Guadalcanal: The Battle of Alligator Creek (On Location!!!) | History Traveler Episode 407

[@collinhuffman5006]

It's honestly a disgrace that the United States hasn't protested, or made an effort, to protect these iconic battlefields where Americans died. A plaque on a wall cannot explain a battlefield the way a preserved battlefield can. I've been watching for a few years now, and I love the content. Thanks for making this stuff viewable for the average American!

[@TDR85]

Try selling that to the taxpayers. Maybe non-profits or a non-profit should be started for battlefield restoration and preservation.

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Kind of imperialistic thinking that one can go wherever one wants on sovereign territory and dictate how they utilize their land. Fortunate there is the documentation we have and if (when) remains are found they are handled correctly.

[@TDR85]

@@MrFrikkenfrakken No one's saying that. The only imperial minded person here is you.

[@tylerjohnson9949]

China is bullying everyone in the region including us to some degree. Proof seen in this video. China selected that location for “development” with malice. They know its importance to both Japan and the US.

[@michellewhyatt4438]

I totally agree with everything you've said it's disgusting what the Chinese are doing to this country. They've also taken over businesses in uganda east Africa it's not on

[@GrayRanger3B]

Sooooo many young people today have never even heard of this place let alone the battles fought there. Please keep doing what you do so we have proof it really happened.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@GrayRanger3B 👍🏻

[@lukycharms9970]

Most young people these days don’t even know who fought in WWII

[@M80Ball]

Gimme a description of the battle of lundys lane.

[@davidhoward4715]

@@lukycharms9970 Bullshit.

[@macsimino]

I had the honor and privilege to actually know Mr. Robert Leckie. I worked in a county library just outside the town of Byram in NJ in the early 90s. Mr. Leckie was a regular visitor, always checking out books and was never shy to ask questions. We knew he was an author and I loved his books. He would read to the children. I knew him well, I will always remember him as a witty, smart, and kind man.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! How cool is that?

[@timbrown1481]

@@TheHistoryUnderground JD it’s gotta be frustrating not to be able to see and try to film areas now that limited / restricted access has been imposed. Your other Canal show, Tulagi etc are very cool. It’s amazing how blue the water is. You keep up your educational experiences. I’ve watched many of your Civil War shows. Your shows are top notch!

[@joesielskisr4911]

My boss I work at over 50 years ago was wounded there

[@AZtown]

My great uncle was with the B-1-7 1st Marine Division. Cut his teeth at Guadalcanal, fought at Cape Gloucester before losing his life on the beach at Peleliu 15 Sep 1944. So tragic the see Guadalcanals condition now. Thank you for your work

[@georgetrue6660]

I thank your great uncle for the hardships he endured on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester, and for his ultimate sacrifice on Peleiliu. What is his name?

[@JovianLoop]

Thanks to your great-uncle and all the men and women of the Greatest Generation. We will remember them. Best wishes from Australia.

[@paulamiller7667]

My father was a Navy Seabee on Peleliu. I honestly can’t comprehend how horrific it must have been for anyone who was there.

[@robertb7254]

I had a patient who was assigned a Sherman Tank at Pelieu ..he was wounded and evacuated to Guadalcanal and during his time there JFK was recovering from PT 109 on another wing he told me

[@graemecouch5010]

Cape Gloucester was a forgotten Battle ! Many brave men !

[@gw2058]

So glad you were able to show the site as it is today, and so glad I first visited the sites over 30 years ago….what a change. By showing the Guadalcanal sites as they are today to an international audience you may effect some change. The main thing is you went, you saw and you experienced the locations and it's history.

[@1psychofan]

I’m rewatching The Pacific again on account of this

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Good idea!

[@lockbars5456]

You know what, good idea. I think I'll do the same and also reread Helmet for my Pillow. On a side note a major authority on USMC firearms told me that my 1903 rifle is in the exact configuration of a USMC rebuild that it would have had on the Canal. There's no way to know for sure if it made it over but it's neat to imagine.

[@1psychofan]

@ I have that book too! These men were heroes. God Bless each one!

[@ronaldwarren5220]

Heroes one and all. Those Marines are legendary.

[@dawnlefevre9172]

I'm just heartbroken at what has become of this battlefield! My son in law is a marine of 1st battalion, 7th marines and this is how I first learned of guadalcanal! Thanks for showing us what you could J.D ! Enjoyed it immensely!

