From the 31st July until the 13th August there were special visitors to Guadalcanal. They were here to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the American landings in 1942, the landings that heralded the Battle of Guadalcanal ‘The First Offensive’.
The visitors were here not just to attend the commemorative service at the US Memorial on the 7th August, but also to visit those other memorials, which are the Battlefields themselves. Battlefields such as Red Beach, The Tenaru, Bloody Ridge, The Gifu, Galloping Horse, Sea Horse, Coffin Corner, The Matanikau River, The Ravine and Point Cruz.
The images of 1942 and those climactic events were all around you. Even from the Mendana Hotel where most of the guests were staying, you were on the beach where Doug Munro earned his posthumous Medal of Honor. From the Hotel you could look across Iron Bottom Sound to Savo Island and the Floridas. Iron Bottom Sound, so named because of the many ships sunk during the ferocious naval actions in 1942.
There were 130 visitors from the United States including about 20 veterans from the Campaign. Some visitors traveled by boat down ‘The Slot’ to visit the Battle areas of the New Georgia, Kolombangara, Munda in the Central and Western Solomons.
Those who stayed on Guadalcanal visited all the areas of major actions.
Day one we visited the Mount Austen area. Bill Fisher (2nd Raiders) remembered well the day he was wounded on the top of mount Austen on the 3rd December 1942. That was the second last day of Col. Carlson’s epic 30 march from Aola Bay to Mount Austen and back into the perimeter. We saw the Japanese observation post on Mount Austen set up by the Japanese on 22nd September 1942. This is a small cave with outstanding views overlooking Henderson and the Eastern battlefield area.
Later that day we visited the Gifu area where a composite Japanese Battalion held out for several weeks against attacks by the 132nd and 35th infantry. There we visited American and Japanese foxholes. We saw US and Japanese equipment, grenades bullets, gas masks, radios etc. There were glass phials of what looked like morphine and others with a white powder. About 20 unused live 61 mm. Mortars were seen in one American Bunker.
That evening, like all subsequent evenings, we went to the Point Cruz Yacht club to spin yarns about the war.
Next day we visited Alligator Creek, which was the site of the Battle of Tenaru. Six men from G/2/1, veterans from that engagement, told us of their individual recollections of that Battle. Jim Wilson told of the shrapnel wound in his lower back that paralyzed him half way through the Battle. Al Schlemmer, Wilbur Bewley, Joe Delaney, Lou Imfield, and Bill Finnegan all spoke of their part in that engagement. Wilbur Bewley had his name etched into the history books by escorting into the American line Jacob Vouza, the Solomon Island war hero, who had managed to escape from his Japanese captors.
From The Battle of the Tenaru we drove to Bloody Ridge and trekked through from the Eastern end of Bloody Ridge to John Basilone’s position where on the night of 25th October 1942 he earned his Medal of Honor. With us was Marlin Groft 1st Raiders a participant in that famous September battle for the Ridge.
Next day we sailed across to Tulagi. We visited Blue Beach the scene of the 7th August landings of the 1st Raiders and the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines. We walked through the Cutting to the Cricket Pitch and on to where the main Japanese defensive positions were on Hill 281.
Back on board we visited the nearby islands of Gavutu and Tanambogo where the 1st Parachute Battalion made their landing on the 7th. Then on to the LST352 and the Japanese destroyer Kikitsuki sunk on the 4th May 1942, later raised by the US Navy and used as a workbench. We were going to walk on the deck and have our photo taken sitting on one of guns, however a very large crocodile was already lying on the deck We decided not to disturb it and therefore didn’t have our photos taken on the gun.
Next day we traveled west to the Bonegi River. At Bonegi there is the remains of the Kinugawa Maru, one of the last Japanese transports run ashore on 15th November 1942 in Japans last and failed attempt to reinforce and re-supply their troops on Guadalcanal.
That night we were all invited to a function at the US consulates home. Four Marine pilots from VMFA-225 joined us. They had flown in two F18’s to help celebrate the 60th anniversary. Their F18 s were the first American fighter planes to land on Henderson since the war.
The highlight of that evening was to see the looks of adulation on the faces of their young pilots from VMFA-225 as they talked to WWll Medal of Honor recipient ex Wildcat pilot Jefferson DeBlanc USMC.
Next day was the 7th. Several hundred people assembled at the US memorial on hill 73. Enjoying music provided by the Royal Solomon Island Police Force, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands welcomed us all to the Ceremony. For the first time since the war a Japanese veteran participated in the official program and addressed the visitors. Jeff DeBlanc spoke for the American veterans and Brigadier John F Kelly Assistant Divisional Commander of the 1st Marine Division spoke for the Marines. After that ceremony wreaths were laid down at the Sir Jacob Vouza statue outside Police Headquarters.
Later that morning we were invited to the Japanese memorial on the foothills of Mount Austen. For the first time since the war American veterans addressed the guests at that joint ceremony.
We then progressed on to Henderson. All the plaques and memorabilia from the old terminal had been transferred to the new terminal. We also had transferred the memorial obelisks from the old to the memorial gardens at the new terminals. A Certificate of Recognition from the Marine Corps University Foundation and the Distinguished Service Medal from the Marine Corps League was given to Sir Gideon Zoloveke. Bill Fisher (2nd Raiders) presented the awards to Solomon Island Veteran Tom Titiulu who accepted them on Sir Gideon’s behalf.
There was then a fly past by VMFA-225 to complete the formalities of the day.
There was more sightseeing by visitors but the main events were over. The six member of G/2/1 went on to Melbourne after they left Guadalcanal. There they were guests of the Melbourne Cricket Ground where they were billeted during the war. We visited of course Young and Jacksons the pub where the famous nude ‘Chloe’ still hangs. We were honored to be guests of Martin Clemens the famous Coast Watcher at his house in Toorak. Martin proudly wore his George medal, and told us how he was asked to provide the Latin translation for the inscription on the medal.
In is worthy to further note that while in Melbourne two of the boys from G Company were met by two of their old girlfriends from1943!
All in all the 60th went very well and all seemed to have had an excellent time.