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Military Geography of Guadalcanal Daniel Yun, Dr. Munski, Daniel Sauerwein Department of Geography University of North Dakota Introduction North Dakota’s 164 th comes in…. Geography of Guadalcanal Bibliography Acknowledgements Although the landings were successful the Japanese counterattack winning successful naval battles and pressure on the Lunga Perimeter. Due to the Japanese attacks and U.S casualties/attritions, General Vandergrift ordered more reinforcements. As a result, the 164 th infantry regiment from North Dakota under the Americal Division (1 st American division to be formed outside the United States) was called in on October 13 th , 1942. Immediately they faced difficult challenges from disease and the challenging terrain. In addition they repulse Japanese attacks around the Lunga perimeter to protect Henderson airfield. Eventually the Japanese were forced to evacuate out of Guadalcanal due to constant setbacks and on February 9 th 1943, the United States have officially taken the island back from the Japanese. Based on after action reports 164 th infantry regiment heroically performed their duty to defend Henderson airfield. However the regiment suffered 456 casualties to defend and secure Guadalcanal. Without their contribution, it can be questioned whether the United States could have defeated the Japanese at Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal has a humid equatorial climate with no dry season. This means that it is always wet and receives huge amounts of rainfall. As a result it is very humid which creates a haven for insects and disease for the 164 th . This presents many logistical and military challenges. For instance moving large amounts of troops and supplies will be hard if not impossible to coordinate in a highly dense jungle. The island of Guadalcanal consisted of indigenous Polynesian people who assisted the Americans in helping to spot the Japanese. Because of their local knowledge, the Americans had more information on the island than the Japanese. Another factor that help the Americans win Guadalcanal were man-made fortifications. By constructing foxholes and barb-wire around strategic points defending Guadalcanal was an easier job. Coastal fortifications and fortified areas on Henderson Ridge secured the American position on Lunga Point. Collins, J. 2006. Military Geography for Professionals and the Public. Dulles, VA: Potomac Books Mueller, J. 2004. Guadalcanal 1942 the marines strike back. Westport, CT: Praeger Butler, W., and D. Keeney. 1998. This is Guadalcanal. New York, NY: William Morrow Publishing Toll, I. 2015. The Conquering Tide. New York, NY: W.W Norton I would like to thank Chester Fritz Special Collections, Dr. Munski, and Daniel Sauerwein for helping me with this project. The United States starts planning where to start the first offensive of the Japanese invasion. After months of planning, the military staff eyes on Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal is a remote island part of the Solomon Island Chain in the Southwest Pacific. Guadalcanal is geographically important because it can be used as a launch point for Japanese invasions on Australia and threatens communication/supply routes between the United States and Australia. Finally what convinced the United States to invade the island was when aerial reconnaissance spotted the Japanese constructing an airfield. Thus Operation Watchtower took place on August 7 th 1942 to take the island back. US 105M on shore point toward Point Cruz (Photo #OGL 1278-164-66 courtesy of Special Collections Japanese Zero shot down off of Guadalcanal (Photo #OGL 1278-164-63 courtesy of Special Collections Military Campaign Map of Guadalcanal (Courtesy of West Point Atlas) U.S supply ship torpedoed off of Lunga Point, Guadalcanal. (Photo #OGL 1278-164-65 courtesy of Special Collections) Polynesian people of Guadalcanal coming back from their hunt. (Photo #OGL 1278-164-67 courtesy of Special Collections)