[@edmondmcdowell9690]

Civilization has turned it into a garbage dump. Truly sad.

[@cahovod1190]

Thank you for sharing this video for showing us how Alligator Creek is today. Semper Fi!!!

[@richardthacker6]

I've been waiting for this one to drop. What a shame that this area and many others like it are being erased. Thank you for the explanation on the front end. The video was incredibly informative and awesome as usual.

[@HootOwl513]

The John Garfield movie, ''Pride of the Marines,'' made an impression on me as a kid. Remembering how he coped as a Blind Man, by memorizing where each thing was in relation to the other things, got me thinking that way, even though I was only near-sighted. In Boot Camp, we had a barracks drill where the platoon members each disassembled their M-16s on top of our racks, then the DI killed the lights, and we were to reassemble the rifle in total dark. I was the first to get it. Remembering Al Schmid's methods, I put the Upper Receiver Group on the left of my blanket, the Lower Receiver Group on my right, and the smaller parts fanned out in between. I was first. Since I knew [in my mind's eye] where and what each part was, I could reassemble the Rifle rapidly. The DI thought I'd cheated. We tried it again. I beat my first time. I was ''invited'' into the Duty Hut to explain my method. I cited a corny old movie about Guadalcanal, where an actor, John Garfield, had been blinded, but continued running his machine gun, sighted by his buddy, and could handle his weapon by feel because he knew it so well. Impressed with my motivation, I was picked on less by the DIs for a couple days, until I fucked up on something else. Semper Fi

[@infidel202]

Always something else mate, from Australia 🇦🇺

[@jdhaase1417]

Why do I feel like history is repeating itself on these islands with adversaries occupying them again

[@Rusty_Gold85]

China trying to getcloseto Australia for strategic reasons

[@jdhaase1417]

@ yep

[@luckyguy600]

China stepped in to help the people of Guadalcanal a few years back. And here we are. There is always a price to be paid for assistance by any major country.

[@rusticbox9908]

Adversaries? Why do you trade with them then?

[@dakotareid1566]

@@rusticbox9908 cheap manufacturing

[@moobaz8675]

Fair play mate. Good effort in challenging conditions. Appreciate your efforts in telling the stories and educating us.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Much appreciated.

[@nomadfrooge]

This has been a great series, I hope you enjoyed the trip as much as we have enjoyed watching. Big respect for Dave being such a knowledgeable guide and preserving this battlefield and remembrance of the battle as a historian. As long as we have men like you and Dave, we may lose the physical battlefield as time moves on, but never the honor. This battle is especially poignant as Dave is a Marine machine gunner, inheritor of those Marine machine gunners who played pivotal roles in the Guadacanal campaign, including Basilone.

[@joshh8245]

That's a real shame what happened to the Alligator Creek area. Great video!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I agree, it’s a shame. Thanks for watching!

[@joshh8245]

@@TheHistoryUnderground You're welcome!

[@CFarnwide]

Dave is the man for Guadalcanal History! 😎

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

100%

[@timwnelson]

A few years back I spent a few days on Guadalcanal. I actually walked the battlefield, walked out on the sandbar where Ichikis force was cut down. Also saw Edsons Ridge. It all looks so peaceful now, no hint as to the awful carnage that took place there. It was a powerful and humbling experience.

[@johnchestnut9739]

Thank you so much for bringing WW2 history to our eyes. I greatly appreciate your complete, and understandable and visible history to us! Excellent job

[@maplehouseknives]

Great video! Such a shame, other Nations don’t feel the need to preserve lands where brave men gave their lives for freedom. Thanks JD, greetings from Germany 🇩🇪

[@kevinwilson1124]

As limited as you were to tour the site, you guys did a beautiful job. So rare to see these Pacific battlefields. Thank you 🙏.

[@Chiller11]

The action at Alligator Creek and the defense of Edson’s Ridge are kind of the quintessential battles of this campaign. These actions are happening simultaneously with the Australian’s defense along the Kokoda Track. I’ve believed for quite awhile that discussions of Guadalcanal need to include discussions of the New Guinea campaign. The Japanese had to respond to both at the same time limiting what they could do at either location.

[@warrenklein7817]

Two weeks after alligator creek, the Allies were defending at Milne Bay when the 2k Japanese did 3 x banzai charges, bugles and all, into a prepared position with heavy mg, mortars, artillery and 8k defenders at airfield #3 and were slaughtered, about 500 dead and many more wounded retreated and the operation abandoned about 1 week later when the IJN picked the survivors up.

