million men
one
hundred
years” to conquer
the atoll.

I think De
Rochemont appreciated my persistence. He sent
me out on jobs to
do by myself after I'd only been
there for about
two months and
he was usually
satisfied with my
work. Before I
could graduate, I
had to take 100
Realizing that the
feet of film,
approach needed
which
went
massive
firethrough the campower to clear a
era at 90 feet per
path, the Ameriminute, out into
can battleships
New York City, Marine Corps cinematographer Norman T. Colorado and
find a subject, and Hatch during training with the 2nd Marine Maryland forced a
Division in New Zealand.
tell a short story.
duel against the
The capability of
entrenched Japadoing that story in 100 feet was the nese guns. Aerial and naval bombardkey to a student’s success, and was ment destroyed enough of the
an insight into how good of a cinema- enemy’s guns to open an entryway for
tographer you might be. And they land forces to approach Tarawa.
liked the job I did.
Mine sweepers and destroyers proThe training I received would lead to vided cover fire and cleared shallows
the later highlights in my career. I of mines and a guide light from a
think Tarawa was the most important sweeper enabled the craft to enter the
battle we covered because it was the lagoon. But an extremely low tide only
first time that a complete battle had allowed some of the amphibious craft
been covered and filmed – motion to make it to the sea wall. Colonel
picture and still – and because vic- David Shoup, senior officer of the
tory during the attack on Tarawa was landed forces, rallied the troops to

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Spring 2013 - 32