Guadalcanal

[<DasHaas@aol.com>]

Marc!

    This may be an off-line subject, but your cryptic note re: Sandy Patch's 
evaluation of the Marines on Guadalcanal caught my eye.  I'm currently 
researching the subject of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion on Tulagi and 
Guadalcanal, for a book I've begun writing.  As generally flattering as the 
book is about the Raiders, some of the tactics employed by both this 
particular battalion and the Marines overall, have puzzled this former 
infantryman.  

    Part of me wants to criticize what seems some pretty amateurish tactics, 
the other half reminds me that this was only the first inning of the U.S. 
Marine Corps vs. the Imperial Japanese Army championships.  I'm pretty much 
of the initial impression that both sides were mutually surprised by each 
other's tactics.  That, and that this initial "inning" was fought in marked 
contrast to the later fighting tactics employed by both sides.  As you know, 
official U.S. military history has been mostly favorable in its rating of the 
Marine performance on Guadalcanal.  Wasn't Patch a Marine general?

Mike