lol some kids watched cartoons, these kinds of documentaries were my childhood

@Conn30Mtenor

3 жыл бұрын

what did you learn?

@mitchellhawkes22

3 жыл бұрын

Always loved this stuff. The great Pacific War. Nothing like it in history. Nothing close in history. My dad was navy -- in the Pacific. Hearing his stories made me navy all the way.

@thomasulatowski3012

14 күн бұрын

That generation didn't have to talk tough. They were f-ing brave.

@thomasulatowski3012

14 күн бұрын

That generation didn't have to talk tough. They were fucking brave. Any other stupid questions? What are you trying to say?@@Conn30Mtenor

Admiral Nimitz was a brilliant military commander. His victories in battle, determination to defeat the enemy, and his humility were admirable.

@chrisnizer5702

11 ай бұрын

Talk about the right person at the right moment. Be hard pressed to find a better example than Admiral Nimitz.

More than 76 years after the battle of Guadacanal was fought, it still evokes recognition of an impressive American victory.

My dad, lying about his age, was 16 when he joined the U.S. Marines on December 8, 1941. He became a Marine Raider, 1st Marine Division, & was in the first wave at Guadalcanal. He never spoke about it until the last 6 months of his life in the winter of 2000 when he was dying of Lou Gehrig's Disease & confined to a nursing home. I helped take care of him & was present when he & his buddies starting swapping "war stories." It was incredible. I could kick myself to the moon & back for not recording those conversations. After my dad's death, I found an old cigar box filled with ribbons, medals, and pictures. One still stuns me to this day--my dad had always been a fairly stocky guy with a big barrel chest, and about 220 pounds. I found a picture of him shortly after his evacuation from Guadalcanal in November, 1942, and hardly recognized him. He had lost at least 75-80 pounds. After one of the "war story" sessions, one of his friends came up to me and said, "You know, your dad was a real hero. You wouldn't believe what he did in the Pacific." I thanked him for that, but said that he had always been *my* hero. Even after all that hell, he was the kindest man with a wicked sense of humor. Before the war, he was an avid hunter. After the war, he never killed another animal--he said he had taken enough life & seen enough death for 3 lifetimes. Thank you for your sacrifice and your serivce, dad, and even after 14 years, I miss you every day.

@TheWillyStroker1

7 жыл бұрын

catbyte Wonderful.

@marielloyd8192

7 жыл бұрын

catbyte heroes die on battlefield old solders fade away

@gillesguillaumin6603

7 жыл бұрын

catbyte. He was a hero, no doubt. But you, you are a very good person. Congratulations.

@SJQuirke

6 жыл бұрын

Oh we owe so much to so many hidden heroes in this generation - so very much - thanks for sharing this short history of your dad

@muckeyduck3472

6 жыл бұрын

God bless your father. My dad operated one of the landing craft that took men like you dad to the beach on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, or Gavutu. He also never talked about his experience much. My mom told me that in his younger years he use to have terrible nightmares, but out of shear strength of character, at least I think is was, he overcame his dreams. In his last couple months of life, as he began to lose hold of his mental discipline, his past began to haunt him again. Any picture that hung on the wall showing anything to do with war, he made us remove because looking at them cause him to cry. He died in June 2012. I miss him too, but I knew the day would come and I tried to make sure I said everything i needed to say so I would have no regrets. My mom is still alive at 92. She is a lady of a different era than exist today. He told me a funny story once. He said at some point during the landing, a razor wire parameter was setut along the beach. There was a group of blacks who where responsible for unloading the cargo and taking it inland, when all of a sudden there was a Japs strafing run on the beach. He said when everything was over. the razor wire have been beaten down as flat as a postage stamp, and you never saw a group of black so cut up and bleeding. I understand you grief that you did not record the stories your dad told when you had the chance. I however did get a recording of my dads war experience, or at least what he would talk about. I have about 2 hours where I had my brother interview my parents about the entire life. It seemed crazy at the time, but oh boy am i glad I did it.

My Uncle Walter Burak was a Raider himself was KIA in 1942 Guadalcanal. Walter received the Navy cross. He volunteered to set up a hard-line communication between the commanding post and the front line he accomplished his mission and was shot and killed on his way back

That was an impressive US victory, against some fierce and battle-proven Japanese soldiers.

@randomtechpriest1633

2 жыл бұрын

spoilers smh

@DuskwalkerGaming

Жыл бұрын

@@randomtechpriest1633 what 💀

As a Brit we got a beating, but the losses by the US in the Pacific theater goes beyond beggaring belief , Sirs a prayer is not enough for your sacrifices ,and wherever you all are now may you all rest in peace

@Dee-nonamnamrson8718

5 жыл бұрын

The amount of bravery and valor left behind in the Pacific is astounding. It's a good thing WW2 happened when it did. Had it happened now, I don't think America could muster the bravery or valor, much less patriotism, necessary to win that war.

@thatguy22441

5 жыл бұрын

Somebody had to control the Pacific, and it was going to be either the Allies or the Japanese. Our two countries were NOT going to just let Japan have it. There was also no lack of British courage, skill and determination in the European Theater. During the Battle of Britain, when the RAF (which I believe was a bit under-staffed) held off the entire Luftwaffe, showed that the Brits were very capable. The Brits demonstrated that again when they kicked the shit out of the Italians in north Africa. Our two countries (I'm American) have been making one hell of a good team since WW1. I also worked with some Brits in Iraq and they were solid dudes.

@tomhernonjr

5 жыл бұрын

daystatesniper01 your boys sure took a beating in Singapore 150,000 prisoners that spent the war being abused in prison camps and as slave labor.. not sure how many survived but I am sure it was not many

@zenodotusofathens2122

5 жыл бұрын

My great uncle was a GI caught at the Battle of the Bulge and sent to Stalag 9B. The SS came to Stalag 9B to segregate out the Jewish soldiers [both Brits and Yanks]...they sent my great uncle to a death camp called Berga where he died at 21 years of age.

