What is battle of the tenaru?

The Battle of the Tenaru, also known as the Battle of Alligator Creek, was a significant engagement between US Marines and Japanese forces during the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. The battle took place on August 21-22, 1942, near the Tenaru River on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

The battle was part of a larger Japanese offensive to retake Guadalcanal from Allied forces. The Japanese sent a force of approximately 900 soldiers to attack the Marines' positions near the Tenaru River. However, the Marines, numbering around 11,000, were well-prepared and well-entrenched.

During the battle, the Japanese forces launched several attacks on the Marine positions but were repelled with heavy casualties. The Marines used mortars, machine guns, and small arms fire to inflict heavy losses on the Japanese forces.

The most iconic moment of the battle was when a group of approximately 30 Japanese soldiers attempted to ford the Tenaru River and attack the Marines from the flank. They were met with devastating machine gun fire from Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, who single-handedly held off the Japanese attack and saved the Marine's position.

By the end of the battle, the Japanese forces had suffered heavy casualties, with over 700 soldiers killed. The Marines, on the other hand, suffered minimal casualties, with only 34 killed and 75 wounded.

The Battle of the Tenaru was a decisive victory for the Marines and marked a turning point in the Guadalcanal Campaign. It demonstrated the tenacity and fighting spirit of the Marines and their ability to repel a large Japanese assault.