War has played a key role in the history of the United States, from the nation's founding

right down to the present. War made the U.S. independent, kept it together, increased its

size, and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America's wars is essential for understanding American history.

Welcome to Key Battles of American History,

a podcast in which we discuss American history through the lens of the most important battles of America's wars.

Here is your host, James Early.

Thank you. host, James Early. Hello and welcome back to Guadalcanal Air, Land, and Sea, our 2,000-foot survey of the epic

Guadalcanal campaign of the Pacific Theater of World War II.

I'm your host, James Early, as always, and I am

joined by my co-host, Dave Holland, as always. You may recall in our last episode, we talked about

the second major Japanese effort to take Henderson Field, the American Airfield, and to get

rid of the Marines, get them off of Guadalcanal.

And that was the Battle of Edson's Ridge. The Japanese had quite a few soldiers that were supposed

to participate in this attack, but due to a variety of circumstances, difficult terrain, people

slowed down by this, that, and the other, people

getting lost.

Only a fraction of the force that was supposed to attack was actually able to attack.

And the Marines drove them the Japanese back.

The Japanese attacked again and again and again and again.

But thanks to really great leadership and really heavy

weaponry, especially their heavy artillery, the Marines held. Now, we'll see what happens next.

So, Dave, anything you want to say before we get going? I know. This is like, once again,

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