Join Richard Frank, author of Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle, to explore the strategies by the Japanese occupiers and American invaders during the Battle of Guadalcanal. On August 7, the Marines first landed on the island 75 years ago and secured the beachhead and airfield at Lunga Point, renamed Henderson Field by the occupying American forces. After initial capture, Henderson Field would soon become the key point where the Japanese launched multiple allout attacks to reclaim their airstrip and control of the island. Analyze the Battle of Edson’s Ridge, marked with tenacious fighting by the US Marines to draw the fierce Japanese fighters off balance, causing devastating Japanese losses.

Originally broadcast on August 7th, 2017 at 12:00pm central time