Battle Guadalcanal facts
While investigating facts about Battle Guadalcanal Youtube and Battle Guadalcanal Heroes, I found out little known, but curios details like:
The first US Warship to be named after a black man was named in 1943 for sailor Leonard Roy Harmon. Harmon worked serving food to officers, one of the few jobs available to black sailors. At the battle of Guadalcanal, however, Harmon deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire to save a shipmate.
how long was the battle of guadalcanal?
The Americans had about 7,000 troops killed in combat while the Japanese lost nearly 20,000 men, but only around 8,000 in combat. The rest of the Japanese casualties were the result of starvation and disease.
What was true of the battle of guadalcanal?
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what was the battle of guadalcanal. Here are 21 of the best facts about Battle Guadalcanal Map and Battle Guadalcanal Summary I managed to collect.
what was true of the battle of guadalcanal apex?
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The population of the Solomon Islands in World War II was just over 50,000 people. Melanesians make up the majority ethnic group.
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The Marines faced heavier resistance once most of their troops had landed on Guadalcanal and the other islands.
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Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the commander of the Japanese during the battle. It would be his last major campaign as he was shot down and killed by American fighters in April 1943.
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The American codename of the campaign/battle was Operation Watchtower
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Although naval firepower played a role during the initial amphibious invasions of the islands and throughout the land battles, a major sea battle took place on October 26. The sea battle became known as the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, which ended in an American retreat.
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The Solomon Islands were British protectorate at the time.
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On August 15,1942 Calvin Graham enlisted in the US Navy. He was 12 years old. In September 1942 he boarded the U.S.S South Dakota, a new battleship. In three months he was part of the largest sea battle between battleships at Guadalcanal.
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Japanese airstrips on the Solomon Islands allowed the Japanese to bomb shipping lanes between the United States and Australia.
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The Japanese evacuation, known as Operation Ke, began on January 14.
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About 11,000 Marines landed on Guadalcanal Island, facing minimal resistance as they took the Japanese airfield.
Why was the battle of guadalcanal so important?
You can easily fact check why did the battle of guadalcanal happen by examining the linked well-known sources.
The Japanese carried out bombing runs from an airstrip in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.
The Battle of Edson's Ridge took place September 12 when the Japanese conducted a nighttime raid but were repulsed.
Besides Guadalcanal Island, the islands of Tulagi and Florida were also assaulted by the Marines on August 7.
Don Adams - from Get Smart and Inspector Gadget - after contracting blackwater fever fighting in the Battle of Guadalcanal, returned to the US and became a Marine Drill Instructor
The 1998 film The Thin Red Line, starring Sean Penn, was about the Guadalcanal campaign.
When was the battle of guadalcanal?
The Solomon Islands is comprised of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands.
How long did the battle of guadalcanal last?
Tobasco Mac' the president of McIlhenny Company from 1949-85 was awarded the Navy Cross and Silver Star for his actions at the battle of Guadalcanal. He also survived being struck on the head with a katana.
Calvin Leon Graham was the youngest U.S. serviceman to serve and fight during WW2 at the age of 12. He was awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and his unit got a navy unit commendation during the battle of Guadalcanal. Calvin's mother revealed his true age and he was discharged in 1943.
There is a small body of water off Guadalcanal called Ironbottom Sound where 40+ ships and aircraft lie at the bottom after a massive naval battle during WW2.
