About 1960 Oscar Brand recorded a collection of songs for, about, and presumably by, U.S. Marines. One was called "Wake Island," and the lyrics are in the DT:

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=7567

Brand's tune was "The Cyclone of Rye Cove," by the Carter Family.

Is there any evidence at all that the song existed before Brand began singing it ? Has anyone reading this post ever sung it ?