On this day during World War II, U.S. forces go on the offensive for the first time in the Pacific theatre. Under the command of Rear Admiral R.K. Turner, 11,000 members of the US 1st Marine Division landed on Guadalcanal without opposition. This changes rapidly and the campaign lasts six months with some of the bitterest fighting of the war.

Mort Künstler painted this scene, The Fight for Saipan which typifies the fighting at Guadalcanal.