[@jeffswick-t3y]

You guys are great people for doing shows about history keeping the past alive. From Jeff Swick St.Williams Ontario Canada

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@mkbarber65]

Agreed Jeff. Although this particular battle is based on the actions of the American soldiers, JD has done a stellar job of highlighting several Canadian battles during WWII. Thank you JD. I also am from Ontario Canada, a little town near Jeff called Simcoe

[@Shimerville_Sheik]

Thanks for the great job given the circumstances. J D, you always do a fantastic job. From the Little Bighorn to Guadalcanal, you are the best in my opinion. I have to say as a history buff, by far, you are my favorite guide. About Guadalcanal, #1 shame on us for not buying the land before the Chinese got ahold of it. #2 it almost seems as if Chinese did this out of spite. Of all the places on the island, this is the only place to put in a cement plant? #3 the amount of plastic coming down the river is not atypical. It kind of makes me sick to hear that you had to limit your time at the creek. Keep up the great work.

[@patriot388]

The Pacific ww2 series was excellent! Highly recommend!

[@frankmaykut7266]

Thank you for all of your efforts JD. Please keep bringing us this valuable historic information regarding our brave patriots of the past.

[@harley909]

Thanks for all the effort. No matter how you slice it, that’s hallowed ground.

[@bearbait49]

Love your work on these series

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I appreciate it!

[@barrydysert2974]

JD, i had to stop a 1:26 and compliment You on the intro. i've always been impressed by the artist quality of Your photography. The way You frame Your shots is very emotional. Your have woven that same emotional quality into the intro. The more that i think about it, i believe You are the best all around visual artist i've ever seen. You have been blessed by God my friend 🙏💜⚡

[@scottspaine4864]

JD. This series on the Pacific conflict was very informative and interesting. Thanks. The island chain around Guadalcanal could be considered some of the most beautiful areas in the Pacific. Sadly the garbage on and around the beaches is disturbing. How can the local government not want to clean up these areas?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@scottspaine4864 - Thanks! From what I understand, there are some measures that are beginning to be taken. They have a big challenge ahead of them though.

[@Steve7318]

Thanks for your efforts to bring this to us. That's ashame that these areas are being acquired by the Chinese rather than being preserved to honor fallen Americans. It's heartbreaking to hear that. I hope something can be done.

[@lappin6482]

Great work JD under the circumstances, so sad what's happening to these sites

[@AlanJeffery-y5f]

Anyone else notice the amount of plastic on that beach?

[@luckyguy600]

got that India look about it. Any spent bullets' found there?

[@warrenbunn7592]

Served there with NZ Police with the RAMSI mission 2012. Unfortunately, the amount of plastic and other rubbish was normal, more so, closer to built up areas. A lot less as you moved out towards the coastal villages. It still is a developing 3rd world country. Been back a few times and yes the Chinese influence is getting huge.

[@AlanJeffery-y5f]

@@warrenbunn7592 And, yes, the Chinese influence is getting huge. Mostly because western countries haven't worked with the locals to develop their economy. Just thought that giving them charity (aid) was sufficient.

[@joshgoodin4943]

Rivers is from my hometown. Our VFW lodge is named in his honor

[@marcelmallory2761]

I am jealous JD..... I want to be there someday. Thank you for the tour and lesson...

[@BattleGroup66]

Truly heartbreaking about this site. It produces some anger.

[@MichaelWoodard-mt4nt]

Great video. For those who wish to dive deeper, I would like to recommend "Guadalcanal - The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle" by Richard B Frank. This book contains an astonishing amount of detail about this storied chapter of the USMC. An excellent companion piece is "Neptune's Inferno" which details the US Navy's actions at Guadalcanal...author James D. Hornfischer.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Both good books. The definitive book on the Battle of the Tenaru (Alligator Creek) is by William Bartsch. Victory Fever on Guadalcanal.

[@dwightdonnelly8662]

Thank you for the historical video! I would like to visit Guadalcanal; i lived on Kwajalein Atoll for many years, and always wanted to visit Guam, Saipan, and Guadalcanal.

[@mikebacherl2490]

I had a Uncle at Guadalcanal and New Caladonia that was in the U.S. Army, John Talburt, who was wounded but survived. Lived out the remainder of his life in the Bay Area. Either owned or co-owned a Lincoln/Mercury Dealership.

