Japanese Colonel Called Marines 'Effeminate And Cowardly' — Then Lost 87% Of His Men In One Night

Video Description

Discover the dramatic true story of the Battle of Tenaru, one of the most decisive engagements of the Guadalcanal Campaign during World War Two. On August 21, 1942, Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki led his elite Japanese infantry regiment against the United States Marines defending Henderson Field in the Solomon Islands, expecting a swift victory based on a catastrophic underestimation of American fighting capability. This documentary explores the incredible acts of courage displayed by men like Al Schmid, the Philadelphia Marine who continued firing his machine gun even after losing his sight, and Jacob Vouza, the Solomon Islands scout who endured unimaginable hardship to warn American forces of the coming attack. Through detailed historical research, we examine how American codebreakers, jungle patrols, and prepared defensive positions turned what the Japanese expected to be an easy triumph into a devastating defeat that marked the first major American land victory in the Pacific Theater. From the Marco Polo Bridge Incident of 1937 to the jungles of Guadalcanal, follow the journey that led one regiment to its fate and changed the course of the Pacific War. This is the story of the First Marine Division, the men who held the line at Alligator Creek, and the night that shattered the myth of invincibility in the Pacific. Perfect for history enthusiasts, military history buffs, and anyone interested in World War Two documentaries, Pacific War battles, and the heroic stories of the Greatest Generation.