A local from Tahoma handed the Mayor a little book last weekend. He thought there was an interesting story in it. Well, there was an interesting story found there. It does not involve a modern day hero, but one from the last century-the 20th for those counting. WW II brought many many heroes to the world(along with countless scoundrels); not a few unrecognized and unrewarded. In this particular case, his actions at the cost of his young life and his bright future were recognized by a group of leaders on the scene in the South Pacific island of Guadalcanal.
For you youngsters-millenials,etc., WW II is ancient history, but it will be remembered as the last 'good' war- clearly defined antagonists, both good and bad. The Solomon Islands, a group of tropical islands in the South Pacific was the scene of America's first effort against the Japanese army using ground forces; in this case the US Marines' 1st Infantry Division, assembled in haste to confront the Japanese who were on the march southward toward Australia. In August, 1942, after Pearl Harbor and after the Battle of Midway Is. in May of '42, Marines landed on the north shore of this jungle -covered swampy place where the Japanese were building an airstrip.
This was the first deployment of a Marine division anywhere. It was hastily assembled from units in Hawaii, California, and other locations. Few members had experience, but the leadership included many seasoned veterans. It was also the first use of combined forces: Navy, Army-air and ground, civilian transports, and Coast Guard sections. The Coast Guard units had been absorbed by the Navy; the civilian merchant seaman were under Army/Navy control. Command and control was made possible by on-the-job training. As the Marines began the operation(s), the Japanese recognized the threat and began its own reinforcement of the position with the landing of more troops and the deployment of key Japanese naval units to take on the US Navy, again.
More later
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