EXCELLENT!

Location, location. location. The obvious first answer for any real estate deal.

One of the greatest assets of the Allies in this region was the Coastwatcher organization, scattered throughout the Solomons, who usually provide some warning of Japanese forces incoming from Rabaul and a few other island bases. This was the main reason American planes weren't often caught on the ground by Japanese bomber raids. I also think that Japan could have put their Betty bombers to better use in airdrops of food and supplies to their beleagured troops, instead of doing temporary damage to Henderson field. Air resupply was among the factors that swung the Kokoda Trail battles in favor of the Allies.

My father and I both are proud to have served in the U S Navy.  Bravo Zulu to the force that defeated the Japanese in this operation.

A game that built around these facts would be insane.  Especially if you are limited to just the defenders.   Then the weight of your deciscions would make u sweat as a player.  Cannot conceive of deciding anything the combatants had to weigh

Excellent text, interesting point of view.  More like this, please!

Japan would have probably won back Guadalcanal if they hadn't been simultaneously fighting in New Guinea where they lost (throughout the course of the war) over 125,000 men.

The Japanese tried to retake Guadalcanal  from the Americans because losing the island would mean bowing to the enemy and their supply of resources would be in dire situation as they want the Pacific to be secured by all means.

Well done, if brief.

The fact that the Japanese army and navy hated each other. The navy didn’t employ anti submarine tactics and protect the numerical small merchant ships. They both held the Americans in contempt as weak and timid. They believed in the decisive battle. Where they would inflict a heavy blow against the Americans and force them to the negotiating table.My stepdad fought on New Guinea. He said he never saw a fat Japanese soldier they were all skin and bones! They were the walking dead just to trained to keep going

The real hurt to the Japanese in this campaign was the loss of the veteran pilots.  Who had to had to fly to the limits of their aircraft's range for hours and hours for a brief period of bombing and dogfighting and then fly back.  American's had home field advantage, as most of their pilots could bail and be rescued.  Not so with the Japanese.

I'm a casual observer of the war,  born in '42, so it's odd that I am just now wondering how many Japanese garrisons were left starving with many dying. The Kokoda Track and Truk come immediately to mind. How many more?

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November on Guadalcanal is not winter

My question for a long time has been "where was the air cover for the Japanese convoys?" They had superior aircraft at the time, the U.S. had no aircraft carriers they could afford to risk and they had control of Bougainville's and Colombagara's airfields. Were army Air forces just unable to comprehend the need for air cover? The same disaster repeated itself in the Bismark Sea. Without air cover the resupply convoy to New Guinea was completely erased. Thank goodness they were slow learners or a lot more Marines would've  lost their lives taking other islands.

Well done.

The thing with Japan was - it never stood a chance - and they knew that.

In 1870 - the Meiji Reformation - changed Japan from a Feudal Nation led by a Shogun into a "Modern" nation with Male Suffrage.

The reason Japan had not been colonized - was because it didn't have anything any of the Colonial Powers wanted - while right next door - China was an all you can eat smorgasbord.

Japan had mountains and valleys (where they grew rice) and - Japanese.  The only people who cared about that - were Missionaries.   They had some success - where a Province Converted - but then - that Province Revolted against the Shogun - and he was having no more of THAT.

Japan shut it'd doors until Commodore Perry - forced them open - and the Japanese decided - that if they couldn't Beat the Colonial Powers - they'd join them - and began colonizing Manchuria.

They ended up invading China proper - and the Americans - who were selling them Texas Crude - cut it off.

If they gave in to a Colonial Power - they were on the Slippery Slope to becoming a Colony.

If they resisted a Colonial Power - they would be destroyed.

In the end - they opted to be Destroyed - preserving their Honor.  After they attacked the Americans - they started bull shitting themselves that they could win - but bull shit was what that was.

Japan had one of the best Navies in the World - and at the start of the war - they did some real damage - but - they could not replace their losses - and the Americans could.
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Why ? Strategic location.

Beautifully written and told, with excellent music!

Only the ads are ai SLOP.

I dated a woman her dad was a Seabee on Guadalcanal. Hearing it from someone who was there, it is a different war he witnessed other than written in a book or told on a video. Your video caught me here.