UNIT CITATION
HEADQUARTERS, FIRST MARINE DIVISION
FLEET MARINE FORCE
C/O POSTMASTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
19 September, 1942.
DIVISION BULLETIN NUMBER 40a-42
Commendation of Raider Battalion, Parachute Battalion, and Eleventh Marines
for action against the enemy of 13-14 September. 1942.
1. The Commanding General desires to commend the outstanding efforts
of the Raider Battalion. the Parachute Battalion, and tne Eleventh Marines
during the enemy attack on the First Division positions on Guadalcanal
Island on the night of September 13-14, 1942.
2. On that night the Raider Battalion with the First Parachute Battalion
attached, having been assiged the mission of occupying and defending a
key position a1ong a ridge located about one thousand (1000) yards south
of the Guadalcanal air field, had scarcely moved into the position when
the enemy launched an attack on it and broke through the front lines.
The situation of forward units havIng become untenable, a skillful withdrawal
to the reserve position was effected.
3. During the period from 1930 on the 13th to 0000 on the 14th the enemy
launched a series of ferocious assaults on the reserve position. each
culminating in fierce hand to hand combat in vhich both attacker and defender
employed bayonets, rifles, pistol., grenades and knives. The Parachute
Battalion, hastily reorganized into two companies after its withdrawal
from the main line of resistance, counter-attacked the enemy advancing
on the left of the reserve position to extend that position to the left
and to straighten the line then being held by the Battalion Reserve. This
counter-attack was carried out successfully in that the enemy was forced
to vithdraw into the edge of the woods fronting the reserve position,
this flanking movement which had threatened the whole position having
been halted. During this courageous attack the Parachute Troops suffered
casualties estimated at 40%.
4. Throughout the night the Eleventh Marines supported the Raiders and
Parachutists by nine hours of almost constant artillery fire of the greatest
accuracy and effectiveness, and greatly assisted them in standing off
the attacks of the enemy. The morning of the 14th found the enemy, retreating
and the reinforced Raider Battalion in complete control of the field of
battle.
5. Almost without exception the officers and men engaged in this action
proved themselves to be among, the best fighting
troops that any service could hope to have, and in extending to tnem the
salutation of the officers and men of the Division the
Commanding General vishes to state that he considers i t a privilege and
an honor to have had troops of this caliber attached to his command.
A. A. VANDEGRIFT.
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