The Deadly Trees

After the failure of the September attacks, Japanese HO sent as many ground forces as could be spared to build up for another multi- pronged attack. During what is known as the Battle of Henderson Field, between 0300 and 0500 …

1942-10-26

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After the failure of the September attacks, Japanese HO sent as many ground forces as could be spared to build up for another multi- pronged attack. During what is known as the Battle of Henderson Field, between 0300 and 0500 elements of Japanese III/4th Regiment (part of Force Oka to the west of Henderson Field) attacked the US Marines of F Company of II/7th Regiment on the eastern slopes of a saddle-shaped ridge. The attack was massed all along Colonel Hanneken’s front, but in particular the Japanese delivered deadly fire from the trees onto the heights of the ridge, eliminating many of the defenders, despite the heroism of Sergeant Mitchell Paige (who was firing weapons from both hands). Although the attackers eventually took the crest of the ridge, in a surprise move, Paige was part of an unlikely counterattack unit made of communications specialists, messmen, bandsmen, a cook and a few other riflemen. They retook the ridge decisively. For his singular efforts, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. This fight was part of one of the last major attempts by the Japanese to take the airfield, which ended in failure.

Saddle Ridge, Guadalcanal

The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theater of World War II. It was the first major land offensive by Allied forces against the Empire of Japan. On 7 August 1942, Allied forces, predominantly United States Marines, landed on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Florida in the southern Solomon Islands, with the objective of using Guadalcanal and Tulagi as bases in supporting a campaign to eventually capture or neutralize the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. The Japanese defenders, who had occupied those islands since May 1942, were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the Allies, who captured Tulagi and Florida, as well as the airfield, later named Henderson Field, that was under construction on Guadalcanal. Surprised by the Allied offensive, the Japanese made several attempts between August and November to retake Henderson Field. Three major land battles, seven large naval battles (five nighttime surface actions and two carrier battles), and almost daily aerial battles culminated in the decisive Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in early November, with the defeat of the last Japanese attempt to bombard Henderson Field from the sea and to land enough troops to retake it. In December, the Japanese abandoned their efforts to retake Guadalcanal, and evacuated their remaining forces by 7 February 1943, in the face of an offensive by the U.S. Army's XIV Corps, with the Battle of Rennell Island, the last major naval engagement, serving to secure protection for the Japanese troops to evacuate safely.

Wikipedia: Guadalcanal campaign

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U.S.