XBradTC

Seventy-five years ago today, elements of the 1st Marine Division waded ashore on a steamy, ugly island in the Southwest Pacific, beginning the first US offensive of World War II. An island few in the US had even heard of before would become the center of a bitter campaign that would last to February of the next year. The fight would involve the Marines (most famously), the Navy, the Army and the Army Air Forces. It would also see the only Medal of Honor ever awarded to a Coast Guardsman. 

The mighty host, the vast industrial resources of  the US had not yet yielded its fruit. The forces arrayed against the Japanese Army  and the Imperial Japanese Navy were meager, and at the frayed end of a very, very long logistics train. 

The commanders of this first campaign would make many errors, leading to losses. About 7,100 US servicemen would die in the campaign. 29 US ships would be sunk. Over 600 aircraft would be expended. Two of the five great carrier battles would be waged in support of the campaign. 

The 1st Marine Division would be so worn down by casualties and disease that it would be an entire year before it was fit for battle again. 

All hail  those gallant warriors of every branch that began the road to victory at Guadalcanal.