It's honestly a disgrace that the United States hasn't protested, or made an effort, to protect these iconic battlefields where Americans died. A plaque on a wall cannot explain a battlefield the way a preserved battlefield can. I've been watching for a few years now, and I love the content. Thanks for making this stuff viewable for the average American!
Kind of imperialistic thinking that one can go wherever one wants on sovereign territory and dictate how they utilize their land. Fortunate there is the documentation we have and if (when) remains are found they are handled correctly.
China is bullying everyone in the region including us to some degree. Proof seen in this video. China selected that location for “development” with malice. They know its importance to both Japan and the US.
I totally agree with everything you've said it's disgusting what the Chinese are doing to this country. They've also taken over businesses in uganda east Africa it's not on
The John Garfield movie, ''Pride of the Marines,'' made an impression on me as a kid. Remembering how he coped as a Blind Man, by memorizing where each thing was in relation to the other things, got me thinking that way, even though I was only near-sighted. In Boot Camp, we had a barracks drill where the platoon members each disassembled their M-16s on top of our racks, then the DI killed the lights, and we were to reassemble the rifle in total dark. I was the first to get it. Remembering Al Schmid's methods, I put the Upper Receiver Group on the left of my blanket, the Lower Receiver Group on my right, and the smaller parts fanned out in between. I was first. Since I knew [in my mind's eye] where and what each part was, I could reassemble the Rifle rapidly. The DI thought I'd cheated. We tried it again. I beat my first time. I was ''invited'' into the Duty Hut to explain my method. I cited a corny old movie about Guadalcanal, where an actor, John Garfield, had been blinded, but continued running his machine gun, sighted by his buddy, and could handle his weapon by feel because he knew it so well. Impressed with my motivation, I was picked on less by the DIs for a couple days, until I fucked up on something else. Semper Fi
Great video! Such a shame, other Nations don’t feel the need to preserve lands where brave men gave their lives for freedom. Thanks JD, greetings from Germany 🇩🇪
This has been a great series, I hope you enjoyed the trip as much as we have enjoyed watching. Big respect for Dave being such a knowledgeable guide and preserving this battlefield and remembrance of the battle as a historian. As long as we have men like you and Dave, we may lose the physical battlefield as time moves on, but never the honor. This battle is especially poignant as Dave is a Marine machine gunner, inheritor of those Marine machine gunners who played pivotal roles in the Guadacanal campaign, including Basilone.
Thanks for the great job given the circumstances. J D, you always do a fantastic job. From the Little Bighorn to Guadalcanal, you are the best in my opinion. I have to say as a history buff, by far, you are my favorite guide. About Guadalcanal, #1 shame on us for not buying the land before the Chinese got ahold of it. #2 it almost seems as if Chinese did this out of spite. Of all the places on the island, this is the only place to put in a cement plant? #3 the amount of plastic coming down the river is not atypical. It kind of makes me sick to hear that you had to limit your time at the creek. Keep up the great work.
I'm just heartbroken at what has become of this battlefield! My son in law is a marine of 1st battalion, 7th marines and this is how I first learned of guadalcanal! Thanks for showing us what you could J.D ! Enjoyed it immensely!
Agreed Jeff. Although this particular battle is based on the actions of the American soldiers, JD has done a stellar job of highlighting several Canadian battles during WWII. Thank you JD. I also am from Ontario Canada, a little town near Jeff called Simcoe
My great uncle was with the B-1-7 1st Marine Division. Cut his teeth at Guadalcanal, fought at Cape Gloucester before losing his life on the beach at Peleliu 15 Sep 1944. So tragic the see Guadalcanals condition now. Thank you for your work
I thank your great uncle for the hardships he endured on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester, and for his ultimate sacrifice on Peleiliu. What is his name?
In my opinion, the Western powers need to be investing in places like Guadalcanal to counter the Chinese. The Chinese have built a stadium and are currently building a hospital in Honiara. Not without expecting something in return, no doubt.
