http://www.rjgeib.com/heroes/tanimizu/tarawa-marine-invasion.html

Guadalcanal- Aug 7 1942

Along with some 10,000 marines we took this island very easily, the Japanese had seemed to have retreated from it. Then the navy suffered one of the worst battles in the war and left us stranded. We survived on our own for a long time, constantly fighting the Japanese. The Japanese sent troops down to us and the fighting continued for six months. In total about 24,000 Japanese died and 1752 Americans perished giving the lives to their country.

An exerpt from James Fahey's "Pacific War Diary 1942-1945":

"July 11, 1943:

We are now at Purvis Bay in the Solomons, it is not too far from Tulagi. Mr. McCarthy, the news reporter, returned to our ship. He was on the troopship McCauley when it was sunk by Jap torpedoes during the invasion of Rendova. He covered that landing while we were bombarding the Shortlands, it was all part of one operation along with the landings on New Georgia. He said that he lost some of his belongings when the McCauley was sunk. He watched out troops shell the Japs and said that the fighting in the jungle is very rugged. The Jap troops are very tough and experienced. Mr. McCarthey said also that our Task Force 39 which consists of 4 light cruisers and 8 destroyers would go up to the Slot and bombard the Japs at Munda on the island of New Georgia in the Solomons. He said we will bombard the Japs at 3 A.M. tomorrow morning Monday July 12th and that American lives depend on attack and to do a good job. After our bombardment our troops are to advance from 3 sides and destroy the Jap troops not killed with our bombardment and in 24 hours Munda and its important airfield would be ours."