A Medal for Munro PTO (id:#67069)

(Grumble Jones ID: GJ145)   [next]   [previous]

Matanikau River, Guadalcanal 1942-09-27 (15 others)

No balance information available

Overview:

Following the Battle of the Ridge, US General Vandegrift began to realize that Kawaguchi’s main body of troops had withdrawn west of the Matanikau River. As Japanese stragglers continued to move towards the Matanikau, Vandegritt sought to close up the Marines’ defensive perimeter. Lacking the troops for a concerted effort, he instead opted for a series of small operations designed to expel the remaining Japanese and prevent larger forces of Japanese from concentrating near the defensive perimeter. The 7th Marines under Chesty Puller were fresh and given the task explore up to the Matanikau and northern slopes of Mount Austen and establish a temporary patrol base. Japanese Colonel Oka watched and had his 124th Infantry ready to receive and destroy the Americans. As the Americans explored the mouth of the Matanikau, they encountered resistance and Companies A, B, and D of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines under Major Otho Rogers landed near Point Cruz and immediately moved inland. Almost immediately the Marines came under mortar fire which killed Rogers and wounded a company commander. Captain Charles W. Kelly would assume command and realized that his command was in dire straits as the Japanese boiled out the jungle all around them.

Defender: American (1st Battalion, 7th Marines with Rescue Landing Craft)  

Errata (source)