The 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal
The Battle of Guadalcanal, codenamed Operation Watchtower was the first major offensive and decisive victory for the Allies in the Pacific theatre of World War II. This campaign lasted from August 7, 1942 until February 9, 1943 and every branch of the United States military participated in it. 13 members of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were awarded the Medal of Honor for valor at Guadalcanal. Once captured and cleared, Guadalcanal became a launching point for the U.S. military as it embarked on an "island-hopping" campaign fighting their way to the Japanese mainland.