@ Their “Belt and roads” initiative. It’s falling apart in Africa already. Their roads are rapidly deteriorating and the Africans have no intention on paying anything back. Look at China’s internal construction projects. Derisively called “Tofu dreg”. Where buildings and bridges are literally falling over due to corruption and poor materials. But, yes, the US needs to counter this stuff. We need to take back farmlands purchased by the Chinese near our military bases.
The action at Alligator Creek and the defense of Edson’s Ridge are kind of the quintessential battles of this campaign. These actions are happening simultaneously with the Australian’s defense along the Kokoda Track. I’ve believed for quite awhile that discussions of Guadalcanal need to include discussions of the New Guinea campaign. The Japanese had to respond to both at the same time limiting what they could do at either location.
Another very interesting video. Cannot comprehend how the Chinese have no respect for the island or those who died on it.😢 Found the short map intro helpful as although I have seen the Pacific series I am limited in my understanding and knowledge of this part of the pacific war. 🇬🇧
Battlefields change ....europe is a fine example ....just sooo sad to see how areas on Guadalcanal have become... JD youre coverage/ content is top notch.. thank you soo much . Happy new year from Kelowna BC ...
I watch your shows. You present things in a honorable way! Do you ever lead tours? This is a weird question however can you feel what happened at the different battle grounds you go to?
Been there.....awesome place to visit the battlefield of my father. I had seen pictures of the site growing up in my Dad's "The Old Breed" and had always been drawn to the leaning coconut tree towards the ocean It was still there. And yes, I saw evidence of crocodiles and even stumbled across and old oul oan from some Marine vehicle. Thank you John Innes, RIP
You are doing great work JD preserving these pieces of history, it's such a shame that some of these historic sites are being destroyed in the name of progress.
I haven't been to Alligator Creek since 2017. Then the Nip memorial was surrounded by greenery. Bit sad to see the rubble piles that have replaced the green. The locals used to make the odd dollar by charging for access, hope they still get some economic return. Local currency paper with red stains was interesting.
It’s frustrating for sure that this happened. Thanks J.D. for explaining everything you could. I’ve read both Helmet for my pillow and With the old breed. Excellent books!
My grandfather was a 42 year old chief petty officer navy Seabee that was there to help get Henderson field air strip functional and up and running there ! He never really talked much about his time there other then telling me about them getting routinely bombed every night by the Japanese and the of course the MUD You Never hit a Seabee ! Because he just might be a marines dad lol He always used that phrase lol
Excellent episode, even with the limited accessibility to different areas. The M1917 water-cooled .30 caliber machine gun was considered to be “a light machine gun”. Those Marines and soldiers that carried that weapon were Men. With all the equipment, the total weight was well over 100 pounds. The series, “The Pacific” does a good job of showing the movement to the M1919 Browning machine gun, especially in the episodes showing John Basilone and his development as a machine gun instructor. While the M1919 was not light weight, it was air-cooled rather than water-cooled. The M1919 did not have the heavy water jacket. The base was also lighter than the M1917. Anyway, thank you Mr. Browning for your designs.
Curious how and why you would think he'd check them? All his junk products are made there and so too are the things his daughter peddles. Powerful corporations whose money helped elect him have interests there.
As a kid, I slept with the book Guadalcanal Diary always under my pillow for some reason (?). It took me away to another world and just brought me comfort having a familiar item under my pillow for some reason. I am saddened to hear the Coconut Grove is gone. But as a lifelong Californian living in the L.A./Orange county area, it is something I am familiar with. So many landmarks, historical sites, famous areas ion California have been bulldozed in the name of progress and parking lots, road widening or housing tracts built in their place. Thanks for covering the Alligator Creek area before it's gone for good. And I think we all now it will disappear completely in the near future and China (or any one else) expands it's business foot print. I just you can say you got there in the nick of time.
I understand battlefields change; I honestly think that while it's important to remember things in their place you can't keep an area back just to commemorate a battle. But it's a shame they aren't doing it respectfully and the level of trash is just gross.
Did you see any Japanese tourists there?...maybe on the island to see where their relatives died... I've always wondered if some Japanese did that...or are the locals still hostile to the Japanese given the atrocities carried out by them all over the South Pacific.
I didn't see any personally, but I do know that Japanese tourists come to these places. It's a shame because this site has been ruined for them as well.
