Midway, the focus of Naval History's June issue, is traditionally considered the turning point of the war in the Pacific. In this issue, however, we're commemorating the 65th anniversary of a campaign World War II historians increasingly view as the Pacific war's decisive encounter: Guadalcanal.
Anchoring our anniversary package are three articles by Richard Frank, author of the monumental Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle. A little more than two years ago, Rich was the first author I commissioned to write for Naval History, and his article, "The Amphibious Revolution," was the centerpiece of our August 2005 issue celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. When I started planning the Guadalcanal package, I naturally called on him again.
Instead of blow-by-blow accounts of battles, Rich's articles feature insightful analysis. His first, "A Name that Endures with Honor," is a strategic look at the campaign's place in history. "Innovation & Determination Ashore" focuses on the hows and whys the Guadalcanal ground campaign, and in "Crucible at Sea," he points out that the Navy's apparent advantages at Guadalcanal, such as radar, were outweighed by its enormous handicaps. Rich's second and third articles also examine the crucial air campaign.
Our Guadalcanal coverage, however, isn't all analysis. Accounts from U.S. servicemen appear as sidebars to the articles. Moreover, two artists—Navy Lieutenant (junior grade) Dwight Shepler and Reserve Marine Captain Donald Dickson—and the dramatic eyewitness paintings and drawings they created of the campaign are the subject of "Combat Artists of Guadalcanal," by Colonel Avery Chenoweth, USMCR (Retired).
And finally, if you flip to the center of this issue you'll find its most conspicuous Guadalcanal feature: a special three-page guide to the campaign. It includes beautiful maps by Bob Pratt, "then and now" photographs, summaries of six key battles, and an illustrated timeline. Hopefully this is the first of many such Naval History bonuses.
The "now" photographs, as well as some photos of Japanese military artifacts, come courtesy of Aussie Peter Flahavin. While researching Guadalcanal on the Internet, I came across his fabulous Web site, www.guadalcanal.homestead.com, where he's posted hundreds of photographs taken during his numerous trips to the island. Although tens of thousands of U.S. servicemen fought at Guadalcanal, relatively few Americans will ever have the chance to visit the island. Peter's Web site, as well as a good book—or magazine—about the campaign, may be the next best thing.
This issue of Naval History also includes several fine articles on non-Guadalcanal topics. John Protasio ("Collision at Spithead") examines a big-ship phenomenon that likely caused a Royal Navy cruiser to slam into the massive liner Olympic, while retired Navy Commander John Robinson ("Pounding the Do Son Peninsula") sheds overdue light on a Navy action off North Vietnam. Meanwhile, Robert E. Cray Jr. ("Explaining Defeat") takes an unconventional look at the famous frigate duel between the USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon.
And finally, I note with sadness the passing of retired Brigadier General Edwin Simmons, USMC, a longtime supporter of Naval History, Proceedings, and the Naval Institute Press who guided the Corps' history program after he had retired from leading Marines in battle. A remembrance of General Simmons by retired Colonel John Miller, USMC, appears on page 7.
—Richard G. Latture, Editor-in-Chief
