Combat· World War II
Guadalcanal Campaign
Guadalcanal was the first major American ground offensive of the Pacific war and the turning point against Japan.
The goal was to seize a half-built airfield on the island before the Japanese could finish it and use it to threaten the supply line to Australia. What followed was a six-month struggle on land, sea, and air, as Japan fought hard to take the island back. The Marines carried the main weight of the fight ashore. The 1st Marine Division landed, captured the airfield, and held a perimeter around it against repeated Japanese attacks. Marine pilots flew from that airfield, soon named Henderson Field, to battle enemy planes and ships. For months the Marines beat back ground assaults, endured bombing, shelling, disease, and short rations, and slowly wore the enemy down until Japan gave up the island.
Engagements in this conflict (9) Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 104