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75 years ago today, the United States struck back!
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:17 am
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:17 am
The invasion of Guadalcanal, which began on this day in 1942, was the first U.S. offensive of World War II. It would last six months, cost over 7,000 American lives, but would end in a decisive U.S. victory. 20,000 Japanese soldiers would deploy on the island to defend it, less than a 1,000 would be alive to surrender when the battle finally came to an end in February 1943. Only about 8,500 were killed in combat, the rest committed suicide when it became certain that they were going to lose the battle.
Nevertheless, the long march to victory began.....75 years ago today.
Nevertheless, the long march to victory began.....75 years ago today.
5
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:20 am to RollTide1987
13 Medals of Honor were awarded from this battle. That is a lot of BAMFs.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:25 am to GetCocky11
If I remember my reading correctly, the USMC infantry was not yet completely outfitted with the M1 Garand. They primarily used the bolt action Springfield rifles at Guadalcanal.
For close-in fighting at 150 meters and less, the bolt action is at a disadvantage to the semi-auto M1.
For close-in fighting at 150 meters and less, the bolt action is at a disadvantage to the semi-auto M1.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:27 am to Champagne
quote:
If I remember my reading correctly, the USMC infantry was not yet completely outfitted with the M1 Garand. They primarily used the bolt action Springfield rifles at Guadalcanal.
For close-in fighting at 150 meters and less, the bolt action is at a disadvantage to the semi-auto M1.
I think they had the old style machine guns as well. I'm not up to date on my machine gun lingo so maybe somebody can help me out.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:30 am to Champagne
quote:
If I remember my reading correctly, the USMC infantry was not yet completely outfitted with the M1 Garand. They primarily used the bolt action Springfield rifles at Guadalcanal.
You are correct. The M1 Garand arrived en masse, however, when the U.S. Army arrived to reinforce the Marines.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:39 am to GetCocky11
quote:
I think they had the old style machine guns as well. I'm not up to date on my machine gun lingo so maybe somebody can help me out
The primary infantry MG for all of WWII in both the Marine Corp and Army was the .30 cal M1917 (water cooled) and M1919 (air cooled) Browning...
M1919
M1917
Performance between the two was almost the same, depending on the variant. The only major difference was one was water cooled and the other was air cooled.
This post was edited on 8/7/17 at 9:40 am
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:48 am to GetCocky11
quote:
13 Medals of Honor were awarded from this battle.
At least 5 were posthumous, including RADM Norman Scott's.
Fournier and Hall died together. After being ordered to withdraw, they rushed forward to man an idle machinegun. They broke up a significant Japanese assault before succumbing to enemy fire.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:58 am to Ace Midnight
One often overlooked aspect of the Battle of Guadalcanal was the bravery and sacrifice of the "Cactus Air Force".
LINK
If not for them, the battle would have been lost. And speaking of 13 MOH's, the Cactus Air Force accounted for six of them at Guadalcanal.
LINK
If not for them, the battle would have been lost. And speaking of 13 MOH's, the Cactus Air Force accounted for six of them at Guadalcanal.
This post was edited on 8/7/17 at 9:59 am
Posted on 8/7/17 at 9:59 am to RollTide1987
Severed head of a Japanese soldier, propped up on a disabled tank, Guadalcanal, 1942. 
Posted on 8/7/17 at 10:00 am to RollTide1987
it was 20 years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
Posted on 8/7/17 at 10:13 am to RollTide1987
My Granddad was shot down near the Solomon Islands during this campaign and somehow survived the crash and was rescued. Still have his waterlogged wallet and a pocket bible he had on him that day. 
This post was edited on 8/7/17 at 10:14 am
Posted on 8/7/17 at 10:15 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
The primary infantry MG for all of WWII in both the Marine Corp and Army was the .30 cal M1917 (water cooled) and M1919 (air cooled) Browning...
You are correct but during this particular battle the Marines had the inferior M1917 that was water cooled and required having a hose attached to it. If I remember correctly they used what was basically an oven mitt to transport the gun when it was hot as opposed to a bale wire with the M1919.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 10:17 am to StarkRebel
quote:
You are correct but during this particular battle the Marines had the inferior M1917 that was water cooled and required having a hose attached to it. If I remember correctly they used what was basically an oven mitt to transport the gun when it was hot as opposed to a bale wire with the M1919
I beleive you're right about the Marines having mostly the M1917, especially early on in the battle.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 10:48 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
One often overlooked aspect of the Battle of Guadalcanal was the bravery and sacrifice of the "Cactus Air Force".
LINK
If not for them, the battle would have been lost. And speaking of 13 MOH's, the Cactus Air Force accounted for six of them at Guadalcanal.
I did four years in the Marines and like to say I'm pretty good with the history of it but I never knew this. That was a very interesting read.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 10:54 am to Yammie250F
quote:
I did four years in the Marines and like to say I'm pretty good with the history of it but I never knew this. That was a very interesting read.
When you hear Guadalcanal everyone thinks Marine grunts fighing in the jungle. But for some reason the Cactus Air Force has been all but forgotten, this despite the fact many of them were in fact Marines as well. All six of the MOH recipients in the Cactus Air Force were Marine pilots.
Posted on 8/7/17 at 10:58 am to StarkRebel
quote:
If I remember correctly they used what was basically an oven mitt to transport the gun when it was hot as opposed to a bale wire with the M1919.
Medal of Honor winner John Basalone lost his oven mitt in battle, and had to carry the gun bare handed.
quote:
It's most notable usage again was by John Basilone, who used it to mow down many Japanese soldiers in an ensuing battle, even while it was off its tripod. He kept using it throughout the battle, except when he moved some dead bodies out of the way of his friend's field of fire. During the battle, Basilone's asbestos glove was lost and he had to carry the gun by it's hot barrel casing, even stopping en route to a new position to fire on several Japanese troops, causing himself third-degree burns on his hands and arms.
LINK
Posted on 8/7/17 at 12:25 pm to Athis
Cool picture but it's fake
Posted on 8/7/17 at 12:27 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
If not for them, the battle would have been lost. And speaking of 13 MOH's, the Cactus Air Force accounted for six of them at Guadalcanal.
One of them being Jefferson DeBlanc of St. Martinville LINK
Posted on 8/7/17 at 1:45 pm to Jim Rockford
His medal is at the WWII museum in New Orleans. Also they just opened an exhibit all about Louisiana in WWII
Posted on 8/7/17 at 1:47 pm to geauxtigers87
quote:
Cool picture but it's fake
how so? I've seen that in old history books that were published before WWII was even over
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