November 13, 1942-The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal with Jon Parshall-Episode 122

Comments · 546

• RJ

  @rjo8500 · 2 years ago

  My grandfather, Sea2C Clifford Russell Anderson served aboard the USS Atlanta during the “Bar room brawl” at Guadalcanal. He abandoned ship after all hopes of saving it were lost. He was mostly quiet about his time in the war. As a young curious boy I waited patiently for the times that he would open up. I recall him saying they were a “sitting duck” and took a pounding from both sides. The fact the ship lost power and he was pulled from communications to assist topside spared his life. He passed in 1987 when I was 21. I miss him.

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• JO

  @jollyjohnthepirate3168 · 3 years ago (edited)

  Alexander Vandergrift said of the sailors that died that night,   "We here at Cactus raise our tin hats to Callighan and his galant crews."

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• FE

  @FedupwithDC · 1 year ago

  I had a Great Uncle aboard the USS San Francisco (CA-38) from the summer of 1941 to February 1946.<br>One time I pressed him to talk about this battle. He quietly replied, <i>&quot;All my friends got killed.&quot;</i><br><br>He passed away in 1996.<br>He was always a hero to me, but he never thought so.

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• GD

  @gdolson9419 · 3 years ago

  600 yds is a fine surface engagement range.<br>With cannonballs and black powder.

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• CH

  @chrismorgan9154 · 2 years ago

  My late father was a Marine that landed on Guadalcanal and never talked about it except for how warm the water was when he jumped into it to get to the beach.

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• KI

  @kirktempleton4628 · 3 years ago (edited)

  I live in San Francisco and every November I make it a point to go down to Sutro Point, where there is a small memorial, the centerpiece of which is the bridge structure of the USS San Francisco, removed during her repair and placed there, &nbsp;showing the huge, jagged holes made by the heavy-calibre Japanese shells that wiped out Admiral Callaghan and his staff. There is a flagstaff mounted on a dias which has a brass arrowhead, pointing along the Great Circle route to Ironbottom Sound in the Solomons. Sometimes I go in the evening and stand on the high cliff, looking out over the vast Pacific, golden in the Westering Sun, and I think back in reverence and gratitude to those desperate days and our forefathers who met them, and tears come to my eyes.

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• GR

  @grandad404 · 3 years ago

  Hope Captain Bob makes a speedy and complete recovery. Distinguished man, he looks like a Roman Senator and really friendly. &nbsp;I imagine had he been around at the time I guess he would have torpedoed Japanese warships and merchant ships in a caring sharing inclusive kind of way

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• IS

  @Isolder74 · 3 years ago (edited)

  I&apos;ve seen this battle described as a knife fight in a phone booth in the dark while drunk.

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• JA

  @JayMcKinsey · 2 years ago (edited)

  The remnants of San Francisco&apos;s bridge is preserved at Land&apos;s End in SF. You can put your hand through some of the holes. An amazing connection to history.

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• 35

  @351linzdoctor · 3 years ago

  USS Helena A Light Cruiser! USS Helena &quot; HELL NO I&apos;M A MACHINE GUN CRUISER&quot;

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• CU

  @curlus · 3 years ago

  Man, I&apos;m so happy to have found great channels like this one and Drachinifel to get my fix of detailed naval and pacific war history.

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• GA

  @garymcaleer6112 · 3 years ago

  After seeing many YouTube documentaries, this is the first real history lesson I&apos;ve received.

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