On this day in history, August 7, 1942, the 1st Marine Division and the US Navy were in the South Pacific commencing Operation Watchtower, the battles for Tulagi and Guadalcanal, two strategically crucial islands in the Solomon Islands chain.
A momentous Pacific campaign began today in 1942 and would not officially end until September 2, 1945.
As a co-author of a WWII Pacific book, my mind is constantly drawn back to this pivotal Summer of 1942, when our nation was in the tumultuous conflict of World War II, and the 1st Marine Division descended on embedded islands as they were shot at by the enemy.
Months after the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, which killed 2300 and launched America into WWII, the Japanese continued their advancement in the Pacific while the Germans prowled the Atlantic.
Then, On April 9, 1942, 60,000-80,000 American and Filipino troops surrendered to the Japanese, beginning the infamous Bataan Death March. The most significant military defeat in history. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/battle-bataan-death-march
Japan and her fellow AXIS powers had to be defeated to stop the bloodshed and advancement.
The 1st Marine Division was the first ground attack force against the Japanese in the Pacific.
The 13,000-strong division of Marines had undertaken a dangerous journey with the Navy, traveling from the United States to the South Pacific.
Eight months to the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, they met the Japanese on the islands of Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, and Florida. Their mission was to secure the islands and retain the airfield to protect our lines of communication between America and her Australian and New Zealand allies and play a critical role in attacking the Japanese base at Rabaul.
The drumbeat to war with Japan began years earlier.
Our grandfather had been with the 4th Marines guarding the American sector of the Shanghai International Settlement in China in 1937 when the Japanese attacked Shanghai, a city of three million, on August 13, 1937. https://www.pacificatrocities.org/battle-of-shanghai-1937.html
Marine and naval officers wrote to headquarters about what they witnessed, with warnings they’d come to our shores.
The Japanese had been building up their naval fleet for war years earlier. See the Japanese Naval Preparations for World War II here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/44638027
And, they’d been attacking China since 1931.
Did we ignore it as we made our way out of the Depression?
Looking back, I see a similar and tenuous situation with the current war in Ukraine, and China’s advancement, and island-building in the Pacific.
Are we ignoring it as we pave our way out of Covid and get embroiled in political drama?
Let us not be distracted this time.
The Victory at Sea video https://youtu.be/tOumc7PT_rA, features the second echelon of the 1stMarDiv leaving San Francisco, captures the essence of their voyage at sea and the supplies needed for the men.
Later, as we watch those battle-fatigued Marines on Guadalcanal and Tulagi, we are reminded of war’s profound impact.
As historians, researchers, family members, and writers, we are responsible for preserving and disseminating the memories of those who fought during World War II.
We must ensure that the sacrifices made by these brave individuals are not forgotten and that their legacy continues to instruct us now and in the future.
The Summer of 1942 is a poignant reminder of the resilience and determination that defined the Greatest Generation.
And, a warning to all. World War II was the most catastrophic war. https://dcas.dmdc.osd.mil/dcas/app/conflictCasualties/ww2
What would WWIII bring? Worse.
Is that what we want for our children and grandchildren?
Peace through strength? Yes, but more. Smart political and military leaders must strive to promote peace, cooperation, and understanding among nations, for it is through these efforts that we can hope to create a world where the horrors of world war become a thing of the past.
*The USMC photo is of our grandfather and his chief of staff, Col. Kilmartin, aboard the USS Neville on August 7, 1942.
**Victory at Sea provided by the Marine Corps Film Repository at USC. If you’d like sound, it is still under copyright. You can find it on YouTube.
