Guadalcanal

[Les Groshong]

With the great assistance of MOM, Len Skinner and I, Les Groshong. would like to discuss the first offensive action in the Pacific field of battle in the Pacific, from the point of view of two participants. Not much hard history, but mostly our personal experiences. We would appreciate any questions that any of you would care to ask. I'll ask the first question of Len.
Len, do have have the dates of your arrival on the Canal and when you left there? Les

[Les Groshong]

Chuck, I just opened a new topic on the Grunts forum, the subject being Guadalcanal. We need your participation. You were there first. I read this from the "164th Infantry News :
SIXTY FIVE YEARS Since Guadalcanal (2007)
"On 13 October 1942, a bunch of 'farm boys from North Dakota landed on the beach at Guadalcanal to become the first U.S.Army unit to offensively engage the enemy - in either theater - during World War two."
Chuck, Please tell us about that time there.

[MOM]

Les, while we are waiting on Len and Chuck to join you, I have a question. To set the time period for us before this battle, what were some of the things you recall about the time period between the attack on Pearl Harbor in December, and the beginning of this battle 10 months later in October. Where were you training during this time for the landing on the Canal, and what was going on around you? Did you have any idea of where you were about to be heading to?

[Les Groshong]

Dear Mom, On January 5, 1942, the Eighth Marine Regiment shipped out of San Diego headed for Samoa. I am sure that we were the very first organized combat unit to leave the United states after Pearl Harbor. On about the Nineteenth of January we arrived in Pago Pago. The night before a Japanese submarine had surfaced and fired some shells over the hills into the harbor, doing litte damage. We stayed there until about nine months later when we shipped out for Guadalcanal. I do not recall any reluctance to our going there.
Les

[Les Groshong]

Dear Mom, Our passage to Samoa was on three Matson steamships ( luxury liners), the Monterey, Matsonia and the Lurline. We sat in the lounge at small tables set up for four people and were served by waiters. Probably never before in the history of troop ships, etc, etc. etc..

[Les Groshong]

Dear Mom, You asked me about the time that the Eighth Marines spent prior to going to the Canal. I'll use the word Canal because it is both understood and shorter.
When the Eighth Marines landed at Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango)
both the island and the natives were totally unprepared for receiving a Marine Corps regiment. The Third battalion was positioned in a coconut grove. with no roads or even adequate paths for us to move around. We drank from Lister bags all the time that were there. Early on we buried a 50 gallon drum in the ground and threw a couple of slats across the top and had our first toilet. We soon found that the natives had a path very nearby, and seemed very unconcerned about what we were doing out in the open. They usually would give us a wave and often wished us well with a "Telofa Malini."
"Hello Marine." We learned to wave back. Later I was given the job of building a covered toilet and, without building experience, I built an eight hole toilet. It was so well done that many peopole came to learn how to build a similar eight holer. My only error was not to have made an urinal to go with it.
The food was nether very good, nor very bad. We had no mess hall and usually ate in the open air. Mosquitoes were the worst problem that we endured. We had mosquito nets over our cots, but had to avoid getting to near those nets, or getting bit.
One morning during roll call, the First Sergeant suddenly stopped calling off the names and started wiggling, then he let out a yell and quickly took off his pants. A centipede had bitten him in a tender area. We were still laughing at the next roll call.
As far as the Samoan women were concern, they had only contempt for us. I only heard of one sexual encounter and it was said the the woman was mentally handicapped. The girls liked to, on occaision, turn their backs to a Marine or two and then throw their skirts up in the air exposing their bare asses. It was said to ba a form of low contempt, but for the Marines it was as close to sex as they would get.
That pretty well sums up my thoughts about our times prior to going to the Canal. Any queations ? Les

[MOM]

Les,

I can not imagine how miserable that must have been. To go from San Diego to an island like that without running water or even the crudest of living conditions must have been hard on a lot of you. How old were you at this time?

[Les Groshong]

Dear Mom, I do not recall ever being miserable while in the Corps. I seem to recall many occaisions where I wished the circumstances were different or better, but never do I recall being miserable. I faintly remember that there was very little sympathy given to anyone, nor asked for either. I recall hearing over and over, "Nobody twisted your arm." Mabe being miserable would have been considered un Marine-like.
I would like to hear from others if they felt the same way that I did.

[wukong]

Les,
What did you know and what did you expect when your unit was ordered to embark for Guadalcanal?

[Les Groshong]

Hi Wukong, I do not recall any specific feelings about our going to the Canal. Logic might suggest that we would be very concerned and worried about our lives being put in danger, but I do not recall or believe that to be the case. I do recall the night before the Saipan landing feeling the gaul in my throat, but that is my only recollection of having much fear prior to going into battle. Even the Tarawa landing did not particularly worry me.
It is my belief now that there is a certain feeling of immortality that one experiences in those early battles that time erodes. Then again, maybe my memory has faded