Edson's Ridge: U.S. Marine's Bloody Fight

Two opposing commanders would face each other for one of the most decisive ground battles in the conflict on Guadalcanal. The Japanese commander, Major General Kiyotake Kawaguchi, was the commander of the 17th Army’s 35th Brigade. This unit had tough combat experience capturing Singapore, taking the Philippines, and fighting the Australians and Americans on New Guinea. Kawaguchi had the look of the old-time Samurai warriors one pictures when thinking of Japan’s warrior-dominated past. A tough, no nonsense leader, he commanded the respect of his men and his adversaries. This 48-year-old officer’s new assignment was to land his brigade under the auspices of the Imperial Japanese Navy with the assistance of Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka. After the slaughter of Ichiki’s detachment, the Japanese ground war on Guadalcanal was at a standstill. The Imperial Japanese Army hoped Kawaguchi would the man to break the stalemate and get the Japanese ground operation moving again.