Episode Details

This week we will be talking about the early actions that occurred along the Matinikau river.  Now, as opposed to the land battles we have discussed before, Tenaru and Edson’s Ridge which each only happened one time, the Matinikau actions occurred several times from September through November 1942.  Today, we will be focusing on the September and October actions.  

Following the battle at Edson’s Ridge, what remained of the Japanese force under General Kawaguchi, pulled back through the jungle and attempted to regroup, as well as refit, on the western side of the Matinikau river.  Marine general Archer Vandegrift was aware that the Japanese had done this very thing and planned to eliminate whatever was left of the force that had slammed against the ridge on two consecutive nights in September.

Vandegrift was determined to mop up what was left of the Japanese so as to deny them the opportunity to consolidate their forces and resume their offensive.  Vandegrift chose his freshest troops for this action, the recently arrived 1st Battalion of the 7th Marines under a Lieutenant Colonel whose name was and still is synonymous with the Corps.  Lewis B Chesty Puller.

Talking Points:

The 7th Marines Arrive:

• On September 18, the Marines on Guadalcanal finally received some much needed reinforcements, to the tune of 4157 men of the 7th Marine Regiment
• Fresh from garrison duty in Samoa, these Marines were both fresh and eager to go.
• Their arrival allowed Vandegrift to finally establish a full defensive perimeter around the Lunga Point area
• Learning from the lessons earlier in the campaign, the 7th Marines were disgorged on the beach early in the morning, and by 1800 that same day the cargo ships, now properly loaded, spit out a further 
• 137 trucks
• 4323 barrels of fuel
• 60% of the tentage and equipment needed by the 7th
• The remainder would be unloaded in short order

Lewis B “Chesty” Puller 

• 44 years old at this time
• Joined the Marines in 1918
• By 42 he had served 24 years in the Corps
• A veteran of Haiti, Nicaragua, better known as the banana wars, Puller had loads of combat experience before he ever got to the Canal
• Described as the prototypical Marine officer, Puller had a chin like “bulldozer blade”, a barrel chest and seemingly always had a pipe stuck in his teeth.  
• Highly decorated for service in Haiti and Nicaragua and grounded in the fundamentals of infantry combat and what it took to both be an infantryman, and how to survive as an infantryman, his men absolutely adored him.

Mission:

• Puller was to advance astride Mount Austen, cross the river and examine the area between Mount Austen and Kokumbona
• Clearly just an exploratory mission

• 900 men under Puller moved out on September 23
• On the afternoon of the next day, the lead elements of Puller’s force ran into a Japanese bivouac area on the NW slope of Mount Austen
• In the ensuing fight, the Marines drove the Japanese off just before dark, but took significant casualties
• 7 KIA 25 WIA

• The next day 2/5 was sent to reinforce Puller and allow his wounded to be brought to the rear

• At the same time, the Japanese had established a defensive area around the position known as “One Log Bridge” along the river
• The Japanese 12th Company, at the bridge, and Puller’s units hit each repeatedly with neither side gaining, or losing, any ground

• Because of the defense at one log bridge, Puller continued downstream, headed towards the mouth of the river and attempted a crossing.
• He was met with fierce Japanese defensive fire and mortars that handily checked the Marine advan