Sunday marks the 80th anniversary of the start of one of the most significant and decisive campaigns in U.S. military history.

On August 7, 1942, U.S. Marines launched a surprise attack on a Japanese-held territory in the Solomon Islands. It began a six-month battle for control of a strategic territory in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War.

Japanese troops arrived at the one-time British colony on June 8, 1942 to begin construction of an airfield. U.S. intelligence knew that control of the airfield would be critical in controlling the air and sea lines in the Pacific.

So a quickly-prepared assault was organized, with reinforcements funneled to the island over the next six months as air and naval battles ensued over control of the territory.

By the end of the battle on February 9, 1943, the Japanese had lost 24,000, or two-thirds, of the 31,400 army troops committed to the island, whereas the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army had lost 1,600 of about 60,000 deployed.

The victory proved to be a turning point of the War in the Pacific. American troops gained control of the airbase, which they would call Henderson Field, and quickly established air superiority in the Pacific.

The 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal will be observed Sunday in a special program at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, 374 Temple Hill Road (Route 300), New Windsor. Admission is free.

The 2 p.m. program also commemorates the 240th anniversary of the creation of the Badge of Military Merit, the inspiration for the modern Purple Heart.
The program is another opportunity to honor the dwindling members of America’s Greatest Generation while they are still among us. The Veteran’s Administration, estimates that approximately 240,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were alive in 2021. That’s less than half the number of World War II Veterans alive just five years ago. The VA estimates there will only be 168,278 living U.S. World War II veterans by Sept. 30.

There are few remaining opportunities to honor these heroes. Let’s not waste this chance.