On August 7, 1942, the U.S. 1st Marine Division began Operation Watchtower, the first U.S. offensive of the war, by landing on Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands.
Weeks earlier, the Japanese landed on Guadalcanal Island and
began constructing an airfield there.
Operation Watchtower was the codename for the U.S. plan to
invade Guadalcanal and the surrounding islands.
During the attack, American troops landed on five islands within
the Solomon chain.
Although the invasion came as a complete surprise to the
Japanese (bad weather had grounded their scouting aircraft),
the landings on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu and Tananbogo met
much initial opposition from the Japanese defenders.
But the Americans who landed on Guadalcanal met little
resistance—at least at first.
More than 11,000 Marines had landed, and 24 hours had passed,
before the Japanese manning the garrison there knew of the
attack.
The first Medal of Honor given to a Marine was awarded to Sgt.
John Basilone for his fighting during Operation Watchtower.
According to the recommendation for his medal, he
“contributed materially to the defeat and virtually the
annihilation of a Japanese regiment.”
