What is goettge patrol?

The Goettge Patrol was a reconnaissance patrol consisting of 25 United States Marines and one US Navy corpsman that was sent out on August 12, 1942, during the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. The mission of the patrol was to gather intelligence about Japanese forces in the area and report back to their headquarters. However, shortly after beginning their mission, the patrol was ambushed and overwhelmed by a much larger force of Japanese soldiers, resulting in the deaths of 19 Marines and the Navy corpsman. It was one of the deadliest single engagements for the United States Marine Corps during the Guadalcanal Campaign. The patrol was named after its leader, Captain George Goettge. The lessons learned from the Goettge Patrol ambush were studied and applied in future missions, resulting in improved tactics and better-trained troops.