Trip to Guadalcanal

[Mark VII]

Now to the little shack in the back. The photos to the right give a pretty good history of the battle.

This room was looted during the ethnic tensions and they lost some of their machine guns to people who though they may still work.

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not much left

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some helmets

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some kind of gun turret.

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looks like a 20mm

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P40 cowling

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We then retired back to the Point Cruz Yacht club in Honiara where we had lunch and John ran to his nearby office to check on things. John said he ran into some kind of Minister and told him about the road block at Bloody Ridge. He did not have high hopes that any thing would be done based on that conversation. John Innes has higher contacts in the government so it is hoped that Innes can get the situation fixed for later visitors.

We now head west along the coast road. We quickly fing the Jacob Vouza Memorial, he is a hero to the local people.

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the man

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info on the backside

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another plaque on back of Vouza stone

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We are now a couple of miles further west. A church with a interesting story

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During the building of this church while they were digging for the foundation, the remains of two United States Marines were discovered. I believe their dog tags were present so there was no problem IDing them.

It becomes less frequent as time passes but remains used to be found often when ever there would be digging in a new area. The reaction of family back home would be different. Some would want the remains returned to the US and others were less interested and would have them left on the island.

These two families wanted their loved ones left where they were found. The building of the church presented a problem and when informed of the intented purpose of the digging, the families liked the idea of a church over them for eternity so it was agreed to continue to build over the bodies.


The date of their deaths might indicate they were part of Puller's battalion(Companies A, B, and elements of D) that landed west of Pt Cruz during the last part of the Matanikau Action of Sept 24-27. They were attempting to trap Japanese units defending on the Matanikau River but it was the Americans who were trapped. More of this later but some 60 Marines were killed.

[ilovestrategy]

Dude, this thread that you started simply rocks,Ive had a blast looking at your pics. Thanks a million for sharing them with us [:)]

[Grotius]

Terrific thread. Thanks!

[fabertong]

thanks again.....[:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Mark VII

info on the backside

This chap truly was a hero



Sergeant Major Sir Jacob Charles Vouza
Jacob Charles Vouza was born in 1900 at Tasimboko, Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands Protectorate, and educated at the South Seas Evangelical Mission School there. In 1916 he joined the Solomon Islands Protectorate Armed Constabulary, from which he retired at the rank of sergeant major in 1941 after 25 years of service.

After the Japanese invaded his home island in World War II, he returned to active duty with the British forces and volunteered to work with the Coastwatchers. Vouza's experience as a scout had already been established when the 1st Marine Division landed on Guadalcanal. On 7 August 1942 he rescued a downed naval pilot from the USS Wasp who was shot down inside Japanese territory. He guided the pilot to friendly lines where Vouza met the Marines for the first time.

Vouza then volunteered to scout behind enemy lines for the Marines. On 27 August he was captured by the Japanese while on a Marine Corps mission to locate suspected enemy lookout stations. Having found a small American flag in Vouza's loincloth, the Japanese tied him to a tree and tired to force him to reveal information about Allied forces. Vouza was questioned for hours, but refused to talk. He was tortured and bayoneted about the arms, throat, shoulder, face, and stomach, and left to die.

He managed to free himself after his captors departed, and made his way through the miles of jungle to American lines. There he gave valuable intelligence information to the Marines about an impending Japanese attack before accepting medical attention.

After spending 12 days in the hospital, Vouza then returned to duty as the chief scout for the Marines. He accompanied Lieutenant Colonel Evans. F. Carlson and the 2d Marine Raider Battalion when they made their 30-day raid behind enemy lines at Guadalcanal.

Sergeant Major Vouza was highly decorated for his World War II service. The Silver Star was presented to him personally by Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift, commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, for refusing to give information under Japanese torture. He also was awarded the Legion of Merit for outstanding service with the 2d Raider Battalion during November and December 1942, and the British George Medal for gallant conduct and exceptional devotion to duty. He later received the Police Long Service Medal and, in 1957, was made a Member of the British Empire for long and faithful government service.

After the war, Vouza continued to serve his fellow islanders. In 1949, he was appointed district headman, and president of the Guadalcanal Council, from 1952-1958. He served as a member of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate Advisory Council from 1950 to 1960.

He made many friends during his long association with the U.S. Marine Corps and through the years was continually visited on Guadalcanal by Marines. During 1968, Vouza visited the United States, where he was the honored guest of the 1st Marine Division Association. In 1979, he was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. He died on 15 March 1984. -- Ann A. Ferrante

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/US ... canal.html

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

He was tortured and bayoneted about the arms, throat, shoulder, face, and stomach, and left to die.

... made his way through the miles of jungle ...

After spending 12 days in the hospital, Vouza then returned to duty as the chief scout for the Marines. He accompanied Lieutenant Colonel Evans. F. Carlson and the 2d Marine Raider Battalion when they made their 30-day raid behind enemy lines at Guadalcanal.

Wow!

[509th Bob]

Your photos are fantastic. Normally I dread "home movies," but I'm enthralled by yours. Keep up the great work!
[&o]

[Lord_Calidor]

Great pics and stories. A piece of history re-discovered.
It even gives me the shivers, and I don't have any connection with America, much less Marine Corps. So I can imagine the kicks all you ex and active Marines get from this.

[genchoo]

Where do you find this stuff, mate ?