@kelvinktfong

5 жыл бұрын

The British contribution to victory in the pacific was the “forgotten” 14th Army in Burma. They tied up a large number of Japanese divisions and at Imphal and Kohima they shattered the Japanese and for the first time in WW2, the japanese broke and RAN. Not retreated they ran...

An Australian coast watcher reported the activity on Guadalcanal, which led to a B-17 taking recon photos, which led to the rest. So let's laud the coast watchers, some very brave and useful Australian patriots and expats.

@englishalan222

10 жыл бұрын

Indeed, continuously playing cat and mouse with Japanese patrols

@bellypatter1

10 жыл бұрын

"The coastwatchers saved Gaudalcanal, and Guadalcanal saved the South Pacific."- Admiral "Bull" Halsey However, the coastwatchers were not all Australian. The coastwatching organization(Ferdinand) also eventually had Britsh, natives, Americans, and others within its ranks.

@Rimasta1

10 жыл бұрын

It was a sine report actually, that the Japanese were constructing an airfield. Interestingly enough, apparently Japan had no immediate plans to develop the airfield into a strategic threat to Allied shipping, but Yamamoto quickly realized Guadalcanal was becoming the focus of Allied efforts in the SOPAC AO, so therefore it became Japan focus. A meeting engagement t where each side tried to resupply and reinforce its forces. Martin Clemens was the name of the man.

@mbeighties8058

9 жыл бұрын

18tangles You make absolutely no sense. He never said that Australia wasnt the majority He simply said they were not all Australian!!!! Your such a make believe know it all!!! Like your fooling anyone. HACK

@barracuda7018

6 жыл бұрын

MB Eighties+ pal, 18tangles is notorious for such comments, in similar threads he always maintains the fiction that the US was not needed in the Pacific war to beat Japan . Australia and the British Empire would have done the job without the US..

My Dear Grandad served in the Solomon Islands. He was a radio operator on a Catalina flying boat for the New Zealand Airforce . Tried to get any stories of what happened there but he would never talk about it. So proud of him and the other men who served there.

@1mattadams

2 жыл бұрын

Sir,my dad was a radio operator on the DD 723 one of the first to be hit by Kamikasi in lingayan gulf. He was on bridge when it hit.. Your celebration of your Grandads service brought tears to my my eye because I have no stories to share with with a grandchildren, as I have one. Cheers fro Arizona, USA.

My dad was at Guadalcanal as part of the 14 th Battalion USN SeaBees. He had severe malaria, and trauma and never talked about the war. Many who served there were damaged by the experimental medicines to replace quinine. I believe he worked on the all important Henderson Airfield. Which the Japanese had begun. This effort in Guadalcanal was the beginning of the island hopping leading to defeat of Japan. I am thankful for all their sacrifices, strength and tenacity un fkg believable we owe them all. God Bless.

@treed5679

Жыл бұрын

My grandfather was also a Seabee in Guadalcanal they may have known and served together, small world.

@Albert-Mag...

Жыл бұрын

Heroes...All of them...God rest their souls...

At 29 y/o on Dec.7th 1941, my Dad did not need to enlist. But he volunteered anyway. and because he had no birth certificate, only the USMC would take him. Thus it was, that on 8/7/1942, Dad was in the very 1st platoon, of The 1st Marines, to walk on to Guadalcanal. He lasted 6 weeks + when, felled by Dengue Fever & " Combat Fatigue" from lack of sleep, he was evac'd & sent to New Zealand for 19+ months. On return to the USA, he spent another 6 months in Oakland at the Naval Hospital before being honorably discharged, & given The navy Cross & a lifetime pension. My Dad was my hero & the best man I ever knew. I miss him every day. --------------------MJL, 76 y/o

My father operated radio in jungles of Burma- wow, came home and raised 9 of us

@jozefpisudski6952

2 жыл бұрын

He did a great job! I hope he had had a great life too.

My uncle was awarded a medal for bravery for his heroic actions in Guadalcanal. At one point he fought hand to hand with the enemy. My uncle was a great man and is deeply missed.

@snowman374th

5 жыл бұрын

All of those men are greatly missed. The country never had better fighters than it had then. We need them again.

@yankees29

4 жыл бұрын

As regular civilians we have no idea what men like your uncle did. We can’t even dream it up. God bless your uncle and all of our fighting men and women.

Marine still using 1903 Springfield bolt-action rifle in Guadalcanal

@kristians7377

4 жыл бұрын

MARKINAU8 even in Vietnam

@davewilliams5102

4 жыл бұрын

Markinaub For many Marines, It was their rifle of choice.

@MARKINAU8

4 жыл бұрын

@@kristians7377 joking unless its a sniper

@scottjohnson9912

3 жыл бұрын

I thought that the M 1 Garland hadn't been issued yet and the first Marines had Springfield 1903,s .

@Archangelglenn

3 жыл бұрын

@@scottjohnson9912 Yes and no. The Garand had not reached full production even as late as 1943. Most of the ones that had been produced, had been given to the army. Which already conducting invasions in North Africa, Sicily and Italy around the same time in Europe.

The Pacific theater doesn't receive enough attention. What these U.S and allied troops endured and accomplished is difficult to overstate. I hope we prove worthy of their sacrifice.

@Dee-nonamnamrson8718

5 жыл бұрын

Hopefully we can start to prove worthy, because at the moment we are failing. Every election that passes pushes us closer and closer to authoritarian socialism that will prove the end of the freedoms they fought to preserve.

@Dee-nonamnamrson8718

4 жыл бұрын

@digital communist Spoken like a true zealot.

@delgande

3 жыл бұрын

@Charles McCarron exactly No jews to push their sobstory in the East

@kidd32888

3 жыл бұрын

@@Dee-nonamnamrson8718 it is so sad. The cognitive dissonance is real.

