Holland, Dave R. Guadalcanal's Forgotten Fight

The U.S. Army’s Crucial Role

When the name Guadalcanal is mentioned, most people think of Marines fighting desperately in the dense jungle and the U.S. Navy engaged in dramatic surface battles. While accurate, this portrayal captures only part of the campaign. Less well known is the role played by the United States Army. While the Marines landed and repelled several Japanese counterattacks, it was Army soldiers who moved in to shoulder much of the brutal ground combat that dragged on for months. These engagements were not mere "mopping-up operations"as the Army is often associated withbut fierce battles against a determined foe. Arriving under difficult conditions and often overshadowed by their Marine Corps counterparts, the Armys contributions on Guadalcanal have too often been relegated to the footnotes of history. This work brings them out of the shadows, recounting their contribution through a blend of operational history and the immediate perspectives of the soldiers themselves. Drawing on official records, terrain analysis, and eyewitness accounts, the book offers fresh insights from multiple angles, including previously unpublished Japanese sources. Units such as the 25th Infantry Division, the Americal Division, and the 147th Infantry Regiment are covered in detail. Dave Holland, a former U.S. Marine and law enforcement investigator, spent three years on-site, examining the battlefields through his own research and documentation. Drawing on his military experience and investigative skills, Holland provides a detailed analysis of the campaign, paying particular attention to the role of the terrain. A companion to his first book, *Guadalcanals Longest Fight*, this volume completes the story of the ground war on Guadalcanal.