Yesterday 71 years ago, the Guadalcanal battles of the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps came to a victorious conclusion after 6 months of intense battles in this part of the Pacific Islands.
Including those who celebrated this historic victory were the 1st Marine Division under MGEN Alexander Vandegrift, who would later became the USMC's first full 4-star Commandant upon being promoted to full General in 1945, by then based in Melbourne, Australia. Part of this was the 1st Marine Regiment, in which PFC Robert Leckie and his budies plus PFC Sidney Philips belonged to its 2nd Battalion, and the 7th Marine Regiment, the very outfit that then PSGT John Basilone fought (as part of the 1st Battalion under then LTCOL Lewis "Chesty" Puller) and recieved the Medal of Honor for his actions on Henderson Field on the 24th and 25th of October 1942, becoming the first from the regiment to be awarded the highest medal of bravery and heroism within the United States Armed Forces. (Thus, the 1st two episodes of HBO's 2010 miniseries The Pacific features parts from this historic campaign.)
The victory in Guadalcanal is one of the finest victories in the long 239 year history of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps, another victory of the Allied forces in the Second World War in the Pacific, and the end of another historic chapter in the military history of the United States of America, a victory that will be always remembered for generations to come!
ETERNAL GLORY TO THE MEMORY OF THE HEROES AND THE FALLEN OF THE GREAT GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN OF 1942-1943!!!
LONG LIVE THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND NAVY!!!
LONG LIVE THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS!
Semepr Fidelis!
1134H, February 10, 2014, the 238th year of the United States of America, the 239th of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the 67th of the United States Armed Forces and the 69th of the great victories in Europe and the Pacific.
John Emmanuel C. Ramos
Makati City, Philippines
(Honor by Hans Zimmer) (Salute)