JD, once again, thank you. I don't understand the current push to cover up past conflicts. It happened, the places still exist, learn from them. These folks did know, at the time it was named, that there c are no alligators in the Pacific?
In the US of course. Not on Guadalcanal. Most are not even aware of what the war was about. Unfortunately they see the US as the cause of the unexploded ordnance that is a real threat. JD will discuss Basilone later. Basilone wasn’t even on the island when the Battle of Alligator Creek was fought.
Don't forget that the Chinese are also destroying the sunken Allied warships and salvaging their metal. It's just a matter of time before they start on the ships in Ironbottom Sound.
I recently found out that the Marines were using the M1903 Springfield rifle. I always assumed they had the M1 Garand. I can't imagine fighting off a mass banzai charge with a bolt action rifle. Hat's off to those brave men.
No suprise. They have been illegally scrapping British naval war graves for years. Building a gravel pit on the site of a pivotal pacific battleground is par for the course.
@@PalleRasmussen Very well said. People in Europe & USA so keen to buy Chinese products because they are cheap. They are cheap because: 1, A deliberate Chinese Government policy to corner markets 2. Stupid policies like the UK Government & EU Super State to meet unrealistic "Green Climate Targets" by exporting dirty energy production & dirty manufacturing to China. POTUS Trump can see what is going on & will take action for his country. Sadly for us in Britain there is no hope of common sense prevailing any time soon.
@@misterbaker9728no. Look to Ukraine. And with Cadet Bone Spurs eyeing Greenland and Panama and Canada, the Muscowites will continue west, and the Chinese take Taiwan. Who do you think are most dangerous; that pair or a bunch of ragheads? Oh BTW, those two are allied with Iran.
I would just say that whomever owned the land can sell it to whomever - BUT - I did agree with you that the land there is significant to the people of the United States. It’s a major shame the US hasn’t done much of anything to memorialize the men who fought on Guadalcanal.
The Japanese thought that there were only 2,000 Marines on the island at that time. There were in fact 15,000 plus. They continued to believe this faulty intelligence for a while.
I'm afraid the chinese have an appalling attitude towards the war dead of other nations, they have been stripping sunken ships classified as war graves for the scrap metal. I had no idea that chinese companies had moved into the Solomon Islands.
Good example why these videos are a race against time before development or pollution alter forever historical sites. But don’t blame locals for wanting to develop land. Just try to visit Civil War sites in Northern Virginia and you will see U.S. is no different.
That’s honestly shocking and disgusting that a battle that happened in living memory isn’t better preserved or protected and destroyed by companies that’s ridiculous. There should definitely be something that stops this from happening, but then again money talks, and they probably don’t care.
China is doing what Japan tried to do in WW2. Cut off supply lines and isolate Australia. They are doing it by buying land in places of strategic importance instead of by force. They are doing the same in the South Cina Sea and Panama/Central America. These areas will probably be used to create bases in the future. The Chinese have already offered to provide police services to Guadalcanal. That way they can take over the whole island with the largest airport in the area.
Terrible that original battlefields are disappearing, why could some people stay off there there’s is some many places where you can go. And disgusting what The Chinese did there. What would they say in someone builds a factory on top of the chinees wall? And it’s terrible to see it’s the battleground is littered with trash.
Horrible how urban encroachment destroys these old battlefields. The Japanese war memorial is now so out of place without the old coconut grove. Sad to see how said memorial has seen better days with fresh paint.
Sad that those hallowed grounds are becoming less and less either by time or greed. I can’t wave the finger of shame at the Chinese alone but more so to the people who sold that site.
@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 I thought he was born in Riverside, New Jersey, and he grew up in Pennsylvania. I read that he was a boxer and was referred to as Indian Johnny Rivers. Maybe his parents were Indian? I know he is buried in Hawaii, but I figured that was just because there was a national cemetery there, but that cemetery was not established until 1949, so maybe his parents were from Hawaii and not Indian?
It’s a real shame when industry from ANY country encroaches on and destroys these important historical sites. Hopefully they leave the Japanese’s memorial undisturbed. It may be small - but it has a major significance to the Japanese’s and perhaps, the United States should also place a memorial on the site.