@johnmehaffey9953

2 жыл бұрын

I’m from the UK and my father fought from 39-45 and was evacuated from Dunkirk so you would think that I’d be more interested in the European theatre but I’m more interested and in awe of the u s forces in the pacific every island was a D day and it was against an entrenched bitter enemy the courage those young men showed is to be never forgotten and don’t forget the young men on the ships my mum lost her brother who served in the Royal Navy in the evacuation of Crete so the families know of the grief of losing a loved one in battle, my admiration goes deep for these brave young men and also the men who fought in the European theatre as well, so far from home fighting to help others, thank you all you heroes

I once heard a US soldier jokingly reply when asked what was the most dangerous position in the Pacific? .."between a Marine & their camera crew." lol. I do wish there was more footage of the Army back then at Mt Austen, Gifu, Saipan, etc..but you really cant fault the USMC for using their own PR dept as they were also fighting for funding w/ most resources going to "Europe First" & what did go to Pacific went thru MacArthur & also the Navy in route. A grateful nation will always be in those brave men's debt no matter which branch or allied flag they fought for. Thank You!

The Marine Raiders showed how a small, well trained, unit can delay or even defeat a bigger enemy force. This was some of the first use of "Special Forces" for the U.S. Military and many of the lessons learned at the Canal are still being taught in Jungle Warfare training today. Semper Fi!

The Ausi’s tireless war efforts are almost never mentioned. That tiny great nation was instrumental in ending the Pacific War. 🇦🇺

@danvalenti

5 жыл бұрын

Aussies were busy till 44 in. New Guinea. The Japanese wouldn’t give up easy.

@christopherjordan3531

4 жыл бұрын

Allied commanders considered the Australian infantry the best in the pacific theatre. In addition they were the driving force for the first allied victory in the African campaign. Shame they don’t get the recognition they deserve.

@wheelman1324

3 жыл бұрын

I tell everyone I can about Kokoda and the 39th whenever I can. Us yanks and you Aussies are truly cut from the same cloth. In more ways than one.

@billyrock8305

3 жыл бұрын

Outskirts of Infinity Aussie no. 1.

@wheelman1324

3 жыл бұрын

Billy Rock always.

The army on Guadalcanal had garands. The rush to get the operation underway resulted in most of the marine forces having to use the older bolt-action Springfield during this campaign.

@floydvaughn836

3 жыл бұрын

Nope. The Navy held up the process. Guadalcanal made believers out of them.

@fuzzydunlop7928

3 жыл бұрын

Not all the army units even, that was a big gaff for this docco. This series is exceptionally dated.

@halo129830

Жыл бұрын

@@fuzzydunlop7928 I’ll let it slide it’s 30 years old

@leecrt967

Жыл бұрын

Welp, we're all pretty well imformed to the gills on this and probably the rest of the Pacific Campaign. so we can spot errors, minor and gross, from a mile away. My particular miff is the inclusion of "Battle of Britain" aerial footage at 31:30.

Has anyone else noticed that its the battle for Guadalcanal, but the thumbnail shows them lifting up the flag on Iwo Jima..?

@jamesseidel985

5 жыл бұрын

The raising of the small, 1st flag I believe. And no, I noticed that right off.

@cipher88101

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah one of the maps they show US planners around is Iwo as well.

@DN-cz7rp

5 жыл бұрын

ya almost none of the video correctly applies to the narration. terrible writing and mispronounced names.

@dukecraig2402

5 жыл бұрын

@@jamesseidel985 Nope, that's the 2nd flag, it's the one with the famous picture, the first flag was filmed (at least pictures) but this is the 2nd and famous one put up about 90 minutes after the 1st, the picture earned Joe Rosenthal the only Pulitzer Prize for a picture that was awarded the year it was printed.

@elliottpeters609

5 жыл бұрын

not everyone can be a leader

my grandfather James Hall got a silver star for his work in Guadalcanal, big red one

@samuelparker9882

5 жыл бұрын

DUTY FIRST! 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION. 2CND BATTALION 28TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, THE BLACK LIONS. R.I.P. DAD!! He was and will forever be the greatest man/FATHER I've had the pleasure of knowing not to mention; being his son. I'm sure that others can and will say the same about their father. Rightfully so!

It was at Guadalcanal, that the USMC really established itself as an elite fighting force.

@jarrodyuki7081

3 жыл бұрын

we should have won midway. and killed all those marines!!

@Natogoon

3 жыл бұрын

Jarrod Yuki Why?

@Conn30Mtenor

3 жыл бұрын

@@jarrodyuki7081 if the Japanese had landed at Midway, they would have been slaughtered. There were a number of tanks on Midway, and Japanese amphibious attacks were always made in undefended areas. They had no LCI's, no LST's and no specialized amphibious equipment.

@jarrodyuki7081

3 жыл бұрын

@@Conn30Mtenor even if our first landing failed we would have improvised but i doubt it would have failed if yamato and musashi bombarded the defense to scrap. we also had trained marines that time.

@delgande

3 жыл бұрын

@@jarrodyuki7081 i respect Japan but you would need to have won every single battle to win You were going to lose eventually and the Americans were more skilled than the chinese so that makes it even worse for Japan

My dad was a Navy Corpsman attached to the 1st Marine division on Guadalcanal. He definitely had a hard core after the engagements he took part in, he also contracted malaria while there. I never really appreciated the stories he told when I was younger, but I certainly praise him now.

@bcreech17

3 жыл бұрын

My grandfather used to thrill me with his WW2 stories of Italy. I was never able to fully appreciate them until I joined the USMC. He passed away recently and I have really gotten into WWII history. This comment makes me miss him but also brings back such good memories. Thanks for sharing that, it’s so important that we understand the incredible experiences this entire generation of men and women went through. There are so few left and they are becoming fewer very quickly.

@paulpapandrea6690

2 жыл бұрын

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@paulpapandrea6690

2 жыл бұрын

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@paulpapandrea6690

2 жыл бұрын

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@paulpapandrea6690

2 жыл бұрын

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Good narration makes a documentary. This narrator is excellent. You’d think anyone could make a documentary now with youtube, but they can’t. Bad narration ends it quick for me & I usually bail in the first minute. This voiceover draws the viewer in.