[@UlsterBoy59]

I'm so fucking enraged right now I won't be able to sleep tonight ! Semper Fi .

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I probably shouldn't tell you what's happening to a lot of our Civil War battlefields then.

[@dakotareid1566]

@@TheHistoryUndergrounddo a video on it

[@GoodLuckBP]

Thank you. Lest we forget those brave men....The Air Force is reopening old WW2 Airbase on Tinian Island......

[@dave3156]

Limited or not, I still think this series is some of your finest work JD. Geez can't believe all this stuff is being sold!! Thx!

[@tanker335]

That is an interesting avatar. It looks familiar to one near and dear to my heart.

[@dave3156]

@@tanker335 My Dad's WWII unit the 736th Tank Bn. Fought in the Bulge and thru the end of the war with the 83d Division

[@MrFrankturbo1]

great job JD ..keep them coming!

[@pczTV]

Nice work. Knowing how much the Chinese dislike the Japanese, it’s a miracle they haven’t bulldozed the memorial

[@Sonny_Eclipse]

I guess that helps to explain why the US Military is reactivating the airbase on Tinian

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

I hope that we don’t put too much weight on it. It might tip over.😂

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

In my opinion, the Western powers need to be investing in places like Guadalcanal to counter the Chinese. The Chinese have built a stadium and are currently building a hospital in Honiara. Not without expecting something in return, no doubt.

[@gpschaser]

I think this video teaches us as much about what’s coming as it does what happened 😢

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

@ Their “Belt and roads” initiative. It’s falling apart in Africa already. Their roads are rapidly deteriorating and the Africans have no intention on paying anything back. Look at China’s internal construction projects. Derisively called “Tofu dreg”. Where buildings and bridges are literally falling over due to corruption and poor materials. But, yes, the US needs to counter this stuff. We need to take back farmlands purchased by the Chinese near our military bases.

[@mfreund15448]

@@TheHistoryUnderground The Chinese are preparing for the next WW and are staking claim for their bases.

[@Revelationthankful]

Best history channel on KZbin

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you!

[@ivorglenn5309]

You are doing great work JD preserving these pieces of history, it's such a shame that some of these historic sites are being destroyed in the name of progress.

[@skynut38]

Progress or imperialism?

[@mikloridden8276]

@@skynut38 Yeah.. but honestly that’s what happens when you ignore those island nations. Someone else paid attention and took advantage.

[@joehayward2631]

I read a comment here also other shows like this where USA soldiers are buried in other countries, Island ECT. The USA pays for the land including the upkeep of the cemeteries & area around them. Ive seen so many documentary programs showing a dedicated US Government teams that still search for Americans lost in warS. Thanks to all you go out make documentaries to remind us the many sacrifices made by America's best people.

[@Legendary_UA]

Been there.....awesome place to visit the battlefield of my father. I had seen pictures of the site growing up in my Dad's "The Old Breed" and had always been drawn to the leaning coconut tree towards the ocean It was still there. And yes, I saw evidence of crocodiles and even stumbled across and old oul oan from some Marine vehicle. Thank you John Innes, RIP

[@rman74VC]

I saw the development months ago on Google Maps and even reached out to some historical groups about it. I never heard back. Thanks for the heads up

[@donaldrobbins252]

Now I have to watch Pride of the Marines.

[@kplante7881]

Great video. Thanks for sharing…!

[@Crazypapa95]

It’s frustrating for sure that this happened. Thanks J.D. for explaining everything you could. I’ve read both Helmet for my pillow and With the old breed. Excellent books!

[@erikguth4830]

Hey bud I treasure your videos and the experience as well as detailed knowledge that u never have to question. I know your voice so well that if AI tried it, the software would fail. Every syllable and that hinge hang that you poise. I’d swear you have either Matthew McConaughey or Christopher Walken in the gene pool. All humor or levity as you would speak aside. I think you felt the message in the statue as you read it? That tight throat feeling that even we tough guys play off. Anyway it’s great. I can only imagine with your war knowledge you have to have a section of yourself that cries out to stop war.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@erikguth4830 Thank you, sir. Appreciate that.

[@JimmyRisica]

Great video JD, glad you're covering more of the Marines actions in WW2, oldish Marine here 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@jimpuffenbarger978]

Great job JD. My Dad was in Army Air Force on Sipian during WWIi. Can't believe Guadalcanal is as trashy as it is. Looks like it could be a beautiful place.

