Press "Enter" to skip to content

Episode 07 – Turning Point Part 1

You will reach a turning point, just as the Marines did 80 years ago this week. After landing on Guadalcanal, they were abandoned by the Navy and had five weeks of fight with the jungle, the Japanese and Southwests Pacific Command.

In this episode we will go over the campaign, the forces, the trials and how they overcame them all.

https://landmarks.podbean.com/e/episode-07-turning-point-part-01/

Helmet for my Pillow by Robert Leckie who served as a machinegun section in H Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. This book chronicles his service through the Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester and Peleliu campaigns.

Guadalcanal Diary by reporter Richard Tregaskis who went ashore on August 7th and spent those critical weeks with the Marines on Guadacanal.

Guadalcanal Remembered by H.C.L. Merillat who served on Division Staff and was appointed historian for the campaign.

For some entertainment value.

First the movie version of Guadalcanal Diary has a good cast including William Bendix, Lloyd Nolan and a young Anthony Quinn.

Next the HBO Mini-series The Pacific which in a large part uses Robert Leckie’s story for episodes 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6.