Matanikau River

During the long campaign on Guadalcanal for the American Marines, August - December 1942, some of the most difficult fighting took place in the valley of the Matanikau River, pictured above as it is today, flowing through Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands. Then it was a jungle stream.

Some of the best descriptions of the fighting there can be found in John Hersey’s book "Into the Valley: A Skirmish Of The Marines," a classic of war literature. Also the memoirs of Paul Moore, "Presences: A Bishop's Life in the City", contain some haunting descriptions of the fighting at the mouth of river, where he was wounded.

Captain Nikolai Stevenson, who commanded C Company 1st Marine Regiment in action there, called it "a dark and bloody land," echoing what American frontiersman Daniel Boone said about Kentucky.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Matthew Stevenson
• Photos: Matthew Stevenson
• Pacific Wrecks