75 Years Ago, U.S. Marines 'Sealed Japan's Doom' At This Pivotal WWII Battle

Guadalcanal was the turning point in the war in the Pacific. It was the first real defeat of the Japanese even after their Navy had chased ours away and the Marines were left there to fend for themselves. Their tactics (massive banzai charges) were a monumental waste of their troops but were done out of complete arrogance that we (Americans and Marines) could never stand up to their all out assault. They were wrong.

We gained a forward airfield, a foothold in the area, a resounding defeat of the Japanese and off we went to bloody island after bloody island. It was a fight to the death in the Pacific and very few prisoners were taken. No quarter was offered and none really expected.

Guadal Canal is damn crucial battle it's the first major ground offensive of the war after the Atu campaign.

First of all, the article has missed a slight point: the Ichiki *REGIMENT* had around 1000 men in it. That entire unit assaulted the Marines that night and Ichiki and only a handful survived. Ichiki committed suicide the next day after burning the regiment's colors.

Recommended reading is the three book Guadalcanal trilogy by Eric Hammel.