[@kevinfox6584]

Battlefields change ....europe is a fine example ....just sooo sad to see how areas on Guadalcanal have become... JD youre coverage/ content is top notch.. thank you soo much . Happy new year from Kelowna BC ...

[@gerardhogan3]

Greetings from Australia JD. I've been watching you for years. So I'm used to seeing a stack of Civil War stuff. The most memorable is the Carter House in TN, the story of the son who jumped out of the train as a PoW, and the bloody shed out the back riddled with musket round holes. Then you got your kit flogged in Greece by that dicknhead and now you've just been in Brisbane and now the Soloman Islands. I wish I got to meet you. After Guadacanal One Marines were sent to Brisbane for R and R. As the place was overcrowded the people of Melboune opened their doors to them. This was because the Australian Government paid for food and accomodation to the US for their support. The One Marines March is waltzing Matilda in honour of our hospitality. You know there were 100,000 African American troops in Brisbane and were treated badly. I lived in the suburb where a couple of them went AWOL during WW2 and the MPs found them holed up in a shop. To flush them out a .50cal was used and the shop still stands to this day! The lone survivor was sent New Guinea. be safe my friend and I love your channel. Tell that Doug his accent is getting pretty close to us Aussies. Semper fidelis. Lest we forget those great people who fell for us to live how we do today!

[@ChristIsRisen6777]

Very interesting presentation about an amazing time. Lots of great books out there about it: "Shots Fired In Anger", "The First Team", "Guadalcanal Diary", "Japanese Destroyer Captain", "Helmet For My Pillow".

[@tonyhalsall3170]

In 1978 (aged 17) I was in the Merchant Navy and we spent some time in Honiara. I had heard that there was a lot of wartime detritus still littering the beach around that river both from landings and presumably this battle. I took a taxi ride down to the beach and it was literally full of the remains of equipment, vehicles, mortars, casings and bullets. In my youthful naivety, I did not imagine that any of the ordnance would still be live with the war having ended more than thirty years earlier so I threw a couple of "souvenirs" into my rucksack and took a cab back to the ship. Later that night whilst discussing the state of the beach I was reliably informed that the beach was indeed very dangerous and full of live ordnance some of which had gone off over the years. I was horrified at my own naivety and stupidity and didn't know what to do with two mortar shells now sitting in my cabin. I couldn't go back ashore as the ship was leaving in the early hours and so as we left and picked up speed in deep water I very carefully picked up my rucksack, carried it back to the nearest outdoor access and dropped it over the side absolutely terrified that they would go off when they impacted the water. Fortunately, they didn't and all was well, but I often think back to that day and imagine just how differently it could have gone. I understand that the beach remained in the same condition for many years after that and has only been cleaned up in the fairly recent past: www.halotrust.org/latest/halo-updates/news/halo-to-start-operations-in-solomon-islands/

[@spic0li]

Chinese are so thankful for being liberated during ww2

[@Dako881]

Who liberated the Chinese then?

[@spic0li]

McArthurs Army and then they threw back the thankfullness in Korea as well when the North were about to get wiped out and they came flooding in to help…..🙄

[@Dako881]

@@spic0li What part of China did McArthur liberate?

[@jonathanlewis8018]

@@spic0lithey never got liberated i WW2. MacArthur was fighting in the Philippines

[@marksummers463]

God bless those guys!

[@rodskopyk2506]

Hey that was so good, wow. Your intro was excellent and your narration. My son is taking a 4 year course in Fillm and Media at TMU and my brother is a history professor in NY Binghamton

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind words.

[@HistorywithWaffles]

Some of my favorite spots I’ve visited were actually the Wake Islands, Majuro and places such as that. One day I hope to head out to the base in Pearl Harbor and capture that on film.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Dang. I’d love to make it over to Wake.

[@misterbaker9728]

Much love and respect from Cleveland

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@Cabmaker]

Excellent video again jd. Loving this series top notch,!

[@brandysmith3977]

JD, I see below that you've never seen nor heard of Combat!. You need to watch it. It was Band of Brothers before Band of Brothers. It had 152 episodes and became the longest running TV series about war. Many cast members were WW II vets, including the director, who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and went through four major campaigns. Realism was the guideline. Vic Morrow, a vet, was the star. Still streaming on Prime , Fubo and others.

