| Original caption: “Farewell to Guadalcanal — By truck and afoot, United States Marines leave Guadalcanal after months of bitter fighting for that South Pacific Island. These men participated in the first landings and were among the last to leave after the United States Army took over and completed the American occupation of the island. A group going down ready to leave and they look very happy about it.” Victorious troops of United States Marine Corps make their way out of the jungles of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific following their conquest of the islands. Note that many of these Marines are wearing tropical pith helmets instead of M1 steel helmets. On December 9, 1942, command of the troops ashore on Guadalcanal passed from United States Marine Corps General Alexander A. Vandegrift (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) to Major General Alexander M. Patch (November 23, 1889 – November 21, 1945), Commanding General of the Americal Division and senior Army Officer present. On the same day the 1st Marine Division began embarking and moving to Australia for rehabilitation and further training. The 5th Marines embarked and sailed on December 9, followed at intervals of a few days by the Division Troops, the 1st Marines, and, after a somewhat longer interval, by the 7th Marines. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1686.jpg |
| Image Size | 885.54 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2850 x 2102 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Marine Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | February 1, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Guadalcanal |
| Country | Solomons |
| Archive | Marine Corps History Division |
| Record Number | COLL/2266 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database