On August 7, 1942, U.S. forces, primarily the 1st Marine
Division, launched Operation Watchtower, the first major
Allied offensive in the Pacific during World War II, by
landing on Guadalcanal.

This airfield, later named Henderson Field, became a
crucial strategic point in the Pacific campaign. The
invasion marked the beginning of the lengthy and
brutal Guadalcanal Campaign, a six-month struggle
for control of the island.

Charles Whitman took a stockpile of guns and ammunition
to the observatory platform atop a 300-foot tower at the
University of Texas and proceeded to shoot 46 people,
killing 14 people and wounding 32.

Whitman (below) who had killed both his wife and mother
the night before, was eventually shot to death after Austin
police officers courageously charged up the stairs of the
tower to subdue the attacker.

Operation Detachment, the U.S. Marines’ invasion of Iwo Jima, 
was launched. Iwo Jima was a barren Pacific island guarded
by Japanese artillery, but to American military minds, it was
prime real estate on which to build airfields to launch bombing
raids against Japan, only 660 miles away.

Leavey and Rex in 2012.     
    
    
   

Megan Leavey (41) is a US Marine corporal who served as a Military
Police K9 handler. She was paired with military working dog Rex
(E168). The pair served two deployments in Iraq together.

They were first deployed to Fallujah in 2005, and then to Ramadi
in 2006, where they were both wounded by an improvised explosive device. Leavey was awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy and
Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a "V" device denoting
heroism in combat.

In 2012, Rex developed facial palsy, which ended his bomb-
sniffing duties. Leavey was able to adopt him through the
intervention of Senator Chuck Schumer, around April 2012.  
   

While living with Leavey, Rex died of old age on December 22,
2012.

Lance Corporal Leavey with Rex in Iraq, November 2005.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Leavey is portrayed by Kate Mara, and had a
cameo appearance in the film as "Female Drill
Instructor #3". In 2019, she was one of two
recipients of the Genesis Legacy Medal which
was presented to her by the National Purple
Heart Honor Mission. 

Kate Rooney Mara (41)

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger.  

PENTAGON – The U.S. Marine Corps does not have a confirmed
leader for the first time in 164 years, following Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger’s relinquish-of-command
ceremony held Monday and Berger’s private retirement
ceremony.

The last time the Marines were without a confirmed leader was
1859 following the sudden death of Commandant Archibald
Henderson. (FOX NEWS)

Archibald Henderson (January 21, 1783 – January 6, 1859)