The courage of the Marines was also phenomenal.

The music and narrative are mildly dramatic, but this video is inaccurate. The Marines who landed on Guadalcanal were not equipped with The M1 Garand rifle, as stated here. Production of enough M1 rifles had not yet happened, and the Marines used the 1903 Springfield bolt Action 30 ‘06 rifle. This was an accurate and hard-hitting rifle. Marines have always prided themselves on being riflemen, and this rifle gave them that ability vs. higher rates of fire. The Japanese land forces made hard and frequent attacks on the Marine positions around Henderson Field, but as a force, the Japanese troops were worn down by hiking through difficult jungle, often losing their way and enduring hunger. The Marines took losses too during the attacks, but they were well positioned and dug-in around Henderson Field.

@vinniethefinger7781

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed and folks would be way better off reading books than taking anything this show offers for granted. I'm currently reading Neptune's Inferno among having already read countless other books. It's almost like a show on the un-history history channel.

@gulfrelay2249

4 жыл бұрын

When the Army took over, the 1st thing Marines did was to steal Garands, boots, and food. Practically every account features humorous stories around this.

Battlefield is the best War series ever produced!! I can never get enough.

Im from the Solomon Islands and the remains of ww2 gear is still all round the place eg tanks , planes , guns , coke bottles etc.

@johnwopereis285

9 жыл бұрын

really ? I know of a few people who collect the stuff but other than that no one does ..

@johnwopereis285

9 жыл бұрын

okay :)

@johnwopereis285

9 жыл бұрын

Gonna keep my eye open from now on ahha

@tomhernonjr

5 жыл бұрын

I grew up in Tennessee and use to find civil war stuff all the time. It was really cool to see the remains of History

@gulfrelay2249

4 жыл бұрын

@J M a lot of them have come back, courtesy of the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Garands, 1911A1s, and a few P 17 and Springfield rifles.

Battlefield is always great for serious history buffs

U.S. Marines did not use the semi-automatic M1 Garand rifle when they first landed on Guadalcanal as this documentary seems to suggest (only U.S. Army units that landed later used them). The primary rifle of the USMC units on Guadalcanal was the bolt-action M1903 Springfield.

@danvalenti

5 жыл бұрын

Orcinus US army units did have the M1 but your right not the marines

Funny film talks about 4 naval battles. The Naval Battle of 11/12 thru 11/15 is not mentioned. Japanese lost 2 battleships- 1 with torpedoes from Enterprise, the other by the USS Washington 16" shells

As a New Zealander we have allot of thank the Americans for defending our part of the pacific. Can’t Think what life would have been like if the battle of corral sea went the other way or the Japanese codes had not been cracked

@jameshope7933

4 жыл бұрын

As an American,we have much to thank the ANZAC for.Cheers!

There is a lot of credit given the individual bravery of the Japanese soldier in this documentary, but no mention of the individual bravery of the US Marine. Strange. My response would be: John Basilone.

@LiquorMaster

2 жыл бұрын

John Basilone was an AMERICAN HERO!!!

The marines that landed on Guadalcanal used M1903 bolt-action Springfield rifle due to the short notice of the invasion

ALL THESE HEROES MUST KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD FOR WHAT THEY HAD ACHIEVED!!! What a campaign ,what an outcome and what courage all those US Marines had!! I am from Greece ,we were very well known about our courage against Fascist-Italy , about our struggle against Nazi-Germany and the Greek partisan movement backed up (some times) from SOE advisers and some supplies too. The first important sabotage against axis powers took place in Greece (occupied Europe) ,SOE offered about 12 men ,as advisers and as explosive experts and also all the necessary explosives, I have to add that 1 of those men was SOE's Lt Th. Marinos ( he is alive and well ,101yo!!!) and about 180-190 Greek partisans stormed the bridge (Op.Harling - Gorgopotamos bridge , 25th Nov 1942). Thank you UK & Commonwealth allies ,USA and USSR for your contribution to the final victory ,you were fantastic and we are much obliged !! P.S - BATTLEFIELD W.W2 SERIES DOC and i mean all seasons & all episodes are fantastic documentaries ,almost 20yo ,but still among the BEST available !!

Another wonderful documentary in the WWII series on the Pacific.

Approx. 30k soldiers on both sides died in the battle of Guadalcanal. That's more than the population of Guadalcanal itself during that period.

My uncle was one of the Marines there.

When the nuclear bombs were dropped and Japan surrendered, my dad, a Sergeant E-6 in the Signal Corps, was at Fort Lewis, WA. going through training for the invasion of the Japanese home islands. It is quite possible that he would have died there and my life would have been very different. President Truman's decision to use the bombs was the right one.

@DN-cz7rp

5 жыл бұрын

Without doubt!

@jonniappleseed7232

5 жыл бұрын

War is war and if we can save young American Lives by using a weapon of such great power, the weapon should be used to send a message! History says Japan needed two bombs dropped to say they want the war to end. Remember, the Japanese has 1 million troops on the home island. Despite the Americans taking island by island was a daunting task and some battles success were won by a few pilots dropping their bombs in the right place at the right moment such as in Midway. The unknown part of the atomic bombs being dropped we saved the lives of thousands of American soldiers by avoiding a battle on the main Japanese Island and what the saved American soldiers gave back to the world by being alive! If the enemy had an atomic bomb in WW 2 they would of used the bombs on American troops and cities! Just a thought which is appreciated by the children not yet born to these American soldiers!

@wastaggio

5 жыл бұрын

To send a message? By killing tens of thousands of civilians? These days America is good at drawing "red lines" for chemical weapons usage by the Syrian government (which most likely were false flag provocations to sanction subsequent retaliation) but when it comes to a real deal the US is the only country ever to use the ultimate weapon against civilian population of a virtually defeated enemy. Conquest of Japan was not required for US survival but certainly to extend its imperial influence. Thankfully nuclear capacity of the Russian Federation is now keeping the warmongering rulers of America in check.

