FIRST PARAMARINE CORPS JAPANESE TRENCH ART GUADALCANAL Pres J.F. KENNEDY related

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THIS IS A TOTALLY INERT DISPLAY ITEM WHICH HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY ALTERED AND IS NOT CONSIDERED A WEAPON UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY COUNTRY. DISPLAY ONLY !3 1/2 INCH JAPANESE HOWITZER SHELL ASH TRAYBEAUTIFUL ENGRAVINGMARKED" 1942 WATCHTOWER GUADALCANAL HENDERSON FIELD FIRST PARA "WITH FIRST PARA INSIGNIAAS A 60+ YEAR COLLECTOR OF ORDNANCE ITEMS AND CONSULTANT I HAVE HAD THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF TRENCH ART COME MY WAY. OF THESE THOUSANDS I COLLECTED ONLY THE FINEST , RARE AND INTERESTING PIECES FOR MY PERSONAL COLLECTION. THESE RANGE FROM FANCY DECANTERS MADE FOR A NAZI FIELD MARSHALL , TO ITEMS MADE BY A U.S.N. MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER TO A UNIQUE BOMBLET MADE FROM JAPANESE FUZES BY THE FIRST ORDNANCE SQDN. TINIAN AND PRESENTED TO COL. TIBBITS UPON HIS RETURN FROM DROPPING THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB.MY PERSONAL COLLECTION CONTAINED ONLY 50 PIECES AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.When the U.S. began its long offensive in the Pacific, the Paramarines found themselves a part of the first actions, when the 1st Battalion was attached to the 1st Marine Division during the invasion of Guadalcanal, which began on August 7, 1942. That same day, the unit bloodied itself when it landed by boat to seize the nearby island of Gavutu, then aided other units in taking another island called Tanambango.A few days later, the unit began fighting alongside the infantry on Guadalcanal as the campaign deteriorated into a slugfest. The Paramarines aided Colonel Merritt Edson in conducting a landing on the north shore of the island to raid the village of Tasimboko, where ammunition, medical and food stockpiles of the Japanese force were found. More important was a treasure trove of documents that helped determine the size and positions of enemy forces. This windfall better prepared the marine force when they resisted a major Japanese push toward the island's all-important airfield in a battle to hold Hill 123, later renamed Edson's Ridge. Here, over two brutal nights from September 12-14, waves of Japanese were repulsed with the Paramarines joining the infantry in stopping the greatest threat the force would face in saving the island. When it was over, the Japanese had suffered over 1,300 killed and wounded, with Marines losing around 260.The Paramarines continued the fight until the island was finally secured on February 8, 1943, and the Solomon's campaign turned its focus on moving up the chain to the largest island, Bougainville. In October 1943, the 2nd Battalion conducted a diversionary raid on Choiseul Island, starting on October 28, 1943, which was intended to make the Japanese think it would be the main focus before any landing on Bougainville began. Over the next five days, the unit killed 143 Japanese and sank two barges, at a loss of 14 killed to witness the main landings commence on November 1, at Empress Bay, Bougainville.An interesting side note - during the diversion, 50 Paramarines were ambushed on November 2, resulting in three wounded.They ended up being evacuated from Choiseul by PT-59, commanded by LTJG JOHN F. KENNEDY !SEEMotor Torpedo Boat PT-59As the Bougainville invasion progressed, all three Battalions of Paramarines fought alongside each other for the first time, being attached to the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps. Always on the front lines, they suffered as much as their infantry brethren, but the elite nature of their training caused them to push on when others halted for rest. Once again, the Paramarines were there when the end came, this time with the Japanese being beaten and finally isolated on a remote part of the island until the end of the war. The Paramarines could chalk up another major success on their short combat resume, something all were committed to making longer. Yet, something was missing. As impressive as their record had been up to that point, the three battalions, who soon became known as the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, knew they were being under-utilized and under-appreciated. Commanders longed for and requested the time when they would make their first combat jump and truly separate themselves from the infantry. It never happened1st Marine Parachute BattalionThe first mission for the new paramarines was an amphipious assault on the islets of Gavutu and Tanambogo north of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. With 8 small infantry platoons, a total of 361 marines, the paramarines had a tough mission. The coral reef surrounding the islets only compounded the problem.After a pre-dawn bombardment on 7 August 1942 Company A of the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion landed on Gavutu in Higgins boat against little opposition. B & C Companies were not as fortunate and had to land under heavy fire. Bitter fighting ensued for the next two days until they secured their objective, Hill 148. The units 20 percent casualty rate was the highest of any unit fighting to secure a foothold on Guadalcanal. Because of the battalions depleted manpower, the unit was attached to Edson's Raider Battalion by General Vandegrift at the end of August on Tulagi.On September 8th the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion and the 1st Raider Battalion landed on Guadalcanal under cover of darkness and conducted a raid against Japanese positions near the village of Tasimboko. After this highly successful raid the Marine parachute battalion remained on Guadalcanal occupying defensive positions atop Lunga Ridge.It later became known as Edson's Ridge because of the success of Edson's 1st Raider Battalion and the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion against repeated ferocious banzai attacks by the Japanese in their attempt to recapture Henderson Field.The two-day battle on the ridge had cost the 1st Marine Raiders 135 men and the 1st Parachute Battalion 128. Of those totals, 59 were dead or missing, including 15 parachutists killed in action. Many of the wounded parachutists would eventually return to duty, but for the moment the battalion was down to about the size of a small rifle company. With their ranks further depleted from the ferocious combat on Edson's Ridge, the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion was relieved by the 7th Marines and withdrawn to New Caledonia outside the town of Noumea at Camp Kiser.Code-named OPERATION WATCHTOWER, the assault and capture of Guadalcanal and neighboring islands took place on 7 August 1942. The bulk of the First Marine Division landed across the beaches near Lunga Point on the 'canal's northern coast. As part of the Northern Group, commanded by BrigGen William Rupertus , the Second Marine Regiment was assigned to secure defenses on Tulagi, Gavutu nd Tanambogo islands. The bulk of the Second Marine Division elements were initially assigned as reserve elements for the assault operations. But that changed very quickly when the tactical situation dictated the commitment of these troops. read more

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