[DuncanWaring]

Needs to be reposted occasionally.

[rfreedom4u]

Semper Fi!

[Alas Babylon!]

Inaccurate history. On Guadalcanal the Japanese built an airfield, and our Marines landed and took it from them.

In fact, it turned out to be a fortunate thing for the Marines. Soon after landing, Japanese naval forces descended on the Americans and won a victory over the US Navy, sinking several of our ships, to the point that we started calling Sealark Channel Ironbottom Sound, for all the ships sunk.

The US Navy then left, taking all their remaining ships, including the supply ships with the preponderance of the Marines food stores.

The airfield the Marines took from the Japs was stocked with rice and canned fish, and the Marines lived on it for some time until the US Navy could battle their way back.

[major_gaff]

I always enjoy re-reading this. Just got done watching ‘The Pacific’ Guadalcanal episode for the fifth time...John Basilone was a Marine’s Marine. Thanks for posting. I spent a good part of the morning Sunday reading all of the posts about the anniversary of the battle of Leyte Gulf...our Navy brothers did themselves proud, especially those on the USS Johnston.

Semper Fi.

[NFHale]

OOORah, Dawg brother....

[jpsb]

Now that is a battleship look at all those guns.

[Talisker]

Paige’s story is so incredible, you have to read it a few times, slowly, to really grasp what he did. Look up Google images, you can see the ridge where it happened.

Mind boggling.

Also read up on the USS San Francisco in The Slot, in the days before The City was known for communist losers. Courage that huge brings tears to God.

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1008503/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2370432/posts

[ErnBatavia]

When the Hasbro Toy Co. called up some years back, asking permission to put the retired colonel's face on some kid's doll, Mitchell Paige thought they must be joking. But they weren't. That's his mug, on the little Marine they call "GI Joe."

Fifteen years or so ago, I got to visit Mitchell "just call me Mitch" Paige at his home here in La Quinta. His wife and my Mom were DAR buddies, hence the arrangement.

I'd obtained one of those GI Joes and he autographed the (still) unopened box. When I referred to it as a doll he smilingly corrected me: "Please - I prefer 'action figure'",

As a former Jarhead, the visit thrilled me. His study was chock full of USMC memorabilia, and of course, 'the medal'....