@tedkier3264

5 жыл бұрын

allen a golly! it's a good thing Truman uncorked the bottle of atomic bombs! there was a slight chance your grandpa would have wound up on Japan from Fort Lewis? did you fathom all this mayhem yourself?

@tedkier3264

5 жыл бұрын

anyone who feels that it is a good thing we dropped atomic bombs on anyone and let the genie out of the bottle ..that person seldom uses the sack of shit they call a brain.

Semper fi Marines. That was an amazing victory.

I think the importance of this battle has been vastly overlooked by many historians. It was the beginning of the island hopping campaign and the start of the drive to liberate the pacific from the Japanese. it had its share of setbacks for the Americans tough, this can be testified by the number of Americans wrecks laying at the bottom of Ironbottom Sound but the Americans prevailed in the end and won an important victory.

@docbill25

10 жыл бұрын

Yes, I agree. Although Midway was the turning point in the Naval war in the Pacific, Guadalcanal turned the tide in terms of the ground offensive of the Japanese in the Pacific. From that point on, we never lost any territory. . . only Japan did. Also, yes about 25 American ships were at the bottom of Iron Bottom Sound, but there were close to an equal number of Japanese ships. The US Navy learned some hard lesions during that campaign, at the cost of too many lives, but learn they did.

@Rimasta1

10 жыл бұрын

I agree. Notice too Guadalcanal was unique in the amount of surface engagements and the intensity of them. If you haven't already, I'd highly, HIGHLY recommend reading, "Neptune's Inferno, The US Navy at Guadalcanal." It was America's first counteroffensive and it forced the surface Navy into action when it could be argued the were not ready, at least mentally, to go up against the IJN who were masterful ship handlers and deadly torpedo men. The first battle of Savo sound and the destruction of Task Group 62.2 shows this. Guadalcanal was as important as Stalingrad, or Normandy or any like battle. Not to mention a Japsnese victory would've isolated Australia and made a Pacific counter-offensive, close to impossible.

@69Applekrate

10 жыл бұрын

Rimasta1 There are actually quite a few good books on the surface battles during the Guadalcanal campaign. Far more navy sailors died for Guadancanal than Marine losses but, the Marines seem to get all the attention. Steve

@capzaraki6065

10 жыл бұрын

69Applekrate the Navy did pay a huge contribution in that campaign no doubt about it. The reason the Marines got such credit for it is because they held it for nearly 4 months. My Grandfather was a Marine and he said "After landing on Guadalcanal a few nights after we got there we watched a huge naval battle. It was impossible to tell who was winning and when the sun came up our navy was gone! We began to wonder is this another Bataan? Have we been left here to die?" Now they returned about 13 days later. If you read books about the Marines struggle on that island they were evacuated because they had all lost about 25-30 pounds, malaria was rampant. When they loaded up the Marines in Higgins boats they couldn't even crawl up the rope netting they had crawled down on when the invasion started. Marines would try get about halfway up and fall back into the Higgins boats hell my granddad fell in the water and had to be fished out. My Granddad said "Them Navy boys Lord bless them! When they saw how bad of shape we were in they were glad to see us and crying because of the shape we were in."

@mbeighties8058

9 жыл бұрын

18tangles You have to be drunk!! There is no other explanation. This William Elwood's comment is 8 months old, and your response has nothing to do with a word He said. Just like your responses to me. I will not pick on you any more.

We owe so much to so many hidden heroes in this generation - so very much - When I watching history I always cried for every single man in this battle they fought for and lost their life in this. Cann't expressed how I love them.

May we never forget, the many sacrifices made by the Americans to defeat the Japanese attempt at world conquest...My dad served in the RCN during WW2.....""Glory to the heroes""..Lest we forget....

Diane A., beautiful and tearful write up of your father. He was a true Marine and an American hero. God bless him and his fellow Marines.

After Halsey took off to the north and left Taffy Three exposed to Kurita's fleet, the American problem was not a lack of airplanes, but the wrong type of bombs. The smaller carriers had 20-28 planes apiece and plenty of ordnance, but the bombs were the type used against land-based targets, not armor-piercing bombs made for usage against ships where they were designed to penetrate armor before detonating. So the Wildcats dropped bombs onto the Japanese ships which exploded on the surface rather than exploding inside the ship(s) to do much more damage.

@keithhull6749

10 жыл бұрын

That's the battle of Leyte Gulf you're talking about. That was in October, 1944, over two years after the start of the fight for Guadalcanal.

@46bovine

5 жыл бұрын

The U.S. had wooden flight decks. I don't believe the Japanese did.

My dad's father was a marine in ww2. That is all our family knew about his service. He never spoke of it. Days before he died, he was laying in the hospital and told us. I guess after burying his wife and two of his sons (my dad and my uncle) he was done. I remember him the afternoon before he passed, he couldn't speak anymore or move. I layed my head on his chest and told him "if you can hear me, I love you so much. Thank you for surviving." I saw tears come from his eyes and I knew he heard me. Curious I looked into Guadalcanal. Holy God

@t.j.payeur5331

2 жыл бұрын

My father was a glider pilot..flew in to Sicily, Normandy, Southern France, and 2 flights in Market-Garden..Holy God, indeed..

good doco i enjoyed it gees this is what hell looks like,if i was a soilder id prefer a defence rather than an attack,the yanks kicked ass tks for saving us in oz cheers usa

This 90s British narrators voice is so relaxing and professional that kids in the future are going to assume this is just an ai generated voice. I mean hey if someone makes an Ai Documentary model in t6he future that caN GENERATE ACCURATE DOCUMENTARIES AS GOOD AS BATTLEFIELD FROM OLD FOOTAGE IN ARCHIVES, THATD BE SO NICE.

🚩🚩 Luges, where you at geezer? 🚩🚩

God bless the US & God bless the USMC for ALL their battles in the Pacific and army in Europe where my dad was.

