In the time between the end of the Great War and the start of World War II, marines developed amphibious techniques that would be essential in combat of the Second World War, in addition to forming marine aviation units. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S Marines were the last line of defense on Japan’s next targets on the Pacific Islands, namely in Wake Island and the Philippines. In the Battle of Wake Island, marines were able to fight off the initial Japanese attack, and when asked what they needed, they responded, “Send us more Japs!” Marines also held onto the main island of Philippines as long as they could, but that too would ultimately fall to the Japanese. The Marines continued to play a central role in the Pacific War, along with the U.S. Army. The battles of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, Guam, Tinian, Cape Gloucester, Saipan, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa saw fierce fighting between Marines and the Imperial Japanese Army.