On August 7, 1942, a mere nine months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Marine Corps launched a counteroffensive against Japan on a remote island far from home: Guadalcanal, part of the Solomon Islands. The stakes were incredibly high, as the Japanese had been advancing aggressively across Asia and the Pacific, posing a significant threat to the region. If the Marines failed in Guadalcanal, the domino effect could have led to the fall of New Guinea, putting Australia in grave danger.
The triumph of the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal, presented here through pictures for the first time, stands as one of the most heroic, dramatic, and enduring episodes in military history. The Guadalcanal campaign, spanning six grueling months, represented the longest and most complex operation the Marines encountered in the Pacific War. It began with the tactics and weaponry of the Marine Corps from their combat experiences in France during World War I and concluded with innovative tactics and advanced weaponry that would ultimately conquer the formidable Japanese defenses on various Pacific bases. This campaign paved the way for total victory over Japan in World War II.
This book serves as a fitting tribute to the courageous men who made tremendous sacrifices in securing this initial stepping stone on the path to Tokyo Bay and the ultimate victory over Japan.
