Robert Estrada
WWII - E126 Securing Vella Lavella: The Next ...

By mid-1943, the Allies were advancing through the Solomons, pushing toward Rabao. After securing Guadalcanal and New Georgia, their next target was Vella Lavella. Unlike previous battles, the Japanese opted to withdraw rather than defend the island outright, but the fight was far from easy.

Marines, Seabees, and New Zealand forces faced…

WWII - E126 Securing Vella Lavella: The Next Step in the Pacific War
Robert Estrada
WWII - E125 - Hell in the Jungle: The Fight for ...

By July 7, the Marines’ push toward Enogai had slowed to a crawl. Thick jungle, relentless enemy fire, and brutal terrain turned every step into a fight. Runners risked their lives to keep communication going, while corpsmen worked tirelessly to save the wounded.

When the Raiders captured a map of enemy defenses, Liversedge saw his chance. The 1st Raider Battalion launched a full-scale assault, smashing through machine-gun nests and mortar fire. By day’s end, Enogai was theirs, cutting off a key Japanese supply line.

But the cost was high, and the battle for New Georgia was far from over.By July 7, the Marines’ push toward Enogai had slowed to a crawl. Thick jungle, relentless enemy fire, and brutal terrain turned every step into a fight. Runners risked their lives to keep communication going, while corpsmen worked tirelessly to save the wounded.

When the Raiders captured a map of enemy defenses, Liversedge saw his chance. The 1st Raider Battalion launched a full-scale assault, smashing through machine-gun nests and mortar fire. By day’s end, Enogai was theirs, cutting off a key Japanese supply line.

But the cost was high, and the battle for New Georgia was far from over.

WWII - E125 - Hell in the Jungle: The Fight for Enogai
WWII
Robert Estrada
World War II: Defense of the Philippines - Part ...

A coordinated raid targeted US installations in the Philippines shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan's invasion caused US forces to withdraw and led to indefensible brutalities, such as the infamous Bataan Death March. Part 1 of this series looks…

World War II: Defense of the Philippines - Part 1
WWII
Robert Estrada
World War II: Attack in the Pacific - Guam 1941

The attack on Guam came only a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The island's defending force was significantly undergunned against the 5,500 troops from Japan's South Seas Detachment. We spend a little time talking about the amusing way Guam came into US possession, attempts to…

World War II: Attack in the Pacific - Guam 1941
WWII
Robert Estrada
World War II: Attack in the Pacific - Part 2: ...

This episode continues our discussion on the Battle of Wake. After Japan’s initial attack, all hands on the island prepared for a second raid. We’ll discuss Japan’s first attempt at an amphibious landing, Japanese air raids in the days following, and end with Wake’s surrender…

World War II: Attack in the Pacific - Part 2: Battle of Wake Island

Guadalcanal and Tulagi - Part 3

Guadalcanal and Tulagi - Part 3

This episode shifts focus from Yoke's journey toward Tulagi to Task Group X-Ray's approach to Beach Red on Guadalcanal, marking the first land offensive by American forces in WWII. The Marines, much like in Tulagi, were confronted with a stark difference between the intelligence they possessed and the actual situation on Guadalcanal. Their reliance on old sailing charts and the varied and often inaccurate accounts from ex-residents led to an essential shift in their strategy. The episode wraps up by

Samoa

Samoa

Amid the potential of the US entering WWII, American Samoa emerged as a linchpin in the Pacific defense strategy. With tensions rising and rumors of a Japanese attack swirling, the Marines swiftly fortified the island, constructing defenses, coastal emplacements, and antiaircraft positions. To bolster their forces…