I read with interest Gunny Rousseau's letter on "Guadalcanal Heroes". Not everyone has forgotten about Guadalcanal. Not many of them (all heroes in my opinion) are left. Had the Marines failed there, the results of WWII would have been significantly different. Guadalcanal does not get the attention of campaigns like Iwo, but it was a victory of greater historical significance.
My Dad, Plt. Sgt. Richard T. Holland, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (Weapons Company) served as a .30 caliber machine gunner on Guadalcanal. I have a number of items that he saved over the years, including a Japanese canteen, a "tally band", his mess gear, etc. In his effects was a bare aluminum canteen with "E.C. Fowler" scratched on it. I wondered why he would keep that until I learned that initially they did not have crosses for grave markers on Guadalcanal. They didn't have much of anything… so they scratched names on the mess gear of the casualties and used them for grave markers. Ed Fowler was his close friend. I have attached a few pictures you might find of interest. There is a picture of me and my Dad in our Blues just before I took him
to his first Birthday Ball. In the close up of the machine gun crew, my Dad is in the background holding the pipe. I believe this was a publicity news shot. It was thumb tacked to the inside of his foot
locker, which I still have. Image 8490 is of me and Curtis "Speedy" Spach.
A couple of years back, Cpl. Curtis "Speedy" Spach posted on the newsletter. Speedy served with the 5th Marines and was one of the first riflemen to set foot on the beaches of Guadalcanal. I tracked Speedy down and visited him on a number of occasions. He has an incredible amount of memorabilia. His entire basement is a memorial to the Corps. At the time, he was 92, but his mind was sharp. I made a movie of the pictures and video I took during my visits and set it to the Marines' Hymn for him. I would be happy to share the video with Gunny Rousseau. I captured some of the stories of his service there. He fought at the Japanese tank attack across the Matanikau River and served with President Kennedy's friend and neighbor Lt. Meade. (Meade was Speedy's Company Commander, KIA).
As for me, I served in the Marine Reserve from 1966-1974. (PI Platoon 3020, Serial 2159303). I will be 71 this year, but I continue to serve my country and my community with around 200 hours of volunteer service every year. I am an Amateur Radio Operator (HAM), photographer, videographer, and equestrian rider/trainer. There are no limits to what a dedicated Marine can do! (grin).
I look forward to reading the stories in each issue. Semper Fi!
Regards,
Staff Sergeant Richard T. Holland Jr
USMCR Retired