History records that the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific Ocean during World War II took place between August of 1942 and February 7th of 1943. It was a hard fought battle involving sea, air, and ground troops, and it set the Allied forces, including brave Marine Corps soldiers against the forces of the Imperialistic Japanese Army. This fighting began in the Solomon Islands and stretched throughout the region for six long months of war. It was the first offensive launched by Allied Forces against Japan in the War, and it was the start of a turning point in the Second World War for the United States and Allied Forces.
U.S. Marines as part of a predominately United States Allied Force landed on the islands of Tulagi, Florida, and Guadalcanal with the aim of preventing the islands being used by the Japanese as supply bases or areas to resupply. The Japanese has landed on Tulagi and Guadalcanal in early 1942 and hurriedly constructed a resupply point on each of the two islands. The Japanese has around 900 personnel stationed on the island of Tualgi in May of 1942 and they stationed about 2,800 soldiers on Guadalcanal. If they had been allowed to fully supply and finish the two bases on Guadalcanal and Tualgi then the lines of Japanese defenses would have been much harder to stop. Because of the actions of the U.S. Marine Soldiers the plans of the Japanese were thwarted and prevented.
U.S. Marine Major General Alexander Vandegrift took his 1st Marine Division soldiers and led the 16,000 men invasion force in the landings that recaptured Tualgi and Guadalcanal. The Allied forces also wanted to use the islands as their own supply point. Marine Corps Soldiers swarmed the islands of Florida and Tulagi as well as an airfield on Guadalcanal. The Japanese were ill equipped to repel the attackers, and they would up making several abortive attempts to retake the islands up till November of 1942. Nearly all the Japanese resisting in the initial battle were killed and the Marines suffered only 122 casualties men killed in action.
By the strategic usage of U.S. Marine Forces, the airport on Guadalcanal was taken and never relinquished after being captured. Despite heavy fighting, the U.S. Marines at Guadalcanal repelled the Japanese again and again, and in February of 1943 the Japanese finally took off their last personnel, leaving the Island of Guadalcanal in U.S. Marine control.
I’ve always liked history, so after watching HBO THE PACIFIC, I knew about Sgt. Basilone’s friend; Manuel Rodriguez. As I live south of Imperial Beach California (Tijuana beaches) I knew about John Basilone more than 13 years ago because interstate 5 is named after WW heroe just where camp Pendelton is based, that’s how I met Mr. Basilone true legend. I’m more than interested on any information about Mr. Basilone’s close arms friend Manuel Rodriguez; I guess he is an imaginary marine or that is not his real name because I can’t find any information about him KIA at Guadalcanal. Is there any place you can recomend me where to look for?, or do you know if Manny Rodriguez portrayed at THE PACIFIC series existed? By now I’m still quite interested about this particular marine information. Any help I will truly appreciate.
My Dad was a corpsman on guadalcanl. first Battalion first Marines. I always hope someone might remember him. His name was Tippy West.
Kim: I am currently writing a novel about the US Marines during WWII. Titled, Sweet Tea and Sweet Jesus, I expect its publication later on this year. I will include your father in as one of the men on Guadalcanal. Thank you for providing a name of one of the men who served there. I am finding it very difficult to find men who are still alive who are willing to talk about what happened out there during those very dark days of WWII and this name helps quite a bit. Thank you. Paul M Frazee, Military Historian and author.
website:
militarynovels.info
I had an Uncle that was killed on Guadalcanal, Marine, Herman D. Avery; He had nine siblings. He and several other men were in an ordinance truck that took a direct hit. He, along with the other men were buried in a single grave in Tennessee, each represented by a single small box, some with recovered remnants of a particular soldier’s personal possessions and presented to the family. My dad said It was the saddest funeral many had ever experienced. He was 20 years old. His memorial picture hung on our walls from before my siblings and I were born until our parents passed, now the picture hangs on my sisters’ wall.
Hanibal: I will do some research on Mr. Rodriguez for my new book, Sweet Tea and Sweet Jesus – which is the story of two marines on Guadalcanal. It’s due out this fall. Thank you for the tip.