@christopherjordan3531

4 жыл бұрын

In fact the U.S. army did far more fighting in the pacific than the marines. Definitely not taking anything away from the Marines.

I am proud of my history and the great history of Solomon islands, it is the battle of Guadalcanal that turn the history of world war ii in the south pacific and the the whole world. Our great warriors fought hard with the American to defeat the Japaneses and end world war II, and those countries in the pacific and people who does not know and feel the effect of war and comment negative need to come to Solomon and see the great evidence of the great war that fought on the islands. I am a proud Solomon islander with my proud history that my great grandfather has fought for our freedom

God bless all the US troops that won a hard fought victory at Guadalcanal.

@bbmtge

4 ай бұрын

Outstanding screen name and pic!!!

Japanese troops left heavy equipment as transports are vulnerable to aircraft and Japan's troops tended to charge headon into US fire.

"Guadalcanal Diary", a book by war correspondent Richard Tregaskis, is an excellent source on this topic. It was published in 1943.

@scottklocke891

4 жыл бұрын

You got that right Geppy

Absolutely the best WW11 doc I've ever seen.

Dad once told me how angry The Marines were, at being left to fight, alone. He & many of the survivors later knew they were turly deemed expendable. That, made him even more angry , all the way to his final breath. He never forgave The Navy Brass for what they did, nor did any other Marines who survived Hell on Guadalcanal. ---------------MJL< 76 y/o

All that color footage was taken at Saipan, two years later. Worth noting.

The Nambu Light Machine gun was NOT based on the "British Bren Gun"... it only resembles it externally. Indeed, even the Bren gun was primarily a Czech design.

Admiral Fletcher was correct in moving the carriers out of harm's way. The Marines didn't like it, but Fletcher knew the carriers were at great risk so near to the audacious Japanese. US Carriers at the bottom of the sea would mean Guadalcanal could not be held.

Humorous commentary by this narrator on the unopposed Guadalcanal landings, about the 29 minute mark. The US forces were in full cluster-f**k, and the absence of Japanese opposition on the beaches was a major blessing.

Wait a minute. The Marines that first went in were not armed with Garands but still had 1903 bolt action Springfields.

I think the title is wrong, it should be "the battle for the pacific" instead of its currently one... I think you guys could have gone more deep into guadalcanal campaign since it is the title of the video! But thanks anyway, it is still great work

Former "sworn enemies" are now close friends and allies. A lesson here...? ; )

Tough times breed tough men

After Pearl Harbor the Japanese Navy added 12 Aircraft Carriers to its fleet, the US added 96!!

@bogdaann

5 жыл бұрын

John Franklin most of them escort carriers good just vs submarines which fought in the Atlantic threatre.

@floydvaughn836

3 жыл бұрын

@@bogdaann Escort carriers served throughout the Navy in every theater. Post war some were used to research naval helicopter ops. By The U.S.M.C. A couple were even used as late as Vietnam as a combat base for the 9th Infantry Division.

If the Imperial officers used more "western" and not as outdated combat tactics, US would lose many more marines. The fighting Spirit is admirable, but it's usefulness goes as far as it gets, when running into machinegun fire. Japanese army killed itself, using the american positions as a sword, with which they killed themselves.

@kevinsantoso7430

5 жыл бұрын

The Americans were able to see the advantage of being able to break through enemie's code, and thus the US intelligence units were able to break the Japanese code, and see through their movements. I personally think that the only thing the American lacked was war experience. Notice how bad US's air force against Japanese air force, especially in naval air combat? That's the first thing I noticed when I was studying about 'The Battle of Midway', on how the Japanese air units were far more experienced than the American's back then.

Man, I hate to point this out as I am a great fan of the Battlefield series (w/Tim Pigott Smith), but there is a glaring error in the beginning regarding weapons. The M1 Garand did not come into use on Guadalcanal until the US Army troops arrived months later to relieve the Marines. The Marines used, as their standard combat rifle, the Springfield M1903 (A1 I believe). I can't believe this got by everyone. A minor issue? Nope. A major historical error. Is all the other information suspect as well. That is, unfortunately, the resulting question. Still the best series on WW2 ever made.

15:50 The P-400's on Guadalcanal had actually been built for use by Britain. They did have an oxygen system--but U.S. oxygen tanks wouldn't fit. While the U.S. version, the P-39, did have a 37mm cannon (from *Oldsmobile*), the P-400;'s were fitted with a 20mm cannon instead. While less powerful, the 20mm didn't jam nearly as often as the Oldsmobile wonder weapon.

1. the marines that landed on Guadalcanal were armed with the 30 calibre bolt action springfield. 2. the LCI(L) was not in service at the time of this battle nor were the "Alligator" tracked amphibious landing vehicle. 3. obviously not a great deal of research for the documentary.

@JR-lk8fe

6 жыл бұрын

M1 rifles were approved for the Army in the late 1930's and manufacturing began at the Springfield Armory. The Marines continued to train with and use the 1903 Springfield until a while after the war began when distribution and training became more widespread within the military. I am told that some of the Old Breed Marines didn't like the new M1 and resisted using it. Change takes place slowly, most of the time.

@DN-cz7rp

5 жыл бұрын

marines always got the dregs. they got them in '43

Thank you Vasile luga you have been my best history teacher ever !!!!

@stephenturner5854

4 жыл бұрын

Me too these videos are great. My dad was on a heavy cruiser in the Pacific for most of the war as an anti arcraft gunner

This is a great detailed series!

One of the many books I have read about WW 2 in the Pacific was a war diary expanded into a personal history of a PBY Catalina "Black Cat" pilot. He was told by a Japanese POW that the Army commanders on Guadalcanal told them they were actually fighting on Catalina Island off the west coast of the USA.

Time to watch HBOs The Pacific again

The pacific theatre of war was like a jungle version of Stalingrad. The fighting took place in tropical jungle, meaning zero mobility and no advantages of airsupport, heavy armor or artillery. The fronts were so close together allied longrange weapons were unusable for risk of friendly fire. Calling in airstrikes beyond enemy lines had no effect as the enemy had dug out miles of tunnels and caves to hide within. The few tanks that made it inland couldnt manevoure or were simply rendered useless by the terrain. The infantry had to do the job - just like in stalingrad, no industrial area of effect advantages of any kind just... savage man to man combat.