Thanks for making the abuse of this sacred ground by the Chinese known to us. Many of us had not previously been aware of it. Can anyone doubt that the Chinese are our enemies? We should also not ignore the complicity of the government of the Solomon Islands.
Maybe you should educate yourself as to the timeframe of the deal. I'll let you in on a little secret, just because you just learned something, does not mean it just happened. Now, who was president in 2019? Whose watch did it happen under?
It's hard to watch this video with whats become of that historic battle site. What a shame that it's so dirty and trash filled. I'll never understand how any people can live like that. Sad.
It's honestly a disgrace that the United States hasn't protested, or made an effort, to protect these iconic battlefields where Americans died.
A plaque on a wall cannot explain a battlefield the way a preserved battlefield can.
I've been watching for a few years now, and I love the content. Thanks for making this stuff viewable for the average American!
Try selling that to the taxpayers. Maybe non-profits or a non-profit should be started for battlefield restoration and preservation.
Kind of imperialistic thinking that one can go wherever one wants on sovereign territory and dictate how they utilize their land. Fortunate there is the documentation we have and if (when) remains are found they are handled correctly.
@@MrFrikkenfrakken No one's saying that. The only imperial minded person here is you.
China is bullying everyone in the region including us to some degree. Proof seen in this video. China selected that location for “development” with malice. They know its importance to both Japan and the US.
I totally agree with everything you've said it's disgusting what the Chinese are doing to this country. They've also taken over businesses in uganda east Africa it's not on
The John Garfield movie, ''Pride of the Marines,'' made an impression on me as a kid. Remembering how he coped as a Blind Man, by memorizing where each thing was in relation to the other things, got me thinking that way, even though I was only near-sighted. In Boot Camp, we had a barracks drill where the platoon members each disassembled their M-16s on top of our racks, then the DI killed the lights, and we were to reassemble the rifle in total dark. I was the first to get it. Remembering Al Schmid's methods, I put the Upper Receiver Group on the left of my blanket, the Lower Receiver Group on my right, and the smaller parts fanned out in between.
I was first. Since I knew [in my mind's eye] where and what each part was, I could reassemble the Rifle rapidly. The DI thought I'd cheated. We tried it again. I beat my first time. I was ''invited'' into the Duty Hut to explain my method. I cited a corny old movie about Guadalcanal, where an actor, John Garfield, had been blinded, but continued running his machine gun, sighted by his buddy, and could handle his weapon by feel because he knew it so well. Impressed with my motivation, I was picked on less by the DIs for a couple days, until I fucked up on something else.
Semper Fi
Great video! Such a shame, other Nations don’t feel the need to preserve lands where brave men gave their lives for freedom. Thanks JD, greetings from Germany 🇩🇪
Fair play mate. Good effort in challenging conditions. Appreciate your efforts in telling the stories and educating us.
Much appreciated.
This has been a great series, I hope you enjoyed the trip as much as we have enjoyed watching. Big respect for Dave being such a knowledgeable guide and preserving this battlefield and remembrance of the battle as a historian. As long as we have men like you and Dave, we may lose the physical battlefield as time moves on, but never the honor. This battle is especially poignant as Dave is a Marine machine gunner, inheritor of those Marine machine gunners who played pivotal roles in the Guadacanal campaign, including Basilone.
I’m rewatching The Pacific again on account of this
Good idea!
Dave is the man for Guadalcanal History! 😎
100%
Thanks for the great job given the circumstances. J D, you always do a fantastic job. From the Little Bighorn to Guadalcanal, you are the best in my opinion. I have to say as a history buff, by far, you are my favorite guide. About Guadalcanal, #1 shame on us for not buying the land before the Chinese got ahold of it. #2 it almost seems as if Chinese did this out of spite. Of all the places on the island, this is the only place to put in a cement plant? #3 the amount of plastic coming down the river is not atypical. It kind of makes me sick to hear that you had to limit your time at the creek. Keep up the great work.
I'm just heartbroken at what has become of this battlefield! My son in law is a marine of 1st battalion, 7th marines and this is how I first learned of guadalcanal! Thanks for showing us what you could J.D
! Enjoyed it immensely!
