The Solomon Islands campaign was a turning point in the Pacific War, pushing the Marines to their limits in a relentless battle against both the Japanese and the unforgiving environment. This episode focuses on the critical role the Marines played in the grueling fight for New Georgia, where dense jungles, endless rain, and a determined enemy tested their resolve.

As part of Operation TOENAILS, the Marines spearheaded daring assaults, pivotal for advancing the strategically vital Munda airfield. Alongside Coastwatchers and local guides, the Marines relied on bravery, ingenuity, and sheer grit to overcome fortified enemy positions and treacherous terrain. These hard-fought victories shaped the outcome of the New Georgia campaign and set the stage for the eventual Allied push toward Japan.

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In the summer of 1943, the New Georgia campaign tested the grit and resilience of the Marine Corps. Tasked with securing the Solomon Islands, they battled relentless jungle terrain, torrential rains, and fierce Japanese defenses. From daring raids at Segi Point to artillery bombardments on Munda, Marines executed amphibious assaults and tank-infantry breakthroughs, securing strategic positions and leaving a lasting mark on the Pacific War and Marine Corps history.

This episode explores the pivotal Solomon Islands campaign during the Pacific War, highlighting the grueling battles in New Georgia. Amid relentless jungle terrain, torrential rains, and fierce Japanese resistance, the Marines displayed unmatched resolve. Operation TOENAILS marked the turning point, with daring assaults on critical locations like Munda Airfield and Rendova Island. Supported by Coastwatchers and local guides, the Marines overcame fortified positions to secure strategic victories. These hard-fought gains not only weakened Japan’s hold in the Pacific but also set the stage for future Allied advances toward Rabaul and beyond.

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Visit HistoryoftheMarineCorps.com to subscribe to our newsletter, explore episode notes and images, and see our references. Follow us on social media for updates and bonus content: Facebook and Twitter (@marinehistory) and Instagram (@historyofthemarines).

This episode is sponsored by Audible. Visit AudibleTrial.com/marinehistory for a free audiobook and a 30-day trial.

For months, the Marines endured brutal combat, disease, and exhaustion on Guadalcanal. The 1st Marine Division, depleted by malaria and months of fighting, finally got their relief. 

The Americans, strengthened by fresh troops, moved in, bracing for a tough battle. But the Japanese had other plans. While the Americans prepared for a fight, the enemy was already disappearing into the night.

This episode covers the final days of the Guadalcanal campaign—the brutal battle for Hill 27, the Marines' last engagements, and the lessons that shaped future Pacific battles. Guadalcanal wasn’t just a victory—it was the moment that forced Japan onto the defensive for the rest of the war.

Guadalcanal was a campaign defined by endurance. By November, the tide had shifted in favor of the Americans, but victory was far from certain. The plan was to encircle and eliminate the remaining Japanese forces, a strategy that seemed straightforward on paper but proved far more challenging to execute.

This episode covers the final push to trap the enemy—coordinated attacks from the 7th Marines, the 164th Infantry, and Carlson’s Raiders. As the Marines fought through the jungle, the Japanese slipped through gaps in the lines, turning what could have been a decisive blow into another grueling fight.

We’ll also look at the role of naval power in the campaign’s outcome, the challenges of coordinating Army and Marine units, and the growing pains of joint operations in the Pacific. This is the story of the final weeks before Guadalcanal was secured—and the men who paid the price to make it happen.

By mid-October, the situation on Guadalcanal had reached a breaking point. Malaria swept through the ranks, sidelining hundreds of Marines each week. Combat-weary and outnumbered, they faced relentless Japanese assaults aimed at seizing key river crossings. Holding the Matanikau was critical—not just for defense, but for survival. As both sides scrambled for reinforcements, the battle lines shifted, and the Marines found themselves locked in brutal engagements across the island. This episode covers the mounting challenges they faced, the strategic importance of the Matanikau, and the desperate fight to hold Guadalcanal.

By late August 1942, the fight for Guadalcanal had become a brutal test of endurance. The Marines had repelled Ichiki’s reckless assault, but the Japanese weren’t finished. Each night, enemy destroyers—nicknamed the “Tokyo Express”—delivered fresh troops, while air raids and naval bombardments pounded Henderson Field. The Marines, low on supplies and outnumbered, held their ground through sheer determination. Meanwhile, the Cactus Air Force fought a relentless battle in the skies, downing enemy planes despite primitive conditions.

As Vandegrift reinforced his perimeter, Edson’s Raiders braced for a desperate stand at Bloody Ridge, and Chesty Puller led aggressive patrols against Japanese forces near the Matanikau River. Offshore, the Battle of Cape Esperance shifted the balance at sea. This episode covers the brutal battles, tactical shifts, and raw courage that defined Guadalcanal.

With the Navy pulling out, the Marines on Guadalcanal were left in a bad situation. General Vandegrift had no choice but to tighten the perimeter around Lunga Point, focusing all defenses on the airfield.

Marine engineers struggled to keep the airfield operational, facing daily air raids and supply shortages. We'll close the episode with the Marines bracing for the Battle of the Tenaru, their first large-scale ground fight of the campaign.

While the previous episode followed the Marines storming Tulagi, this one shifts to Beach Red, where the 1st and 5th Marines landed to secure the island’s key objective: Henderson Field.

We'll get into the initial naval and air bombardment, the landing process, and the eerie lack of Japanese resistance at the shoreline. As the Marines pushed inland, they quickly realized Guadalcanal wouldn’t be an easy fight. The terrain was dense, the jungle unforgiving, and while the Japanese weren’t visible at first, they were waiting—ready to strike.