46:20. Guy on the left. Is that Chesty Puller, or am I mistaken? I know he was on Guadalcanal but I’m not sure if that’s him.

@JamesinAZ

3 жыл бұрын

Yup that's Chesty Puller. Good eye.

The Curtis Wright SB2C Helldiver was such a piece of bug-laden shit that many of them were pushed over the side, though it had an internal bomb bay and more HP than the dive bomber it replaced, the Dauntless. First, the wings many times would not lock into position, which wrecked many a mission. Then it was discovered that the bell cranks the aileron cables went through were made of inferior metal that when they broke loose caused the plane to perform a half-roll just as the plane began its high-G pullout after the bomb drop, which killed quite a few pilots before Lt. Mike Micheel discovered the problem. As the war continued with steel bell cranks in the wings, the Helldivers' maximum dive angle was continually reduced until it was less than 45 degrees.

@jamesberlo4286

10 жыл бұрын

that's mind blowing , look how bad our torpedo's were and nobody listened , imagine how many lives were lost and the risk they were taking, bad enough Plane launched versions, but to lose a Submarine . and the victories we could have had.

Fantastic video! Thank you for the upload.

Pretty accurate, UNTIL they got to the M-1 Rifle! My Uncle Mac went in to Guadalcanal with the 7th Marines later in the game. They all had 03 Springfield's. The 164th Infantry, also known as the 164th Marines were the first to use said weapon in this battle. The 164th is a fascinating unit. Dakota's National Guard, they fought superbly at Guadalcanal. My Uncle did not like the M-1. He far preferred the 03. His subsequent deer hunts with a Remington 721 in 30-06 showed he really could shoot. To put it simply.

@Porolepis

10 жыл бұрын

I used the M-1 Garand in Korea and IMO it was a wonderful weapon. I had used the Springfield in training and while it probably was a great sniper rifle, as a combat weapon I firmly believe the Garand superior. It's worth a lot to be able to fire and keep your sights (and eyes) on the target without having to move it as you work a bolt.

@TheDustysix

10 жыл бұрын

Ross, thank you for your Service, and the Garand rifle needs no defense from someone who carried an M-16A1. My comment was based on the USMC entry into the campaign with the 03. The first reinforcements were from a Dakota's NG unit the 164th Infantry Regiment. They were affectionately called the "164th Marines" and were invited to all reunions of that battle y their USMC brethren. They had M-1's. They also did something unprecedented. When reinforcing the 1st MarDiv, instead of moving very sick and exhausted Marines around in an active battle, These fine Soldiers were divied up and put into position with USMC units on line. Their performance was exemplary.

@TheDustysix

10 жыл бұрын

My Uncle Mac had the 03 on Guadalcanal, but was subsequently issued the Garand. Personally i prefer a peep sight to the open notch rear sight. Mac made incredible witnessed shots on Whitetails hauling ass with a Remington 721 in 30-06. That rifle was a Reenlistment present for my Uncle Jim USMC. He gave it to Mac when he was going to Vietnam. Mac shot 19 deer with a 20 round box of Remingto 150 gr. Core Lokt.

@DN-cz7rp

5 жыл бұрын

correct

@casparcoaster1936

5 жыл бұрын

I really enjoy detail comments like this man, and the replys... helps eliminate boredom, here on our silly little planet, my thanks...

Just Read "Neptune's Inferno -- The US Navy at Guadalcanal". Three of every four Americans killed at GC were sailors. At yet, GC is remembered as a Marine operation. 46:06 Barely any mention of the 7 major IJN/USN major clashes.

outstanding....more please!

Damn Tojos

@stephenturner5854

4 жыл бұрын

Are you related to stunt man mike?

God bless the USA. Thank you Daddy. I'm so lucky to be alive. Henry Spurgeon 1st div.Marines engineer

@catbyte9756

8 жыл бұрын

+Janet Valentine Maybe our dads knew each other. My dad was a Marine Raider, 1st Marine Division.

@reaganodo878

5 жыл бұрын

@@froglegs4910 God had nothing to do with it. Satan probably did though.

@cascadianapplications7124

5 жыл бұрын

God is about to cast away the US.

I really enjoy watching this series cuz I find it very informative

Love those Heinkel bombers chased by spitfires ;)

The marines on Guadalcanal did not have Garand rifles. They had old bolt actions and stole Garands from Army units when they got the chance.

@SabraStiehl

10 жыл бұрын

You of course were correct with your comment that the Marines on Guadalcanal were stuck with Springfield Armory '03s instead of M-1s, but let me tell you I witnessed the effectiveness of the '03 in Vietnam and was impressed. It was a weapon designed for long range and was at least the equal of the German Mauser it was based on. The Green Berets in Vietnam used '03s to keep the VC from getting close during firefights. Though the Marines on Guadalcanal were unable to put the number of rounds downrange they could have with the M-1, they had a significantly better piece than the Japanese Arisaka. I haven't owned an '03, but I have an accurized M-1 and at one time owned a 31 caliber Japanese Arisaka. Japanese 25 and 31 caliber rifles were of reasonable quality during the early years of the war, but near the end they were thrown together. After the Marines shared islands with the Army, the normal course of events was that some swapped rifles. On one occasion a Marine general decreed that none of his troops could carry an M-1 away from the island, so the troops with M-1s either had to pay for the '03 they had traded away or else find someone who would swap them back before they headed out for R & R or wherever.

@Rimasta1

10 жыл бұрын

German troops who fought Marines in WW1 thought they were up against shock troops. The 1903 coupled with Marine marksmanship training was a deadly combination. German soldiers were being hit when they thought they were safely beyond effective range. WW1 is also were Marines earned the nickname, "Devil Dogs, from Germans of course. Honestly, what a complement from ones enemy.

