"They're not really small, bucktoothed people needing thick glasses, that we can whip with one hand tied behind us, are they?" Major Stecker asked softly.
"It doesn't look that way, does it, Jack?" Harris replied, then added, "But so far things seem to be going pretty well on Gua-dalcanal."
"I've been on the radio to the 5th Marines," Stecker said. "That's not the case. So far, all we have is a beach. We're about to lose the equipment that's still aboard the transports, including rations and ammunition; and we're going to lose the Marines that are there, too. The Japanese have not yet counterattacked. They will, and I think they will in force. If not today or tomor-row, then soon. They want that airfield as much as we do, maybe more. And they're in a much better position to reinforce than we are. That's going to be a long and bloody fight, and I wouldn't give odds who's ultimately going to win it."
"Jesus Christ, Jack," Griffith protested. "When I was in En-gland I heard the Germans shoot their officers out of hand for talking like that. They call it `defeatism.' You're a goddamned Marine. I don't like hearing something like that from a Marine."
"That's enough, Sam!" General Harris flared. "I think Jack put the situation very succinctly." He raised his voice, "Sergeant Major!"
When the Sergeant Major appeared at the door, General Har-ris said, "Find some wheels to drive Major Stecker to the beach. I don't want him having an accident on his motorcycle between here and there."
(Seven)
TOP SECRET
Eyes Only-The Secretary of the Navy
DUPLICATION FORBIDDEN
ORIGINAL TO BE DESTROYED AFTER ENCRYP-TION AND TRANSMITTAL TO SECNAVY
Aboard USS McCawley
Off Guadalcanal
1430 Hours 9 August 1942
Dear Frank:
This is written rather in haste; and it will be brief because I know of the volume of radio traffic that's being sent, most of it unnecessarily.
As far as I am concerned, the battle of Guadalcanal began on 31 July, when the first Army Air Corps B-17 raid was con-ducted. They have bombed steadily for a week. I mention this because I suspect the Navy might forget the bombing in their reports. They were MacA. `s B-17s, and he supplied them willingly. That might be forgotten, too.
The same day, 31 July, the Amphibious Force left Koro in the Fijis, after the rehearsal. On 2 August, the long-awaited and desperately needed Marine Observa-tion Squadron (VMO-251, sixteen F4F3 photo-recon versions of the Wildcat) landed on the new airbase at Espiritu Santo. Without the required wing tanks. They are essentially useless until they get wing tanks. A head should roll over that one.
The day before yesterday, Friday, 7 Aug., the invasion began. The Amphibious Force was off Savo Island on schedule at 0200.
The 1st Marine Raider Bn under Lt. Col. Red Mike Edson landed on Tulagi and have done well.
The 1st Parachute Bn (fighting as in-fantrymen) landed on Gavutu, a tiny is-land two miles away. So far they have been decimated and will almost certainly suf-fer worse losses than this before it's over for them.
The 1st and 3rd Bns, 5th Marines, landed on the northern coast of Guadalcanal, west of Lunga Point, to not very much ini-tial resistance. They were attacked at half past eleven by Japanese bombers from Rabaul, twenty-five to thirty twin-engine ones.
I can't really tell you what happened the first afternoon and through the first night, except to say the Marines were on the beach and more were landing.
Just before eleven in the morning yes-terday (8 Aug. ), we were alerted (by the Coastwatcher on Buka, where Banning sent the radio) to a 45-bomber force launched from Kavieng, New Ireland (across the channel from Rabaul). They arrived just before noon and caused some damage. Our carriers of course sent fighters aloft to attack them, and some of our fighters were shot down.
At six o'clock last night, Admiral Fletcher radioed Ghormley that he had lost 21 of 99 planes, was low on fuel, and wants to leave.
I am so angry I don't dare write what I would like to write. Let me say that in my humble opinion the Admiral's estimates of his losses are overgenerous, and his estimates of his fuel supply rather mi-serly.
Ghormley, not knowing of this departure from the facts, gave him the necessary permission. General Vandergrift came aboard the McCawley a little before mid-night last night and was informed by Ad-miral Fletcher that the Navy is turning chicken and pulling out.
This is before-I want you to under-stand, in case this becomes a bit obfus-cated in the official Navy reports -before we took such a whipping this morning at Savo Island. As I understand it, we lost two U.S. cruisers (Vincennes and Quincy) within an hour, and the Aus-tralian cruiser Canberra was set on fire. The Astoria was sunk about two hours ago, just after noon.
In thirty minutes, most of the invasion fleet is pulling out. Ten transports, four destroyers, and a cruiser are going to run first, and what' s left will be gone by 1830.
The ships are taking with them rations, food, ammunition, and Marines desper-ately needed on the beach at Guadalcanal. There is no telling what the Marines will use to fight with. And there`s not even a promise from Fletcher about a date when he will feel safe to resupply the Ma-rines. If the decision to return is left up to Admiral Fletcher, I suppose that we can expect resupply by sometime in 1945 or 1950.
I say "we" because I find it impossible to sail off into the sunset on a Navy ship, leaving Marines stranded on the beach.
I remember what I said to you about the admirals when we first met. I was right, Frank.
Best Personal Regards,
Fleming Pickering, Captain, USNR
TOP SECRET
(Eight)
Headquarters,
1st U.S. Marine Division
Guadalcanal Solomon Islands
1705 Hours 9 August 1942
"I don't believe I know you, Colonel, do I?" Major General A. A. Vandergrift, Commanding, said to the tall man in Marine utilities with silver eagles pinned to his collar. The Colonel was sitting on a sandbag in the command post.
"No, Sir," the man said, rising to his feet and coming to atten-tion. "I don't have the privilege. And it's `Captain,' Sir. I bor-rowed the utilities."
"Are you waiting to see me, Captain?"
"I'd hoped to. Sir. I'd hoped to make myself useful some-how."
"You have about fifteen minutes to get to the beach in time to board your ship before they pull out. Captain."
"With your permission, Sir, I'm staying."
"We don't really need the services of a Naval captain right now, Captain, but I appreciate the thought."
"How about those of a Marine corporal, Sir?"
"What?"
"Once a Marine, always a Marine, Sir. I served in France."
"Oh, now I know who you are. You're Jack NMI Stecker's friend, right? Pickleberry? Something like that. Frank Knox's spy?"
"Pickering, Sir," he corrected.
"Isn't Admiral Fletcher going to wonder why you're not on the McCawley?"
"Fuck Admiral Fletcher, General."
Vandergrift flashed him an icy look.
"My hearing goes out from to time, Captain," he said. "I didn't hear that. But I rather liked the sound of it." He raised his voice. "Sergeant Major!"
That luminary appeared at just about the same moment that Major Jack NMI Stecker came into the command post.
"Get Captain Pickering some sort of a weapon," Vandergrift said. "And then take him down to Colonel Goettge."
"Get him an `03, Sergeant Major," Major Stecker said.
The Sergeant Major, who had been told that a Navy captain was outside waiting to see General Vandergrift, looked at this senior Naval personage and then back at Major Stecker, whom he knew and admired, and asked, dubiously, "A rifle, Sir?"
"It's all right, Sergeant Major. Captain Pickering is a Marine; he knows what a rifle is for," Major Stecker said.
"You heard the Major, Sergeant Major," General Vandergrift said. "Get him a Springfield."
"Aye, aye, Sir."
The
End
W E B Griffin - Corp 03 - Counterattack Page 59