Paul M Frazee, Military Historian and author
website: militarynovels.info
I have original photographs from the Guadalcanal Campaign from my grandmothers Marine Corp boyfriend at the time. I have found a few of the photographs I have in History books but with no name. I am looking to find out who he was. If any one knows where I can find out the names of the photographers during that time I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
My great-uncle Kenneth Ritter fought at Guadalcanal.
my dad, charles r.(rick) bagley was a corpsman during wwII. i know he was in newzealand, also, guadacanal, tulagi, and peililu. i believe he was prepping for iwo or okinawa when he was notified of his brothers injuries, in europe, and he was sent to the back lines or stateside. he never spoke of the war much. his records, were lost in the st. louis fire. i do not know if he was on land during these battles or on a hospital ship. can anyone here lead me to find some infor. i know he was on active duty from late 1942 till sometime in 1947. he was from rock hill sc. thanks for your help and for your service. he passed away, stomach cancer, in 1984.
Barbara: Kenneth Ritter was my great uncle as well. I was truly surprised to read of the brief account of his service at Guadalcanal in the book Edson’s Raiders by Joseph Alexander. If you haven’t read it, it is worth it if only for the information about Kenneth’s fate.
I’d like to know more about him And also to see a photo of him.
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My Great grandfather served at the Guadalcanal, he passed away in September 2008, before this he just happened to be watching a clip from this on a PBS channel and began to cry, my mother asked him if he was okay and he replied ” Those men on that boat, that is my platoon and I riding up on that beach.” He then began to tell the story of what happened to him and the seven men that were the only ones left alive out of his platoon and the solemn promise they made each other, this promise will always remain a secret to these men and the lives that they had while there. My Great grandfather was a very brave man and so were his men. The rest will remain silent forever except in family story telling. Not all stories are told when troops return home, some are kept quiet and a secret. I think this is why he waited till he knew he would not live another three months. My great grandfather The Brave and Courageous U.S. Marine. Cy
My father served in the U.S. Marine Corps 1942-1946. He served at Guadalcanal and had Malaria as so many must have. He survived and I know little else of what he did while in the Marines. My mother told me he would fly on the helicopters and rescue the wounded to bring them back to base. Brining back the bodies of those Marines killed was also probably what he did. His name was Lance Cpl. George R Belanger from Nashua, NH
Graduate of University of NH. He died in 1958 when I was 7 years old.
His friends often called him “Babe” – some said he resembled Babe Ruth in looks …I do not know what his level of talent might have been.
Played baseball in college. God Bless all Marines and service men and women.
I had an amazing time when I had to be with a marine that was dying. He was telling me stories of what happenned in the war.He started to talk about many thing that he had to experience when he was in the war.He did cry many times.I asked him about his experiences and he said that some things he will never talked about.I always wonder why?
I also had the oportunnity to be with him at the moment that he died.I took his hands and i was prying and telling him that I would take care his wife and his favor dog.He took my hand and I said dont worry you are a great person and brave soldier but is time for to go and be with Lord.
He was alive until I said I will find the song of the Marines and I said go
My late Father; Col. G.T. Armitage USMC, RET, now deceased at rest with his brothers at Arlington, landed at Guadal Canal charged through the Pacific and into Korea, Commander Bunker Hill.
To answer your question about Manuel Rodriguez, there is a well known photo of Basilone with JP Morgan and Rodriguez while on leave. The actor who portrayed MR looks very much like the guy in the picture, which is what the casting people tried to do.
My Dad, George Cottingham was First Marine Division – 1941-1945 Guadacanal Cape Clousester and Okinawa. He passed away 2012 age 91. I regret not finding out more about these Battles which he never spoke of. He once got upset that his friend did not make it. I wish I could find any photos taken there.
Rob Is it the one where he has his head shaven and is going through training with the other two marines, I’ve seen that picture before that’s when he returned to the field after the bond tour was over. That was in summer-fall ’44 while he was training for Iwo Jima that wasn’t during or before Guadalcanal the ones in the picture with him were Rinaldo Martini(Who lost an arm during the battle) and another who I don’t remember now but I think that it was his best man, Clinton Watters.