Victory Fever on Guadalcanal: Japan's First Land Defeat of World War II (Volume 147) (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series)

Following their rampage through Southeast Asia and the Pacific in the five months after Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces moved into the Solomon Islands, intending to cut off the critical American supply line to Australia. But when they began to construct an airfield on Guadalcanal in July 1942, the Americans captured the almost completed airfield for their own strategic use. The Japanese Army countered by sending to Guadalcanal a reinforced battalion under the command of Col. Kiyonao Ichiki. The attack that followed would prove to be the first of four attempts by the Japanese over six months to retake the airfield, resulting in some of the most vicious fighting of the Pacific War. During the initial battle on the night of August 20–21, 1942, Marines wiped out Ichiki’s men, who―imbued with “victory fever”―had expected a quick and easy victory. William H. Bartsch draws on correspondence, interviews, diaries, memoirs, and official war records, including those translated from Japanese sources, to offer an intensely human narrative of the failed attempt to recapture Guadalcanal’s vital airfield. In The Five Months After Pearl Harbor, Japanese Forces Moved Into The Solomon Islands, Intending To Cut Off The Critical American Supply Line To Australia. When They Began To Construct An Airfield On Guadalcanal In July 1942, The Americans Captured The Almost Completed Airfield For Their Own Strategic Use. The Japanese Army Countered By Sending A Reinforced Battalion Under The Command Of Col. Kiyonao Ichiki. During The Initial Battle On The Night Of August 20-21, 1942, Marines Wiped Out Ichiki's Men Who, Imbued With Victory Fever, Had Expected A Quick And Easy Victory. You Shitheads Are Here To Learn To Fight! -- Vandegrift, I Have Some Very Disconcerting News -- I'm Beginning To Doubt Whether There's A Jap On The Whole Damned Island -- May I Retake Tulagi Too? -- The Bastards Are In The Trees! -- Was This Going To Be The Real Test? -- F -- K Babe Ruth! -- Crying, Praying, And Cursing All At The Same Time -- Goddamn, They Got Me In The Eyes! -- We Aren't Going To Let Those People Lay Up There All Day -- Epilogue -- Appendix A. Officers, 1st Marine Regiment, Combat Group B (reinforced), Tenaru River Subsector -- Appendix B. Officers, 1st Marine Regiment, Combat Group B (reinforced), South Subsector -- Appendix C. Us Marine Casualties, Battle Of The Tenaru, August 21, 1942 -- Appendix D. Officers And Staff, First Echelon, Ichiki Detachment. William H. Bartsch ; Foreword By Richard B. Frank. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Following their rampage through Southeast Asia and the Pacific in the five months after Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces moved into the Solomon Islands and began building the Guadalcanal airfield. In July 1942, Americans captured the almost completed airfield for their own strategic use.The Japanese Army countered by sending to Guadalcanal a reinforced battalion under the command of Col. Kiyonao Ichiki. Marines wiped out Ichiki's men, who—imbued with "victory fever"—had expected a quick and easy victory.