Guadalcanal 75

[kham]

h/t to Brad over at bring the heat:



Seventy-five years ago today, elements of the 1st Marine Division waded ashore on a steamy, ugly island in the Southwest Pacific, beginning the first US offensive of World War II. An island few in the US had even heard of before would become the center of a bitter campaign that would last to February of the next year. The fight would involve the Marines (most famously), the Navy, the Army and the Army Air Forces. It would also see the only Medal of Honor ever awarded to a Coast Guardsman.

The mighty host, the vast industrial resources of the US had not yet yielded its fruit. The forces arrayed against the Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy were meager, and at the frayed end of a very, very long logistics train.

The commanders of this first campaign would make many errors, leading to losses. About 7,100 US servicemen would die in the campaign. 29 US ships would be sunk. Over 600 aircraft would be expended. Two of the five great carrier battles would be waged in support of the campaign.

The 1st Marine Division would be so worn down by casualties and disease that it would be an entire year before it was fit for battle again.

All hail those gallant warriors of every branch that began the road to victory at Guadalcanal.

[PM2K]

I read accounts of this battle and seen photos and it just makes me shudder. Reminds me of a quote from a British officer looking over the mud sea of Passchendaele and breaking down crying, saying "We sent men to go fight in that?"

It always amazes me the hell holes men are ordered to go fight and die in... which they do. I honestly cannot fathom how they were able to do so. I also doubt many folks these days who do the extreme adventure stuff and boast about it would ever be able to hack what those troops went through.

The Greatest Generation indeed.

[kham]

Goodies from the Save Web
Official US Navy Reprint of Savo Island and Eastern Solomons

88 page PDF downloadable
These are the original ONI Pubs from 1943. Worth a look for that alone

[Fred588]

I read accounts of this battle and seen photos and it just makes me shudder. Reminds me of a quote from a British officer looking over the mud sea of Passchendaele and breaking down crying, saying "We sent men to go fight in that?"

It always amazes me the hell holes men are ordered to go fight and die in... which they do. I honestly cannot fathom how they were able to do so. I also doubt many folks these days who do the extreme adventure stuff and boast about it would ever be able to hack what those troops went through.

The Greatest Generation indeed.

An uncle (one of my father's brothers) was there. I saw his purple heart but he never talked about it, at least in my presence.