It is August 1942.
And a young Marine, aboard a vessel in the Eastern Solomon Islands, is writing in his diary: 1
“6/8/42
Well, we finally found out the dope this morning.
We are attacking Tulagi Island and Guadalcanal Island, two islands of the Solomon group.
By what we were told it might not be such a hot picnic.
All of my gear is ready to go ashore!
The tension is extremely high.
It is now well after midnight.
I just came up on deck.
The moon is very bright.
I can see almost as well as in the daytime.
Within six hours from now the fireworks are going to begin.
Midway was never like this.
There, we knew our job was merely one of defending.
Here, we are vaguely acquainted with the purpose or the plan of action.
The game will begin very shortly now.
I wonder what the box scores will be at the end.
7/8/42
Not over fifteen minutes have passed since I wrote the last Midway sentence and there goes the second salvo of big shells pouring into the island.
Dawn is barely breaking in the east over another large island.
It looks as if– now for sure, there are ships over there shelling that island, too!!!
Fourth of July will hold no interest for me after this morning.
Dive bombers came over and blasted Jap supply dumps.
We were sitting about 2000 yards off shore and therefore had a ringside seat for the entire show.
It is now 12:45.
Just eaten chow and came back on deck.
12:57 – mass formation of Jap high-altitude bombers flying over Guadalcanal.
Twelve echelons and five bombers each.
Sixty bombers in all.
The [USS] San Juan is lay up a terrific barrage.
The bombers are flying right into it.
Now it looks as if the San Juan is laying a rug for the bombers to land on up there.
13:35 – I remember seeing seven Jap Zeros come down in flames.
The big bombers dropped their eggs all right but did little damage.
Near miss on two ships but no casualties. (lucky?)
15:32 – Jap Zero fighter (52 in number) are now attacking our dive bombers.
They are also (just had to take cover) strafing landing barges and troops transports.
Whoa!!! what a circus!
15:47 - Just got word that Japs have a munitions dump under the hospital.
Nice of them to hide behind a Red Cross!
16:53 – Subs firing torpedoes directed at us.
16:57 – Complete miss.
Destroyers are now dropping ash cans on sub.
Two subs just surfaced, rolled over, and went down.
Both had big gaping holes in sides. (Medium sized subs.)
18:15 - Just had chow.
Back on deck.
The troops went ashore early this morning.
Have encountered bitter resistance.
Especially on Gavutu Island.
From all indications, Gavutu is in for a beautiful shelling tonight.
Being under these conditions I can really understand the true meaning of love, life and liberty.
I just pray to God that I may live to enjoy them after this world pulls itself out of the chaos and turmoil which now envelopes it.
It is certainly a pity that the human race produces and allow to run free
a man who has such a warped brain
that all he thinks of are power and riches.”
******************************
I’ll see you tomorrow.
— Brenda
Share this post