Combat· World War II
Matanikau Offensive
The Matanikau River marked the western edge of the Marine perimeter, and the ground beyond it was where most Japanese troops were landing and massing.
The Marines pushed across the river more than once to break up these buildups before the enemy could mount a major attack. The fighting ran in two main phases, the first a sharp probe that ran into trouble and the second a stronger, better-planned drive. In the first push, Marine battalions ran into a hornet's nest of enemy troops, and one force was ambushed and cut off near the coast before being rescued by sea. The second push used several battalions and an inland flanking move to trap and destroy a Japanese force caught against the river. The Marines cleared the area, blunted the enemy's plans, and pulled back to guard the airfield.
Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 117