First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal
Henry I. Shaw, Jr.
Read by Aaron Bennett
In the early summer of 1942, intelligence reports of the construction of a Japanese airfield near Lunga Point on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands triggered a demand for offensive action in the South Pacific. Completion of the Guadalcanal airfield might signal the beginning of a renewed enemy advance to the south and an increased threat to the lifeline of American aid to New Zealand and Australia. On 23 July 1942, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Washington agreed that the line of communications in the South Pacific had to be secured. The Japanese advance had to be stopped. Thus, Operation Watchtower, the seizure of Guadalcanal came into being. - Summary by Henry I Shaw (2 hr 50 min)
Chapters
| First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal | 9:46 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| SIDEBAR: General Alexander A. Vandegrift | 4:57 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| The Landing and August Battles | 37:15 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| SIDEBARS: First Marine Utility Uniform Issued in World War II; LVT (1)—The ‘Amt… | 18:43 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| September and the Ridge | 16:23 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| SIDEBARS: Sergeant Major Sir Jacob Charles Vouza; M3A1 37mm Antitank Gun; Dougl… | 7:28 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| October and the Japanese Offensive | 25:24 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| SIDEBAR: Reising Gun | 3:36 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| November and the Continuing Buildup | 21:18 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| SIDEBARS: 75mm Pack Howitzer—Workhorse of the Artillery; The Japanese Model 89 … | 5:00 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| December and the Final Stages | 16:20 | Read by Aaron Bennett |
| SIDEBAR: The ‘George’ Medal | 3:53 | Read by Aaron Bennett |