On the morning
of August 7th
the landing on
Guadalcanal
had begun. As
we approached
we passed very
near another
island which
I thought was Tulagi.
It was good daylight but I could see nothing but trees. I was on deck when
our ships opened fire. I saw the first shots fired by our naval armada. It
only recently occurred to me that I was witnessing the first major offensive
shots fired by our side in World War II. I guess you could say that they
were shots “heard ‘round the world” and we - the 1st Marine Division - were
there. It was the beginning of the end for the Japanese Imperial Forces.
AUGUST 8, 1942
Hauled ammo ammunition from battery to ammo dump and had an air raid
at noon. The USS Elliot, a Marine Transport, was hit by suicide dive
bomber. It was very damaged and was beached to keep it from sinking in
the harbor. A destroyer was damaged also. There was one Jap plane and
prisoners taken during the battle. Wild shooting during the night.
AUGUST 9, 1942
No air raids for a change. There was however a naval battle. We lost five
cruisers, six destroyers and we lost the Vincennes and the Australian
Canberra. Also, later we learned that we had lost the Astoria and the
Quincy. I spent most of the night under a truck during the battle because
it was raining and we were moving to a new position. There was Jap
War Thunder Community Magazine
The GameOn Magazine // 51