MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- American and Japanese veterans of the Battle of Guadalcanal met once again on the largest of the Solomon Islands, but this time it was with the intention of honoring those who were lost 60 years ago.
August 7, 1942, marked the beginning of an allied offensive aimed at gaining control of the Solomon Islands. The battle lasted for six months on land, at sea and in the skies above the tropical island chain before the Japanese forces were finally defeated in February 1943.
A handful of Marines from Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 got a chance to attend the 60th Anniversary of the historic Guadalcanal campaign and were able to see first hand the place were so much history was regrettably made.
"It was like a dream," said Capt. Chris Hay, VMFA(AW)-225 Classified Materials Custodian officer, about flying over "the slot," the area where most naval ships were forced to pass through to get ground troops to the beaches of Guadalcanal. "You can read all about the battles in books, but when you're there you can see it, smell it and feel it. It's overwhelming."
The anniversary consisted of a number of ceremonies at the various war memorials located around the island.
"The main ceremony took place at the U.S. War Memorial near Bloody Ridge," said Hay. "There were speakers from a lot of different places at the ceremonies. It made you realize how many lives were affected by this one place."
At Bloody Ridge, Marines held their positions in the face of 3-1 odds against the Japanese forces. After days of fighting the battle had cost Marines 143 casualties whereas the Japanese had suffered 1,138.
Although the reality of the Guadalcanal campaign is one of a solemn nature, the general atmosphere at the anniversary was surprisingly lighthearted, according to 1st Lt. Mike Raths, VMFA-225(AW) S-4 officer.
"These guys consider themselves lucky to have made it out of there," said Raths. "They were coming back to remember and pay tribute to all those who didn't."
Men who 60 years ago would have called each other an enemy were now talking and sharing their memories of a horrific battle.
"Most of the veterans were eager to share their combat experiences with us," said Maj. William VanAtten, VMFA(AW)-225 executive officer. "It was really an honor to meet with these gentlemen and sit and listen to their stories about the battle."
One of those veterans was retired Marine Col. Jefferson DeBlanc who was shot down 250 miles behind enemy lines and acquired a Japanese uniform and the help of island natives who ferried him back to the safety of allied lines. DeBlanc was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions.
"We had a real sense of pride just being around these people," said Raths. "Colonel DeBlanc sat in the cockpit of one of our aircraft with his Medal of Honor around his neck grinning from ear to ear and that meant a lot to all of us and to him I think."
The Marines from VMFA(AW)-225 and their F/A-18D Hornet aircraft were the first modern fighters to land on Guadalcanal since World War II. The Marines also played the role of ambassadors of the United States, according to Raths.
"The local people were extremely friendly and excited to see us," said Raths. "Guadalcanal is a place that can hardly be seen on a map and yet it has so much history in its past. We're privileged to have been able to be at this anniversary."