[@johnjames8910]

Also, a movie back in the day was a Good representation of it Was the thin red line

[@luckyguy600]

some day a Chinese cement factory and a Chinese resort beach for thousands. But there was a time, long ago , when men fought and died there. I am sure without protection and preservation there would be a hotel right on Little Round Top!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

You should see what the Gettysburg battlefield used to look like. It was a mess.

[@jeffapplewhite5981]

Good episode

[@jimmywr32]

great video thank you

[@64maxpower]

Your Short got me here sooner

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@jefferytodd7017]

Merritt Edson's Marine Raiders were some tough hombres.

[@buhritnee99]

Your intros are so awesome and always get me hype

[@skimmer8774]

As always I've learned important material that I can talk about with family and friends. Thank you. PS. Selling land anywhere to China isn't a good idea.

[@stevenjacobs3559]

I watch your shows. You present things in a honorable way! Do you ever lead tours? This is a weird question however can you feel what happened at the different battle grounds you go to?

[@corbynborbyn1194]

So did they remove all of the deceased before they destroyed the historical site?

[@lwovert8148]

Dang Communist Chinese blocking ground that was soaked in American blood. Keep it up JD!!!! Thank you for your work and lessons.

[@sbishop6450]

Another very interesting video. Cannot comprehend how the Chinese have no respect for the island or those who died on it.😢 Found the short map intro helpful as although I have seen the Pacific series I am limited in my understanding and knowledge of this part of the pacific war. 🇬🇧

[@MrJEANETTE9]

That's China for you, disgraceful thing that they had done

[@johnemerson1363]

Just as an aside, Colonel Ishiki's command was earlier assigned to occupy Midway Island. Since that didn't work out, he returned to Saipan where he was subsequently send to Guadalcanal, here his career ended.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for the extra info.

[@jamesshirley5875]

Thank you sir, you always put out great vibes!

[@oneofmanyte3321]

Another great video. Sorry you couldnt spend more time there. Interesting to see the Japanese memorial. Look forward to the next video.

[@burrellbikes4969]

I felt the Japanese memorial was beautiful. I think the United States needs to do more to recognize and remember the men that fought there as well.

[@allencollins6031]

Thanks

[@michaelbentsen9869]

Another great video presentation with a frightening footnote. The Chinese have been accumulating real estate throughout the world during the past decades. Seeking to purchase areas of potential mineral resources & to secure a foothold in various countries including the USA. This tactic can be likened to a non-military invasion. The threat of eventual military conflict is ever present. Anything can be had for the right price. The history of Imperial Japan expansion should more than explain & serve as a warning to the current Chinese mindset.

[@ickster23]

Are foreigners allowed to buy Chinese land?

[@FlorentinoRebuildingCo.5644]

As a kid, I slept with the book Guadalcanal Diary always under my pillow for some reason (?). It took me away to another world and just brought me comfort having a familiar item under my pillow for some reason. I am saddened to hear the Coconut Grove is gone. But as a lifelong Californian living in the L.A./Orange county area, it is something I am familiar with. So many landmarks, historical sites, famous areas ion California have been bulldozed in the name of progress and parking lots, road widening or housing tracts built in their place. Thanks for covering the Alligator Creek area before it's gone for good. And I think we all now it will disappear completely in the near future and China (or any one else) expands it's business foot print. I just you can say you got there in the nick of time.

[@victorsuazo2903]

What about the John Basilone site, did they take a dump on that too!

[@vladimergustav5708]

I hope that doesn’t foreshadow a future engagement on Guadalcanal with the Chinese.

[@robertbenson9797]

Excellent episode, even with the limited accessibility to different areas. The M1917 water-cooled .30 caliber machine gun was considered to be “a light machine gun”. Those Marines and soldiers that carried that weapon were Men. With all the equipment, the total weight was well over 100 pounds. The series, “The Pacific” does a good job of showing the movement to the M1919 Browning machine gun, especially in the episodes showing John Basilone and his development as a machine gun instructor. While the M1919 was not light weight, it was air-cooled rather than water-cooled. The M1919 did not have the heavy water jacket. The base was also lighter than the M1917. Anyway, thank you Mr. Browning for your designs.

[@user-mc4sq3fk5d]

This is why battlefield preservation is so important. Shane on the locals for selling historic land.

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

A metal detector would have been a nice piece of equipment to sweep the beach for old MG shell casings.

[@dwightadams3853]

Sounds like President Trump needs to have a conversation with the folks at Guadalcanal.

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

dwightadams3853: he will only do that if they are Republican types.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yep. The Western nations need to look at investing in the country.