You guys are great people for doing shows about history keeping the past alive. From Jeff Swick St.Williams Ontario Canada
👍🏻
Agreed Jeff. Although this particular battle is based on the actions of the American soldiers, JD has done a stellar job of highlighting several Canadian battles during WWII. Thank you JD. I also am from Ontario Canada, a little town near Jeff called Simcoe
My great uncle was with the B-1-7 1st Marine Division. Cut his teeth at Guadalcanal, fought at Cape Gloucester before losing his life on the beach at Peleliu 15 Sep 1944. So tragic the see Guadalcanals condition now. Thank you for your work
I thank your great uncle for the hardships he endured on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester, and for his ultimate sacrifice on Peleiliu. What is his name?
Thank you for all of your efforts JD. Please keep bringing us this valuable historic information regarding our brave patriots of the past.
Love your work on these series
I appreciate it!
I guess that helps to explain why the US Military is reactivating the airbase on Tinian
I hope that we don’t put too much weight on it. It might tip over.😂
In my opinion, the Western powers need to be investing in places like Guadalcanal to counter the Chinese. The Chinese have built a stadium and are currently building a hospital in Honiara. Not without expecting something in return, no doubt.
I think this video teaches us as much about what’s coming as it does what happened 😢
@ Their “Belt and roads” initiative. It’s falling apart in Africa already. Their roads are rapidly deteriorating and the Africans have no intention on paying anything back. Look at China’s internal construction projects. Derisively called “Tofu dreg”. Where buildings and bridges are literally falling over due to corruption and poor materials. But, yes, the US needs to counter this stuff. We need to take back farmlands purchased by the Chinese near our military bases.
@@TheHistoryUnderground
The Chinese are preparing for the next WW and are staking claim for their bases.
Best history channel on UA-cam
Thank you!
Thank you. Lest we forget those brave men....The Air Force is reopening old WW2 Airbase on Tinian Island......
The action at Alligator Creek and the defense of Edson’s Ridge are kind of the quintessential battles of this campaign. These actions are happening simultaneously with the Australian’s defense along the Kokoda Track. I’ve believed for quite awhile that discussions of Guadalcanal need to include discussions of the New Guinea campaign. The Japanese had to respond to both at the same time limiting what they could do at either location.
Also, a movie back in the day was a Good representation of it Was the thin red line
Another very interesting video. Cannot comprehend how the Chinese have no respect for the island or those who died on it.😢
Found the short map intro helpful as although I have seen the Pacific series I am limited in my understanding and knowledge of this part of the pacific war. 🇬🇧
great video thank you
it is our own Falt.
Chinese are so thankful for being liberated during ww2
That's a real shame what happened to the Alligator Creek area. Great video!
I agree, it’s a shame. Thanks for watching!
Battlefields change ....europe is a fine example ....just sooo sad to see how areas on Guadalcanal have become...
JD youre coverage/ content is top notch.. thank you soo much .
Happy new year from Kelowna BC ...
I watch your shows. You present things in a honorable way! Do you ever lead tours?
This is a weird question however can you feel what happened at the different battle grounds you go to?
Great video JD, glad you're covering more of the Marines actions in WW2, oldish Marine here 👍🏻🇺🇸
Been there.....awesome place to visit the battlefield of my father.
I had seen pictures of the site growing up in my Dad's "The Old Breed" and had always been drawn to the leaning coconut tree towards the ocean
It was still there. And yes, I saw evidence of crocodiles and even stumbled across and old oul oan from some Marine vehicle.
Thank you John Innes, RIP
You are doing great work JD preserving these pieces of history, it's such a shame that some of these historic sites are being destroyed in the name of progress.
Progress or imperialism?
@@skynut38 Yeah.. but honestly that’s what happens when you ignore those island nations. Someone else paid attention and took advantage.
Limited or not, I still think this series is some of your finest work JD. Geez can't believe all this stuff is being sold!! Thx!
That is an interesting avatar. It looks familiar to one near and dear to my heart.
