| Original caption: “Japanese soldiers killed in Battle of Tenaru. Japanese who succeeded in crossing mouth of Tenaru River on day after Battle.” Imperial Japanese Army Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki (October 16, 1892 – August 21, 1942) underestimated the number of United States Marine Corps forces within the perimeter around Henderson Field and overestimated the capabilities of his own 28th Infantry Regiment. Originally designated to capture Midway, he was actually outnumbered 5-to-1. Reinforced by engineers and artillery on 6 new destroyers — Arashi, Hagikaze, Hamakaze, Tamikaze, Urukaze, and Kagero — the force sailed from Rabaul to Guadalcanal without incident, and landed near Taivu Point on August 18, 1942. On August 19, 60 American Marines wiped out Ichiki’s reconnaissance patrol of 38 soldiers; only 5 returned to Taivu. The Marines lost 3 killed in action and 3 wounded. The Americans discovered maps detailing their positions along the Lunga Point perimeter. After months of victories, Ichiki was confident that he would prevail anyway and ordered his regiment forward. The next day, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, supported locally by 2 M3 37 millimeter (1.46 inch) anti-tank guns, with canister anti-personnel rounds, and Divisional 75 and 105 millimeter (3 inch and 4.13 inch) further behind their lines. Ichiki halted the 28th Regiment several miles east of the Ilu River (also called Alligator Creek or Tenaru River) and waited for nightfall. Just after midnight, Marine listening posts heard the approaching Japanese. The Battle of the Tenaru began at 0130 Hours when the Japanese opened fire with machine guns and mortars, and a 100 Imperial soldiers rushed the Marine lines. A few tentatively captured some foxholes, hacking their occupants to death. But Marine reinforcements and the canister fire killed almost all the Japanese within the hour. Just as the last of the 1st wave died, a 2nd echelon attacked at 0230 hours, with twice as many men. This 2nd wave crossed Hell’s Point and was again wiped out. Survivors advised Colonel Ichiki to withdraw, but he wouldn’t hear it. Japanese mortars and Marine Divisional artillery traded fire. This photo depicts the aftermath of that attack. A few hours later, at 0500 Hours, Ichiki’s 3rd wave attempted to wade out to sea to outflank the Marines. Machine gun, rifle, and artillery fire from the Marines again caused heavy casualties, and the Japanese abandoned their attack. For 2 hours, sporadic fire rang out. At daybreak, United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Lenard B. Cresswell’s (July 18, 1901 – April 25, 1966) 1st Battalion, 1st Marines crossed the Tenaru River upstream (which was south) of the battlefield and enveloped the remnants of the 28th Regiment from the south and east, cutting off their avenue of retreat. M3 Stuart light tanks of the 1st Tank Battalion ran over the living and dead Japanese on the Tenaru River sandbar. 1st Marine Division Commanding General Alexander A. Vandegrift (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) wrote, “The rear of the tanks looked like meat grinders.” As Marines searched the dead for souvenirs and intelligence, Injured Japanese and others feigning death opened fire or triggered hidden grenades, killing or wounding several Marines. Ichiki reportedly died by Marine mortar fire. Some 777 Japanese were dead. 15 injured or unconscious Japanese were Prisoners of War. 30 survivors returned to Taivu Point to warn the new arrivals of Imperial Japanese Army Major General Kiyotake Kawaguchi’s (December 3, 1892 – May 16, 1961) 35th Infantry Brigade and Major General Yumio Nasu’s (June 27, 1892 – October 26, 1942) 4th (Aoba) Infantry Regiment about the defenses of Henderson Field. However, these units disregarded the experiences of the Ichiki Detachment survivors and plunged into the Battle of Edson’s Ridge on September 12-14, 1942, resulting in another Japanese loss. Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka (April 27, 1892 – July 9, 1969) later wrote: “I knew Colonel [Kiyonao] Ichiki (October 16, 1892 – August 21, 1942) from the Midway operation and was well aware of his magnificent leadership and indomitable fighting spirit. But this episode made it abundantly clear that infantrymen armed with rifles and bayonets had no chance against an enemy equipped with modern heavy arms. This tragedy should have taught us the hopelessness of ‘bamboo-spear’ tactics.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii2091.jpg |
| Image Size | 948.60 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2827 x 2211 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 21, 1942 |
| Location | Hell’s Point |
| City | Tenaru River |
| State or Province | Guadalcanal |
| Country | Solomons |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 80-G-17077 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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