CVE-77 was initially named Kanalku Bay for a bay east of Angoon, on the west coast of Admiralty Island, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska. Kanalku is a Tinglit Indian name published in 1891 by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) as "Kanalkoo." (NS0307706.)

Renamed Marcus Island, 6 November 1943, after a small triangular island in the Western Pacific (NS0307706a), midway between Wake Island and the Bonins, and named Minami Tori Shima ("Southern Bird Island") by the Japanese. During World War II it was the site of an enemy naval base. Although bypassed by the Allies during the westward advance across the Pacific, it was subject to repeated U.S. attacks since March 1942. Finally, on 31 August 1945, Japanese Rear Admiral Matsubara Masata surrendered the island and its garrison to US RADM Francis E.M. Whiting, aboard the destroyer USS Bagley (DD-386).

NS0307706b: Attack on Marcus Island, 31 August 1943. The attack was carried out by Task Force 15 (RADM Charles A. Pownall), consisting of carriers USS Essex (CV-9), USS Yorktown (CV-10), and USS Independence (CVL-22), battleship USS Indiana (BB-58), light cruisers USS Nashville (CL-43) and USS Mobile (CL-63), and 10 destroyers, supported by an oiler (escorted by another destroyer). USS Snook (SS-279) acted as lifeguard submarine. Photo taken by a plane from Yorktown. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-474367.

(Maps courtesy of Google Maps. Photo courtesy of NARA.)

Marcus Island was christened by Mrs. Sam L. LaHache, wife of the late Captain LaHache, USN.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 4, No. 2; January 28, 1944; pages 4 & 5.)

Launching the future USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) at Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington, on Thursday, 16 December 1943.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 cruise book.

USS Marcus Island was camouflaged in Measure 32/15A. Note single 5"/38 gun mounted in a tub on the fantail.

A General Motors FM-2 Wildcat from Composite Squadron (VC) 21 making a crash landing aboard USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), 1944.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 Cruise Book.

Air Officer Commander Rhodam Y. McElroy, Jr., landed the first aircraft, an Avenger torpedo-bomber, aboard USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) at 1139 hrs, Sunday, 5 March 1944, off San Diego, CA. Acting as Landing Signal Officer was Captain Charles F. Greber, the ship's commanding officer.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 Cruise Book.

USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) in a south Pacific port, 17 June 1944. The airplanes parked on her flight deck from amidships to the stern appear to be TDN/TDR type drones. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 15A.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph (#NH 83286), courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975.

USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) at Espiritu Santo (today Vanuatu), circa August 1944. A Curtiss SB2C Helldiver is flying overhead.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 Cruise Book.

USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) at Tulagi, Solomon Islands, circa August 1944.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 Cruise Book.

USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) under attack by kamikaze suicide planes, probably off Leyte, in October 1944: A first plane crashes off the bow, then a second plane is barely visible over the carrier, before it crashes close aboard.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 Cruise Book.

A U.S. Army Air Force Stinson L-5B Sentinel (s/n 44-16995) takes off from the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), probably off Leyte, in late 1944.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 Cruise Book.

Crewmen duck as a kamikaze plane explodes directly overhead after an unsuccessful attack on USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) in the Sulu Sea, Philippines, Friday, 15 December 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-335738.

USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), Japanese kamikaze, Zeke, coming in for attack on 15 December 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-335739.

USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), Japanese plane to rear and starboard. Plane pulled to approximately 200 or 300 feet and exploded. Pilot reported to have parachuted from plane. White spot in lower part of burst believed to be parachute. USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) astern in the Sulu Sea, 15 December 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-335740.

USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), crewmen duck as kamikaze plane explodes directly overhead, after an unsuccessful attack in the Sulu Sea, Philippines, 15 December 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-335742.

USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), Japanese aircraft, Judy, coming in for attack on 15 December 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-335743.

Suicide attack by Japanese Zekes on USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) in the Sulu Sea, Philippines, taken from USS Natoma Bay (CVE-62).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-336687.

View of the flight deck of USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), circa 1945. Eight General Motors FM-2 Wildcats are about to launch, at left is a single General Motors TBM Avenger.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 Cruise Book.

An Avenger torpedo-bomber flies over USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), circa 1945.

U.S. Navy photo from the Marcus Island 1944–1945 Cruise Book.