@@tanker335 My Dad's WWII unit the 736th Tank Bn. Fought in the Bulge and thru the end of the war with the 83d Division
Thanks
I haven't been to Alligator Creek since 2017. Then the Nip memorial was surrounded by greenery. Bit sad to see the rubble piles that have replaced the green. The locals used to make the odd dollar by charging for access, hope they still get some economic return. Local currency paper with red stains was interesting.
Why do I feel like history is repeating itself on these islands with adversaries occupying them again
It’s frustrating for sure that this happened. Thanks J.D. for explaining everything you could. I’ve read both Helmet for my pillow and With the old breed. Excellent books!
Much love and respect from Cleveland
👍🏻
Another great video. Sorry you couldnt spend more time there. Interesting to see the Japanese memorial. Look forward to the next video.
I felt the Japanese memorial was beautiful. I think the United States needs to do more to recognize and remember the men that fought there as well.
Excellent video again jd. Loving this series top notch,!
At 9:50, is that a rifle stock on the ground, or just a piece of wood?
Do the best you can brother. @ 4:27. I just the article you mentioned about these purchases. A sad day for Guadalcanal military history.
Your intros are so awesome and always get me hype
My grandfather was a 42 year old chief petty officer navy Seabee that was there to help get Henderson field air strip functional and up and running there ! He never really talked much about his time there other then telling me about them getting routinely bombed every night by the Japanese and the of course the MUD
You Never hit a Seabee ! Because he just might be a marines dad lol
He always used that phrase lol
Thanks for this content!!
My pleasure!
Excellent episode, even with the limited accessibility to different areas.
The M1917 water-cooled .30 caliber machine gun was considered to be “a light machine gun”. Those Marines and soldiers that carried that weapon were Men.
With all the equipment, the total weight was well over 100 pounds.
The series, “The Pacific” does a good job of showing the movement to the M1919 Browning machine gun, especially in the episodes showing John Basilone and his development as a machine gun instructor.
While the M1919 was not light weight, it was air-cooled rather than water-cooled. The M1919 did not have the heavy water jacket. The base was also lighter than the M1917.
Anyway, thank you Mr. Browning for your designs.
@ 3:23 What the hell? Chinese buying up the island? Come on! There’s nothing that the head guys on the canal are or can do about this?
Great JD !!!! Thanks!!!!!
Thank you sir, you always put out great vibes!
Another great history video JD....to bad its been covered up by all the trash and waste.....From death and destruction to trash and whatever else.
Another excellent book is "Shots Fired in Anger" by Lt. Col. John George which describes his time there with the 23rd Division
Sounds like President Trump needs to have a conversation with the folks at Guadalcanal.
dwightadams3853: he will only do that if they are Republican types.
Yep. The Western nations need to look at investing in the country.
He can keep his, greasy, grubby, little hands off Greenland.
I would much rather see a non profit or historical conglomerate work something out..
Curious how and why you would think he'd check them? All his junk products are made there and so too are the things his daughter peddles. Powerful corporations whose money helped elect him have interests there.
As a kid, I slept with the book Guadalcanal Diary always under my pillow for some reason (?).
It took me away to another world and just brought me comfort having a familiar item under my pillow for some reason.
I am saddened to hear the Coconut Grove is gone.
But as a lifelong Californian living in the L.A./Orange county area, it is something I am familiar with.
So many landmarks, historical sites, famous areas ion California have been bulldozed in the name of progress and parking lots, road widening or housing tracts built in their place.
Thanks for covering the Alligator Creek area before it's gone for good.
And I think we all now it will disappear completely in the near future and China (or any one else) expands it's business foot print.
I just you can say you got there in the nick of time.
This is why battlefield preservation is so important. Shane on the locals for selling historic land.
I understand battlefields change; I honestly think that while it's important to remember things in their place you can't keep an area back just to commemorate a battle. But it's a shame they aren't doing it respectfully and the level of trash is just gross.
Did you see any Japanese tourists there?...maybe on the island to see where their relatives died... I've always wondered if some Japanese did that...or are the locals still hostile to the Japanese given the atrocities carried out by them all over the South Pacific.
I didn't see any personally, but I do know that Japanese tourists come to these places. It's a shame because this site has been ruined for them as well.