@dalecrummie5818

10 жыл бұрын

Rimasta1 That's funny, all the Marines were in the Pacific, none were in ETO.

@robertbrandywine

10 жыл бұрын

***** He said WW I not WW II.

@capzaraki6065

9 жыл бұрын

when the Army landed they got better weapons by looting Army supplies My Grandfather and other Marines called it "Moonlight Requisitioning"

The picture you put with this video is of the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima.

The M1 Garand was an excellent battle rifle and was to be the main rifle issued for all forces. The problem was that after Pearl Harbor so many men enlisted in the armed forces than there were not enough M1 Garands to give them. The Marines that invaded Guadalcanal went ashore with left over bolt action Springfield rifles from WWI. The M1 didn't arrive at Gaudalcanal until the Army came ashore several months later. Thank God for the heavy and light .30 cal machine guns that they DID have! That gave the Marines overwhelming fire superiority that the Japanese had never faced before.

anyone else catch the famous Marine, Chesty Puller, at the 46:20 mark? shame on you if you didn't.

lol I can't help myself. Whenever I hear Curtis Lemay's name said, I have an irresistible urge to yell "Bombs Away Lemay!"

@timlamiam

9 жыл бұрын

Not saying it's right, it's just that if his name ever comes up on a test or something (I'm a history student), you can always rely on referring to his willingness to bomb stuff. Because that was pretty much his strategy for everything.

@46bovine

5 жыл бұрын

LeMay was a psychopath. My opinion.

@HemlockRidge

5 жыл бұрын

Opinions and a**holes. Or, opinions by a**holes.

@46bovine

5 жыл бұрын

HemlockRidge Speaks for himself/herself/itself. An asshole!!!

@HemlockRidge

5 жыл бұрын

Bobby: I seriously doubt I am speaking for myself.

to all that served and to the families of those who served A BIG THANK YOU

Remembering Lt.col Davies Wakefield USMC

My uncle (still living at age 98, and quite healthy) was a crew member of one of the landing crafts...he said they were sitting ducks while off-loading the marines.

Significant as were American victories in the Pacific, what tends to get overlooked is how much of the Japanese Army got sucked into the war of attrition in China.

@HaloFTW55

8 жыл бұрын

quote "China did not do anything" unquote. The typical comment I see that people use would reply to you.

@shittyvideostudios8584

8 жыл бұрын

Well,that is to an extent true. China was to Japan what the USSR was to Germany. Of the 7 mil men Japan and its puupet states had just 2 mil were outside China. The ten largest land operations Japan laucnhed only one wanst in China, and the Manchurian statey alone had a garrison the size of the armies between Indochina to Australia. Had China not been there to hold down the Japanese armies, every garrison could have been massively reinforced. However, an equally important aspect was the war at sea. China played virtually no part in this war. In addition, America was suppliying China wth almost all of its equipment, a larger percentage than the famed Lend-Lease. Also, even if Japan had somehow been forced out of China, it still had a massive empire in other colonies. The war at sea was a tippibg point as it gave the allies a way to directly strike at Japan. A third less known factor was the USSR. The reason 1.1 mil men was in Manchuko was due to the fear of a Russian attack. Even as their empire was being squeezed on all sides Japan refused to downsize the army. Also, this 1.1 mil men was crushed in just weeks, as well as Korea. This was one of two factors(the other being atomic bombs) that persuaded Jap to surrender.

@mikeconti8456

8 жыл бұрын

So what!?!..is it America's fault they started a war with us as they were still fighting China? America was fighting Germany at the same time. If japan was at full force it would be the same outcome, just have taken longer

@shittyvideostudios8584

8 жыл бұрын

Mike Conti Wait, which nationalty are you?l

@shittyvideostudios8584

8 жыл бұрын

Mike Conti You say USA started war with you. Ok,that implies your Japanese. But then you seuddenly say Anerica was fighting China while warribg with you, so you could be Russian.

The narrative was great and concise yet the images were taken from other battles e.g Iwo Jima and Midway etc.

@DN-cz7rp

5 жыл бұрын

narration is crap he can't even pronounce the names correctly

My Dad was with the Ohio 37 Info Div., on New Georgia Island.

The operation was wanted by C.N.O. of the U.S. Navy ADM. Ernest King and because of the lack of supplies, the operation was also known as Operation Shoestring!

Tell that to the Muslims living in Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese didn't give them independence, they enslaved them.

Title should be "Battles of The Pacific."

By the time the documentary playing was resumed at about 16:00 in the afternoon of September 2nd, 2015, I started watching a probably live-narrated and changed documentary. The documentary titled "Battlefield" was about the same with some DVDs I borrowed from the John C. Pace library in the University of West Florida. It is still different from the DVDs I bought in 2008 in a Walmart in Vidalia, Georgia. They were stolen away from my possession in late 2008.

OK---------- Most of the Marines on Guadalcanal were equipped with old WW-1 bolt action riffles. The M-1 was prioritized to the Army units that early in the War. Fact; ---- the Japanese Banzai charges were designed to over run any force using slow firing bolt action rifles. The only thing that saved the Marines were the additional number of crew served water cooled WW-1 heavy machine guns that had been unloaded from the ships before they left. After action reports showed that Marine units without the WW-1 heavy Machine guns (when they were knocked out) were quickly overran. While the Army paratroops and Rangers armed with M-1's able to quickly shoot 8 quick rounds before reloading, (which only took the time for a bolt action riffle to fire less than 2 shots) were able to withstand the Banzai charges without the protection of heavy machine guns. Why the Marines used to fighting with Army hand me downs were quickly issued M-1's before their next landings. Second------- The Amtracks, Higgins boats and LST's as well as the mentioned LSI's had yet to be built. the ships were relying on barges and boats without bow ramps. The Marines where originally not supposed to go to war for another year. Which was why most of their supplies and troops were not unloaded even after 2 days. After Guadalcanal these ships and boats where rushed into production to speed unloading.