Guadalcanal Revisited…25 Years Later

Description

OF NEWSFILM RELEASE A OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) UNITED STATES ANGELES WASHINGTON, D.C. - 20301 OF PLEASE NOTE DATE IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 1967 OXford 75111 Number 238-67 Footage: 90' 16mm Color Master Room 2E 771 GUADALCANAL REVISITED 25 YEARS LATER (Official U. S. Marine Corps Film Released by the Department of Defense) On August 7, 1967, a group of Marines paid homage to their comrades who fell twenty-five years ago in the first American offensive action of World War Two the battle for Guadalcanal. Thirteen Marine veterans of Guadalcanal, now stationed in Hawaii, returned to the island on the Silver Anniversary of the 1942 landing. Colonel Stanley N. McLeod, Spring City, Pennsylvania, headed the Marine pilgrimage. A 70-year-old islander, his face and body scarred by Japanese bayonets and his uniform decorated with U. S. and British medals of valor, was one of the many people to greet the American veterans. His name is Sergeant Major Jacob Vouza, an honorary Sub-Inspector in the island Protectorate Force. A quarter century ago, Vouza had joined forces with Marines fighting the Japanese on Guadalcanal, and earned a place in Marine Corps history. A few weeks after the Marines landed in the first U. S. offensive of the Pacific theatre, Vouza was captured by the Japanese. They tied him to a tree and tried to force him to give information about Marine positions. When Vouza refused to answer questions he was bayonetted and left for dead. But, chewing through his bonds, he made his way back to Marine positions and reported the impending Japanese counter-attack. This attack, now known as the Battle of the Tenaru, failed, and the 900-man Japanese force was virtually wiped out. Vouza spent 12 days in a field hospital and then returned to duty to lead numerous patrols and gather valuable information about the enemy. His own government honored him with the British George Medal and the U. S. awarded him the Silver Star Medal for heroism. In a small ceremony, 25 years later, Colonel McLeod presented Vouza with a musical cigarette lighter. He held it up to his ear and roared with approval as it tinkled "The Marines' Hymn". - MORE - NOTE TO EDITORS: PLEASE CREDIT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN TITLE OR COMMENTARY This motion film released to DOD pool member designated is for duplication and distri- bution to interested TV and newsreel pool members. It is to be forwarded within 72 hours to: Army Motion Picture Depository, Army Pictorial Center, 35-11 35th Ave., Long Island, N.Y. 11106, telephone 937-0600. This agency will deliver a duplicating master to Deluxe Laboratories, 850 Tenth Ave., New York City, telephone Circle 73220, where it will be available to non-pool members and other authorized agencies which make satisfactory financial arrangements with Deluxe Laboratories. The original release film must not be cut in any manner.

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases