Guadalcanal By Nick Venditti

Importance of Taking Guadalcanal It is the first American offensive of WWII. It marked the Japan’s farthest advance in the South Pacific’s eastern half. Had the Japanese gone further eastward they would be able to cut off the supply lines from the US to Australia. Without America’s planes, tanks, weapons and troops Australia would fall to the Japanese. With Australia in Japan’s control the main line of defense against them would be moved back to North America itself. It would prove that the Japanese are not unstoppable.

Taking Guadalcanal: The Beginning The assault on Guadalcanal, happening on August 7th, 1942, by the Marines caught the Japanese by complete surprise. The Marines landed on the shore without any opposition. They then captured an incomplete airfield at Lunga Point, later to be called Henderson Field. General Vandegrift was then informed that he was going to be losing all air and sea support due to incoming Japanese troops, he and the 1st Marine Division were now left alone on the island.

The Japanese Attack With no air and sea support the Japanese were free to bombard the soldiers who were on Guadalcanal. The daily plane raids that happened around noon were nicknamed “Tojo Time” by the Marines. Almost daily Japanese ships would shell Lunga Point, though they were far enough out so that the Marines could not fire back. The soldiers decided it was time for a change, and clearly their supposed “support” wasn’t going to be that change. They began, using the supplies that the Japanese left behind, finishing the airfield at Lunga Point so that reinforcements could arrive.

Reinforcements Arrive The Marines began to finish the airfield and, after two weeks of hard labor, finally did. On August 30th a flight of 12 dive bombers and 19 Wildcats had landed to provide support. General Vandegrift now had around 10,000 men stationed on Guadalcanal, much more than the Japanese had believed were there.

Japan Retaliates The Japanese believed that 2,000 Marines were on the island, when in reality there was 5x the amount there. Sending out for some 2,000 Japanese soldiers, led by Colonel Kiyono Ichiki, they began setting up a campsite only to be ambushed the next day by the Marines. The result was what would be called the Battle of the Tenaru. With the Marines dug in along a creek they waited, only to be meet by Ichiki who had only 1,000 of his men instead of waiting for the rest to arrive. The Japanese troops charged only to be mowed down with an eventual retreat where Ichiki and some of his men escaped.

The Marines Other Enemy After the Battle of the Tenaru supplies started to arrive for the soldiers but the Marines were at an even lower morale due to another enemy, Guadalcanal itself. The heavy rains kept everything soaking. Kunai grass, taller than a person, had razor sharp edges and would cut anyone who walked through it. Giant crocodiles, spiders as big as your fist, wasps as long as your finger, tree-leeches, scorpions, and centipedes that would leave a trail of inflamed flesh if it came in contact with humans. The clouds of mosquitoes brought on malaria, which killed more men than bullets. Colds, the flu and exotic disgusting fevers infected many.

Japan Attacks Again With the Marines having an established airfield bringing in troops became more difficult for the Japanese. They eventually found that bringing in quick ships at night to deposit troops was the best method. Major General Kiyotake Kawaguchi and 6,000 of his men were landed on Guadalcanal over the coarse of six night runs. Kawaguchi not waiting for more reinforcements to arrive he and his troops went off to fight the Marine force. The battle of Bloody Ridge then ensured when the Japanese forces met a bit off from Henderson Field. The Japanese took a toll on troops, unaware of how much longer they would be able to continue. When a reserve company of Marines was deployed and air support arrived the Japanese soldiers were forced back.

American Reinforcements By December of 1942 more ships were able to get to Guadalcanal and more troops as well as supplies had been brought in. On December 9th General Vandegrift and his 1st Marine Division was relieved for a rest in Australia. Enduring the naval bombardments, air raids, infantry attacks, sickness and disease all while on dwindling rations and supplies the entire 1st Marine Division received a Presidential Unit Citation. The Japanese forces would eventually be driven completely off on February 7th, This marked the end of the first American offensive, which would be a win for the Allied forces.