Semper Fi

For the Special Ops mission in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with a similar name, see Sniper Fi.

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Semper Fi
Previous level	The Battle of Midway (chronologically-storywise)
Next level	Little Resistance (in-game) Vendetta (chronologically-gamewise) Stalingrad (chronologically-storywise)
Game	Call of Duty: World at War
Character	Private C. Miller
Team	Marine Raiders
Place	Makin Atoll, (Occupied) Gilbert Islands
Date	August 17th, 1942
Objective	Secure the village Regroup with Second Squad Rescue Second Squad Proceed to Extraction Point Plant charges in the ammo bunker with Roebuck
Enemies	Imperial Japanese Army
Console codename	mak
Multiplayer map	Makin, Makin Day
Zombies map	Shi No Numa

"Escape capture and join Carlson's Raiders for a surprise attack on the Japanese fortifications at Makin Island."

— Level description

"Makin Atoll, little more than sand, trees and a small Japanese military base. Miller's reconnaissance team landed there almost a week ago, since then we've heard nothing. The waiting's over. We're going in. For all we know they're already dead. If what little we know about the Japanese is true, it might be better if they are."

— Roebuck in the opening of Semper Fi

Semper Fi is the first campaign mission of Call of Duty: World at War. This mission takes place on Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, part of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, occupied by Japan since August 17, 1942. It depicts the Raid on Makin Island.

Characters

• Miller (playable, W.I.A.)
• Roebuck
• Sullivan
• Pyle (K.I.A.)
• Denny
• Lozano (K.I.A.)
• Rooker
• Ryan (Alive/K.I.A.) (player-determined)
• Cook (W.I.A.)
• Henderson (K.I.A.)
• Luyties (K.I.A.)
• Allen
• McCord (uncertain)
• Nelson (uncertain)
• Rivera (K.I.A.)
• Hutchinson (Alive)
• Snider (Alive/K.I.A.) (player-determined)
• Slayback (K.I.A.)
• Gallagher
• Japanese Officer (K.I.A)
• Japanese PFC (K.I.A)

Plot

Pvt. Miller from the 2nd battalion of the Marine Raiders, Carlson's Raiders, is held captive by the Japanese forces, and witnesses his comrade, Pvt. Pyle, being tortured by having a cigarette gouged into his eye. The officer orders the PFC to kill them both. Pyle's throat is then slashed by the PFC as Miller watches, his last words being "Go to hell". The PFC then goes for Miller, but before he can slash his throat, Cpl. Roebuck comes in and stabs the PFC in the back. He leads him out of the hut, saying "We're gonna make 'em pay for what they've done."

Miller and the rest of the squad secure the village by killing the Japanese in the area. After the first part of the village is secured the team heads for second squad's position. Along the way, the team faces banzai chargers and booby traps. Miller eventually makes his way through the island to rescue the second squad who are pinned down on the beach, followed by surviving an ambush of Japanese troops playing dead.

Using a leaky fuel truck, Miller and the others attack the Japanese base, then proceed to arm explosives inside the bunker, crippling their operation there. While making his way to the boat, Miller is attacked by a banzai charger wielding a katana and wounded, but is saved by Sgt. Sullivan when he shoots the Japanese soldier in the head with an M1911. Ultimately, Miller is dragged to the boat and witnesses a large explosion, which destroys the base.

Death Card

At the very beginning of the mission, after being saved by the Marines, there will be a small hut opposite the shore. The death card will be by the jungle and directly right of the player heading into the attack.

Weapon Loadout

Starting Loadout
Nambu. Given to the player by Sullivan.

Found in level
Arisaka. Used by IJA. BAR. Used by Marine Raiders. M1 Garand. Used by Marine Raiders. M1897 Trench Gun. Used by Sgt. Sullivan. Nambu. Dropped by IJA in Last Stand. Springfield. Used by the team's sniper, Pvt. Denny. Thompson. Used by Cpl. Roebuck and Marine Raiders. Type 99. Used by IJA. Type 100. Used by IJA.

Unobtainable
Katana

Achievements/Trophies

Saved Private Ryan (10 / Bronze Trophy ) - Save Pvt. Ryan before he burns to death.

Carlson's Raiders (10 / Silver Trophy ) - Complete Semper Fi on any difficulty.

Transcript

Main article: Semper Fi/Transcript

Gallery

A Marine Raider aims his M1 Garand on Makin Atoll.

A Marine Raider fires his Thompson during the attack.

Sergeant Sullivan signals for the Marines to follow him.

Pvt. Denny aims his Springfield.

Lozano kills a Japanese officer with his M1911.

An Imperial soldier fires back at the Marines.

Sullivan giving Miller a Nambu

Video Walkthrough

Call of Duty World at War - Campaign - Semper Fi

Trivia

• There are multiple chagnes if the graphic and language content is restricted:
  • The camera is zoomed in at the shadows on the wall during the introduction scene.
  • To the left of the machine gun hut, there is normally a Japanese officer executing a Marine in a hut. With the content restricted, there is no one in the hut. The conversation can still be heard, however.
• If the player runs into the first machine gun hut before the remaining enemies are eliminated and stand beside the active machine gunner, he will not notice the player and continue firing. If the player then waits for the Marines to proceed further up the river, the gunner will run all the way back to the starting section of the mission, oblivious to the player chasing him (unless the player ventures too close).
• Sometimes, after Rooker is stabbed by the "fake death" soldier, his body moves slightly, making it look as if the sword was stabbed into the ground beside Rooker.
• The achievement 'Saved Private Ryan' is a reference to the film, Saving Private Ryan. To earn the achievement/trophy the player must rescue Pvt. Ryan from a flaming banzai charger.
• If the player looks closely at Pyle once he and the Japanese officers are dead, the player can see the slash mark on his neck, and the player can see that his eyes are fine and that there is no trace of any burn from the cigarette.
• When the player meets up with the reinforcements, there is a person named Sgt. Pepper, a reference to the Beatles' studio album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
• While playing co-op it is possible for some players to stay at the beginning of the level, as long as one player goes forward. The player(s) who remain at the start will still be blinded by the flare when the Marines get ambushed.
• Alex Mason's bio reveals that his father was a WWII Veteran and a recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds received during action at the Makin Atoll.
• If the player uses the first MG, Sullivan will act like there is another gunner.
• At the end of the level the player can see Roebuck and Sullivan moving their mouths, but nothing can be heard.
• When the Marine gets caught in the booby-trap at the temple, the player can turn right instead of going straight on. When standing next to the rest of the temple, it is possible to hear a deep, unintelligible voice muttering something.
• There are several differences on the Wii version of the game:
  • The Japanese officer at the start is wearing a hat.
  • Pvt. Cook disappears after the player is rescued.
  • When the bright light shines during the dead soldier booby trap, the light does not blind the person briefly. All the enemies will be visible during the flash.
  • Sometimes the Katana-wielding Japanese soldier will drop an Arisaka while he is tumbling to the ground. If the player is quick enough, one can press and hold the reload button to get it, once the player regains control of Miller.
  • In the instruction booklet, the player can see a screenshot from the pause menu, and the objective is to secure the village.