A WW II Marine Raider, the Pacific War.

This Marine was involved in one of the major battles of the Pacific against the Japanese during WW II. The battle took place in one of the island of the Solomon Chains, the Island of Guadalcanal.






































The initial US landing was unopposed by the Japanese, giving little clue to the actual fighting that will happen later. The Japanese have retreated into the jungles but had no intention of giving the island without any fierce fight. The Japaneses were fanatical in their belief, fighting to the death rather than surrender. They would charge with swords and bayonets, yelling "bansai!". As courageous as they were, the enemies were no match to the superior firepower of the US forces.


















This Marine's unit has just successfully repulsed a third wave of Japanes suicide charges to his base. He holds as a souveneir a Japanese flag carried by an enemy army officer that he killed in close combat.




















After several months of fighting in the thick, humid and malaria infested jungle, around 1,592 US Marine and Army soldiers lost their lives with 4,180 wounded, while the Japanese forces suffered around 14,800 kileed form battle, an additional 9,000 dead from disease, and about 1,000 taken prisoner.