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The Marines landing on Guadalcanal was a defensive move, not offensive.

Japanese were building an airstrip that would have threatened Australia (or at least the shipping lanes to get there). Marines landed to take and hold the airstrip, nothing more. It took the US several months to fill up the logistical pipeline to move forward, both on Guadalcanal and in the Solomons in general. The strategic battle at Guadalcanal was not so much the Marines on the ground as it was the Navy in the surrounding waters. I've heard speakers say the Navy casualties dwarfed the Marine casualties (but haven't actually checked it). The Japanese navy could make raids against Guadalcanal, but they couldn't stick around long. And the Cactus Air Force sank 17 large enemy vessels (per Wiki).

(In response to this post by bourbonstreet)

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Foss#Guadalcanal

Posted: 07/15/2016 at 7:57PM

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The Marines landing on Guadalcanal was a defensive move, not offensive. -- Hokie360 07/15/2016 7:57PM

Don't know if I'da called it: "defensive"? Line-drawing and I might agry. -- bourbonstreet 07/15/2016 9:54PM

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Was it 200%? Never knew that one----> ** -- bourbonstreet 07/15/2016 9:56PM

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