JD, once again, thank you. I don't understand the current push to cover up past conflicts. It happened, the places still exist, learn from them.
These folks did know, at the time it was named, that there c are no alligators in the Pacific?
Thank you for pointing out the misidentified name of the river.
What a great job. ❤😎
Is John Basilone's action still being discussed?
In the US of course. Not on Guadalcanal. Most are not even aware of what the war was about. Unfortunately they see the US as the cause of the unexploded ordnance that is a real threat. JD will discuss Basilone later. Basilone wasn’t even on the island when the Battle of Alligator Creek was fought.
On the way. 🙂
Progress 🤷♂️
Don't forget that the Chinese are also destroying the sunken Allied warships and salvaging their metal. It's just a matter of time before they start on the ships in Ironbottom Sound.
Great video again JD, thank you! What a waste to see this imported and historical ground turning into industrial madness 😠
Such a mistreatment of a place of historical significance, trash instead of remembrance.
I recently found out that the Marines were using the M1903 Springfield rifle. I always assumed they had the M1 Garand. I can't imagine fighting off a mass banzai charge with a bolt action rifle. Hat's off to those brave men.
What rock did you crawl out from under? The Marines always got the Army's leftovers.
37mm and the M1917 HMG did the job.
Still another great present!
What a shame we let the Chinese buy that land. That is sacred land. Now the Chinese can build a secret base in the Pacific.
Love your pacific theater videos Hope you do one on kwajalein atoll. My grandpa was on that island in ww2
China
Damn they ruining it all
Buying it all up is crazy
Not good. Not good at all.
No suprise. They have been illegally scrapping British naval war graves for years. Building a gravel pit on the site of a pivotal pacific battleground is par for the course.
They’re just trying to get ahead of what the Japanese did before the shooting starts.
Well, it is our greed for cheap stuff that has made them rich.
@@PalleRasmussen Very well said. People in Europe & USA so keen to buy Chinese products because they are cheap. They are cheap because: 1, A deliberate Chinese Government policy to corner markets 2. Stupid policies like the UK Government & EU Super State to meet unrealistic "Green Climate Targets" by exporting dirty energy production & dirty manufacturing to China. POTUS Trump can see what is going on & will take action for his country. Sadly for us in Britain there is no hope of common sense prevailing any time soon.
So if and when America fights ww3, are we gonna have to fight in the same island 😅😮. Great vid my man, I wish the island was taken care of better.
Ww3 alrqdy going on. It’s called Jihad
It would be nice to see the Western nations investing in these places and protecting the battlefields. The Chinese obviously aren’t.
@@TheHistoryUnderground exactly my thoughts when you were discussing it at the beginning.
@@misterbaker9728no. Look to Ukraine. And with Cadet Bone Spurs eyeing Greenland and Panama and Canada, the Muscowites will continue west, and the Chinese take Taiwan. Who do you think are most dangerous; that pair or a bunch of ragheads? Oh BTW, those two are allied with Iran.
I would just say that whomever owned the land can sell it to whomever - BUT - I did agree with you that the land there is significant to the people of the United States. It’s a major shame the US hasn’t done much of anything to memorialize the men who fought on Guadalcanal.
The Japanese thought that there were only 2,000 Marines on the island at that time. There were in fact 15,000 plus. They continued to believe this faulty intelligence for a while.
This is why we need to do a better job of preservation of our history here. We have been building through, over and around plenty here as well...
I'm afraid the chinese have an appalling attitude towards the war dead of other nations, they have been stripping sunken ships classified as war graves for the scrap metal.
I had no idea that chinese companies had moved into the Solomon Islands.
Good example why these videos are a race against time before development or pollution alter forever historical sites. But don’t blame locals for wanting to develop land. Just try to visit Civil War sites in Northern Virginia and you will see U.S. is no different.
Are you telling me if the Chinese keep messing around we could have an Alligator Creek 2.0?
You always hear about how the Chinese disrespect Western values. Yet another example!
Just listening to "With The Old Breed". Marines of WW2 was just a different breed.
It would be interesting to know where the Marines had placed their 37mm anti-tank guns. Their canister fire was devastating.
