255K views · 9.1K reactions | 75 years ago today, the Battle of Guadalcanal began. Marines led the first major offensive by Allied forces in the Pacific Campaign. | U.S. Marine Corps | Facebook

On Friday the 13th, 1942, the US Navy clashed with Imperial Japanese forces in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The conflict led to the destruction of ships on both sides, but ended in a strategic US victory. | HISTORY

17K views · 391 reactions | Guadalcanal was the first US amphibious landing operation of WW2. Its success hinged largely on a small transport vessel known as the LCPL—or the Higgins Landing Craft, as it was originally known, named after its inventor, Andrew Higgins. The battle was more than a victory. It was a first step on the road to defeating Japan. Don't miss a new episode of Combat Ships, tomorrow at 8/7c! | Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation | Facebook

To boost public morale, "Guadalcanal Diary" (1943) was released within 10 months of the end of the battle. The Marines, Navy, Army and Coast Guard all assisted in the production. The movie was mostly shot at Camp Pendleton, and several Marines were given minor speaking roles. To learn more about the Hollywood-Pentagon relationship, join the U.S. Naval Institute and United States Naval Academy for the conference "Through the Camera Lens: Sharing the Story of the U.S. Military" on Oct 20-21: https