Visit US memorial on Hill 73 overlooking the Matanikau River for orientation and background briefing. Hill 73 gives a wonderful panorama of Iron Bottom Sound and the famous battle ridges such as Galloping Horse and Sea Horse. We then proceed along Kola Ridge (past site of action where Mitchell Paige won the Medal of Honor) to the Japanese Memorial on Hill 34. We then drive on to the Japanese observation post on Mount Austen. Spectacular and tactical views are offered at this site overlooking Henderson Field and the Eastern Battlefields. This post observed US movements and helped direct fire from the infamous "Pistol Petes". Near this post we visit the battle site of an action that took place on the 3rd December 1942 between Japanese forces and the famous Carlson's "Gung Ho" Marine Raiders during the Raider's epic 30-day trek behind enemy lines.

We then move on to Barana Village and Hill 27, the site of the Japanese Mount Austen stronghold known as "The Gifu". This jungle position withheld continuous US army assaults by the 132^nd and 35^th Infantry from December 17th 1942 until finally overcome on January 23rd 1943. Fighting positions, foxholes and equipment are still clearly evident.

After lunch at the Airport Motel we visit the sand spit at the head of Alligator Creek the scene of the Battle of the Tenaru. The battle of Tenaru was the first attempt by the Japanese to regain the airstrip (Henderson Field) and indeed was the first major battle that took place on Guadalcanal itself. The Japanese, led by Colonel Ichiki, in the morning darkness of the 21st of August 1942 unsuccessfully assaulted positions being held by the First Marine Regiment. We will see the spot where Al Schmidt continued to fight from his machine gun position despite being blinded by a Japanese grenade. We will also see the Japanese memorial to the Ichiki soldiers who fought to annihilation.

Then we go back to the Hotel to freshen up before enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of the Point Cruz Yacht Club.

This morning we make our way to Edson's Bloody Ridge. On the 12th of September 1942 Japanese forces led by General Kawaguchi attacked US positions on Hills 1 and 2 (Bloody Ridge) adjacent to Henderson Field. For two days the First Marine Raider and First Parachute Battalions under the command of Colonel Edson with artillery support from the 11^th Marines held off the determined Japanese assaults. Also visited is the position of General Vandegrift's Divisional Headquarters at the time off the battle.

The Battle for the Ridge is probably the best known and most famous battle that took place on Guadalcanal. Whilst in the vicinity of Henderson Field, home of the Cactus Airforce, we also visit the wartime underground radio communication center (call sign "NGK" Guadalcanal), the original control tower and the underground control center at "Pagoda Hill".

After lunch we will visit the area of Coffin Corner, Brigg's Outpost, Fighter 1, Fighter 3 and the Crash strip. On the 25th October 1942 the Japanese soldiers from the famous Sendai division using the Maryuma Trail attacked US positions defending this area. For two nights Chesty Puller's 1^st Battalion 7^th Marines and the Army's 164^th Infantry successfully held off possibly the most dangerous threat on the airfield. We will visit the wartime front lines and the position where John Basilone earned his Medal of Honor.

Japanese Destroyer Kikutsuki

Jeff BeBlanc M.O.H.

with fellow visitors

Today we visit Battle sites in Honiara itself and nearby our Hotel. We will visit the landing and evacuation beaches used by Puller's 7th Marines on 27th September 1942. Becoming surrounded by the enemy and in severe difficulties on Hill 84, they were saved and evacuated in dramatic circumstances. We will visit the spot where for his actions during the evacuation Coast Guard, Doug Munro, was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.

On the 8th October 1942 three battalions consisting of the Whaling group, Hanneken's 2^nd and Puller's 1^st Battalion 7^th Marines moved across the Matanikau River in a sweep behind enemy lines. We will retrace Puller's move from Hill 66. to the coast and see the place in The Ravine where he observed and destroyed the majority of the Japanese 3^rd Battalion 4^th Infantry.

We will visit the mouth of the Matanikau River, which was recognized by the 1st Marine Division's Operations Officer, Bill Twining, as being the 'key terrain feature' in the defense of the airfield. At the mouth of the Matanikau we will see a Japanese tank destroyed during the Japanese 23^rd October 1942 attack on positions held by the 3^rd Battalion 1^st Marines.

On the other side of the River we will visit the scene of action of the ill-fated landing of the Goettge Patrol on 12th August 1942. Only three members of the patrol survived the night's action. Although the bodies of those killed were seen and identified during a patrol by "L" Company 5^th Marines on 19th August 1942 they remain un-recovered.

During our Honiara visits on our way to Galloping Horse we will drive past the valley that featured in John Hersey's book "Into The Valley".

We will visit and tour the National Parliament building. This fine building was a gift from the American Government to the people of the Solomon Islands to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. In fact the site of modern day Honiara was fought over by all major American units that participated in the campaign, the 1^st Marine, the 2^nd Marine, the Americal and the 25^th Divisions.

Today we man the boats. We will travel across the twenty miles of Iron Bottom Sound to Tulagi. At 7.40 am on the 7th August 1942, B Company 2^nd Marines made the first landing of the Guadalcanal campaign at Haleta on Florida Island. We will reenact what can be regarded as the first step taken by US forces on the long road Tokyo. The 1st Raiders and the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines then pressed on with their Tulagi landings at Blue Beach. Seen on our Tulagi stay will be the site of the Resident Commissioner's house and the fiercely fought over cricket pitch.

Later that day the 1st Parachute Battalion and the 2nd Marines attacked the smaller nearby islands of Gavutu and Tanambogo. The Japanese fiercely resisted all these landings. We will visit all of these landing spots. For those inclined we can snorkel over a Japanese Kawanishi Flying boat just off the wharf at Gavutu.

Traveling on to Purvis Bay we will see the LST342, which broke in half after being hit by a Japanese torpedo. The floating front half was towed to Purvis Bay and beached.

In nearby Tokyo Bay we will go on board the Japanese destroyer Kikutsuki. The Kikutsuki was used during the original Japanese landings on the 3^rd May 1942 and sunk the next day by planes from Admiral Fletcher's carriers Yorktown and Lexington on what can be regarded as the opening shots in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Visitors at the site

of the 2nd Raider's

action on 3^rd December 1942

Today we can offer alternative agendas. For the golfers we can offer a round at Honiara golf course the site of Fighter 2 the airfield used by the Lockheed Lightnings on the successful mission to ambush and shoot down Admiral Yamamoto.

For others we can visit and snorkel over the Japanese transport ships run aground at Bonegi during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. In November 1942 the Japanese attempted to land significant reinforcements. Out of eleven transports that began the journey only four made it to Guadalcanal where they were run ashore and beached. The Japanese also lost Battleships Hiei and Kirishima to the depths of Iron bottom Sound. This marked the end of Japanese attempts to regain the Island.

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