I show the spot where the guns were on one of the aerial photos.
@@TheHistoryUnderground Thanks, I see that indication at 5:49.
That’s honestly shocking and disgusting that a battle that happened in living memory isn’t better preserved or protected and destroyed by companies that’s ridiculous. There should definitely be something that stops this from happening, but then again money talks, and they probably don’t care.
China is doing what Japan tried to do in WW2. Cut off supply lines and isolate Australia. They are doing it by buying land in places of strategic importance instead of by force. They are doing the same in the South Cina Sea and Panama/Central America. These areas will probably be used to create bases in the future. The Chinese have already offered to provide police services to Guadalcanal. That way they can take over the whole island with the largest airport in the area.
Terrible that original battlefields are disappearing, why could some people stay off there there’s is some many places where you can go.
And disgusting what The Chinese did there. What would they say in someone builds a factory on top of the chinees wall?
And it’s terrible to see it’s the battleground is littered with trash.
So much trash! Maybe that's why they limit visitors. Don't want you to see how eco-friendly the Chinese are in reality
Horrible how urban encroachment destroys these old battlefields. The Japanese war memorial is now so out of place without the old coconut grove. Sad to see how said memorial has seen better days with fresh paint.
Enjoyed, thanks….20 years from now there will be little to no evidence any of this ever took place…..Andrew
The marines are gonna have to teach the Chinese on that island a lesson that the Japanese were taught there 82 years ago
the amount of trash there is horrible
If you go and watch Dave's video (linked in the description), you can see that it hasn't been like that until recently.
@ 14:10 Looking at the gravel piled up on what should be considered hallowed ground.
I am so upset about this travesty!!🤬🤬
Too bad you didn't have the access you had hoped, but you still did a good job with what you had to work with.
Not only are the veterans gone. Now the island itself is in danger of eradication. Sinful!!!
Sad that those hallowed grounds are becoming less and less either by time or greed. I can’t wave the finger of shame at the Chinese alone but more so to the people who sold that site.
Lots of battlefields being lost in the U.S. as well.
12:38 Rivers was white for the movie. Rivers played by John Caruso far left on the gun.
They call him an Indian (American) in the Marines. But he was from Hawaii.
@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349
I thought he was born in Riverside, New Jersey, and he grew up in Pennsylvania. I read that he was a boxer and was referred to as Indian Johnny Rivers. Maybe his parents were Indian? I know he is buried in Hawaii, but I figured that was just because there was a national cemetery there, but that cemetery was not established until 1949, so maybe his parents were from Hawaii and not Indian?
@ I will have to check. I’m in contact with his nephew and he told me that.
It’s a real shame when industry from ANY country encroaches on and destroys these important historical sites. Hopefully they leave the Japanese’s memorial undisturbed. It may be small - but it has a major significance to the Japanese’s and perhaps, the United States should also place a memorial on the site.
I sincerely hope that some Marine unit isn't going to have to come back to the Soloman Islands and go through this all over again...
Thank you again for another wonderful video.
Removed those coconut groves so JD couldn't bump his head...
Ok, that was kind of funny.
Thanks for making the abuse of this sacred ground by the Chinese known to us. Many of us had not previously been aware of it. Can anyone doubt that the Chinese are our enemies? We should also not ignore the complicity of the government of the Solomon Islands.
Terrible puts a lump in my throat. How can this happen. 😢
It all happened on sleepy Joe's watch, Trump will stand up to the Chinese. Good work JD.
Maybe you should educate yourself as to the timeframe of the deal. I'll let you in on a little secret, just because you just learned something, does not mean it just happened. Now, who was president in 2019? Whose watch did it happen under?
Absolutely ridiculous that we just sit back and literally watch the Chinese destroy these battlefields
It's hard to watch this video with whats become of that historic battle site. What a shame that it's so dirty and trash filled. I'll never understand how any people can live like that. Sad.
I hope the Chinese do not take over Henderson Field.
I couldn’t finish the video. What a disgrace:(
I hope that you’ll reconsider.
Chinese memorials yet to come.
ah the Chinese screwing up and desecrating again, what a surprise. /s