GUADALCANAL LITTERED WITH GHASTLY REMAINS

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THE SEA...SHE HIDES THE FURY OF ITS BATTLES WELL WITH THE SANDY REEFS OFF OF GUADALCANAL LITTERED WITH THE GHASTLY REMAINS OF DOZENS OF AMERICAN AND JAPANESE WARSHIPS

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The First Marine Division was being relieved by the Second Marine Division...and the below quote was what the "First" stated to the "Second"

"When a Marine, Coast Guardsman, sailor or airman reaches heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell - another veteran reporting from Guadalcanal: 'I've served my time in Hell'"

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Oh yes folks we did obtain the airfield that "we" were after....no two ways about that....but we did so at a heavy cost ....Solomon Islands was a battle where many lessons were learned.....THE HARD WAY!!!

Do you realize that the dead alone....and this is just an extremely rough estimate....was somewhere in the range of 15,000 to 20,000.  A total of 1450 aircraft lie on the bottom of "Ironbottom Sound/Sealark Sound.....of these 330 are American....1120 Japanese.  One hundred fifty seven Japanese ships were damaged...and 37 American ships were seriously damaged.  Actually in this count...two Japanese battleships, eight American cruisers, 20 American destroyers, and 21 Japanese destroyers, as well as dozens upon dozens of transports, APD's, PT boats....and the list goes on and on.

Yes...Naval wise 'we' got our butt whipped... real good....and why?....  Well for one we and the Allies didn't know one thing about "night fighting".....ships going to "Condition II" when the whole Japanese fleet was in the immediate area we learned was taboo!!.....and get this: Certainly commanding officers should never hang out a "do not disturb" sign in order to catch 40 winks.

To say the very, very least...the communication system amoung the fleet as well as the radar used showed  alot to be desired.....

Ok....I could go on and on about this article titled "GHOST SHIPS OF IRONBOTTOM SOUND".  But really ...don't take my word for it....if I generate some interest for you to cast your eyes on this article just "Click" on the above title...and this will link up with the article....  I think after you read it....it will simply 'blow your mind."

Let me know what you think if you will....I'd sure appreciate it.

Enjoy!!

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