[@PalleRasmussen]

He can keep his, greasy, grubby, little hands off Greenland.

[@swgeek4310]

I would much rather see a non profit or historical conglomerate work something out..

[@rockinrobin8549]

Curious how and why you would think he'd check them? All his junk products are made there and so too are the things his daughter peddles. Powerful corporations whose money helped elect him have interests there.

[@spookygears]

Thanks for this content!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

My pleasure!

[@petegibson863]

Not many historians are aware that about 30 troops from the New Zealand 3 rd Battalion were on Guadalcanal during this battle , my late dad being one of them . When the Japanese tried unsuccessfully to take Henderson Field , they carried out night bombing raids , and one night , Dad and his mates were in their fox holes when they heard the whistling sound of a bomb dropping somewhere near them , they felt the ground shake when the bomb hit , but it did not detonate , after the all clear , USMC engineers came around and pulled the 500 pound bomb out of the ground , made it safe and asked the NZ troops if they would like it mounted on its fins outside their camp , they agreed , after the bomb was standing upright , Dad and his mate painted the word " KIWI " across the bomb , on numerous occasions USMC troops would drive past , stop and ask , " What does K One W One mean ? " Military history at its finest .

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

That’s new information. I really want to hear more. Do you know who they were attached to and their role?

[@petegibson863]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 It all came about because a US naval vessel which had a bakery onboard , was beached after being attacked by the Japanese air craft , the bakery became inoperable , my Dad was onboard a ship leaving the port of Lyttelton , the port of Christchurch in the South Island of NZ , when his name and 29 other soldiers from the 3 rd Division were told to collect their equipment and disembark , the ship left shortly after bound for the Italian Campaign , Monte Casino etc . Dad was sent home for a few days leave , Christchurch being his home town and then given orders to board a Dutch freighter called the Bosch Fontein , they island hopped all the way up to the Solomon Islands , landing on Guadalcanal and set up the First field bakery , all of the 30 NZ soldiers had previous bread baking experience and then were to set up a camp and ovens and bake bread for the USMC , not sure how long they were there for , but sometime I believe , hope this helps , that is about all I can recall my Dad telling me about his Pacific Military campaign .

[@petegibson863]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 Hi , If you would like to send me your email address , I have my Dad's service record here , I can scan them to you , alternatively you can apply for a copy yourself via Waiouru Military museum NZ , my Dad's name was Clifford Gibson , he was in the 3rd Division NZ Army , let me know what you would prefer to do and we can take it from there . I remember he said they disembarked at Espirito Santos , some USMC troops who had been on the " canal " stopped and spoke to dad , asked him where he was headed and when he told them , one of them pulled a US silver dollar 1894 out of his shirt pocket , tossed it to dad , and told him that it was a family good luck charm , where he was going , he would need all the luck he could get , I still have the dollar coin ! Dad mentioned sleeping on coffins filled with munitions down beside the propeller shaft in the bowels of the Dutch freighter , they just had a blanket to put on top of the munitions to sleep on , tough gig . He also mentioned helping lay the interlocking metal plates that made up the runway at Henderson Field , working withe USMC engineers .

[@Idahoguy10157]

This the first American engagement with Japanese troops where American could report on how the Japanese fought. Refusals to surrender. When American medics were killed by wounded Japanese. It set the tone for the war.

[@lukasstrne3780]

Whatever happened to the remains of the soldiers who were killed there?... or any unexploaded ordinance??

[@jerrycjohnson6624]

Another excellent book is "Shots Fired in Anger" by Lt. Col. John George which describes his time there with the 23rd Division

[@ernestbetz5982]

it is our own Falt.

[@lancestan3398]

Made me sad to see what happened to that area. Was there any effort to recover any remains? Kind of made me think of what is happening to the raiding of sunken warships for the metal. The Chinese (PLA) is expanding their reach all around the world and that is worrisome.

[@Randomthingsforyuo]

So who cleaned up the bodies?

[@tyeeggleston6159]

Another great history video JD....to bad its been covered up by all the trash and waste.....From death and destruction to trash and whatever else.

[@64maxpower]

I find it so intriguing how men can fight each other with vengence on the word of privileged leaders sitting on a hill in beautiful homes and pslaces. What happened to Japanese military men on the defeat of Japan? They went back to their lives. And for the most part, accepted the humanity of the US to take over their nation. I pray one day for man to see what and who controls their thoughts