 Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Mangwanani-ngwanani pa D-Day, 20 Mbudzi 1943, Thuban akasvika panzvimbo yake yakatarwa munzvimbo yekutakura kubva kuBetio Island ndokutanga kudzikisa zvikepe uye amph-tracs yekurwiswa kwekutanga paTarawa. Zvose zvikepe zvayo zvakanga zviri mumvura na 0435, uye Thuban akagadzirira kurongedza mutoro. Pana 0551, sezvo iye maneuvered kuchengeta nzvimbo yake munharaunda kutakura, muvengi pamhenderekedzo mabhatiri vakawana chikuva anotakura, uye goko akawira pakati Thuban uye kurwisa kutakura. Zvitakurwa zvacho zvakakurumidza kuenda kugungwa, kunze kworwendo rwemabhatiri omumahombekombe, asi kwete pamberi pemagomba okuwedzera akamhara pakati pazvo, achipa nhambo zhinji dzokushushikana. 