Why 800 U.S. Marines Let Japanese Surround Them — And Annihilated 2,500 Troops

Why 800 U.S. Marines Let Japanese Surround Them — And Annihilated 2,500 Troops

In September 1942, 800 U.S. Marines under “Red Mike” Edson made a calculated gamble at Guadalcanal, allowing 2,500 Japanese troops to nearly surround their position on a critical ridge south of Henderson Field. Instead of retreating when flanked, Edson consolidated his forces into a tighter defensive perimeter and unleashed devastating crossfire with machine guns, mortars, and precise artillery support over two nights of brutal combat. By dawn, the Japanese assault was shattered with over 700 dead, and “Edson’s Ridge” became the turning point that saved Henderson Field and changed the course of the entire Guadalcanal campaign. Credit to : Untold War Archives