AVB
Jesus of Cool, I'm bad, I'm nationwide
On Nov. 12, 1942, the World War II naval Battle of Guadalcanal began. Three major land battles, five large naval battles, and continual, almost daily, aerial battles, culminated in the decisive Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in early November 1942, in which the last Japanese attempt to land enough troops to capture Henderson Field was defeated. In December 1942, the Japanese abandoned further efforts to retake Guadalcanal and evacuated their remaining forces by February 7, 1943.
The Guadalcanal campaign marked the first significant strategic combined arms victory by Allied forces over the Japanese in the Pacific theater. For this reason, the Guadalcanal campaign is often referred to as a "turning point" in the war. The campaign marked the beginning of the transition by the Allies from defensive operations to the strategic offensive, while Japan was thereafter forced largely to cease strategic offensive operations and instead concentrate on strategic defense.
1st Marine Division Commander Alexander Vandegrift who later became the Commandant of the Marine Corps, won a Medal of Honor for his actions during the ground campaign. As a Captain and Major, General Vandegrift was Chesty Puller's commanding officer for almost 4 years in Haiti and would become the first active duty Marine to wear the rank of 4 stars. He also just may be the reason the Corps still exists today. With the Army trying to take over the Marine Corps role, and the Navy not offering any support because of their fight to keep Naval aviation away from the Air Corps ( a trade of we keep our planes and you can have the Corps) General Vandegrift went before Congress in May of 1946 and gave his famous "bended knee" speech, part of which is below.
"The Marine Corps...believes that it has earned this right—to have its future decided by the legislative body which created it—nothing more. Sentiment is not a valid consideration in determining questions of national security. We have pride in ourselves and in our past, but we do not rest our case on any presumed ground of gratitude owing us from the Nation. The bended knee is not a tradition of our Corps. If the Marine as a fighting man has not made a case for himself after 170 years of service, he must go. But I think you will agree with me that he has earned the right to depart with dignity and honor, not by subjugation to the status of uselessness and servility planned for him by the War Department."
The Guadalcanal campaign marked the first significant strategic combined arms victory by Allied forces over the Japanese in the Pacific theater. For this reason, the Guadalcanal campaign is often referred to as a "turning point" in the war. The campaign marked the beginning of the transition by the Allies from defensive operations to the strategic offensive, while Japan was thereafter forced largely to cease strategic offensive operations and instead concentrate on strategic defense.
1st Marine Division Commander Alexander Vandegrift who later became the Commandant of the Marine Corps, won a Medal of Honor for his actions during the ground campaign. As a Captain and Major, General Vandegrift was Chesty Puller's commanding officer for almost 4 years in Haiti and would become the first active duty Marine to wear the rank of 4 stars. He also just may be the reason the Corps still exists today. With the Army trying to take over the Marine Corps role, and the Navy not offering any support because of their fight to keep Naval aviation away from the Air Corps ( a trade of we keep our planes and you can have the Corps) General Vandegrift went before Congress in May of 1946 and gave his famous "bended knee" speech, part of which is below.
"The Marine Corps...believes that it has earned this right—to have its future decided by the legislative body which created it—nothing more. Sentiment is not a valid consideration in determining questions of national security. We have pride in ourselves and in our past, but we do not rest our case on any presumed ground of gratitude owing us from the Nation. The bended knee is not a tradition of our Corps. If the Marine as a fighting man has not made a case for himself after 170 years of service, he must go. But I think you will agree with me that he has earned the right to depart with dignity and honor, not by subjugation to the status of uselessness and servility planned for him by the War Department."
