One Marine's Story - Guadalcanal 1942

One of Hal Campbell's (Captain, Retired, USMC) True War Stories. Anyone who has been a Marine will recognize the truth in this story. The Skipper doesn't B.S. around: Field promoted to Lt. on Saipan 1944, took a platoon ashore on Iwo, one of Puller's Company Commanders in Korea. An infantry veteran of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Inchon, Chosin, and Vietnam. 2 Navy Crosses and 4 Purple Hearts.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• WWII
• USMC
• Guadalcanal
• Iwo
• Jima
• Marine
• Campbell

[ireload2]

My dad was in Company C 1/6/2 on Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan.

He never talked like this and grew agitated if you asked.

[WilliamABarnes]

Your dad and Hal were in all the same campaigns until Hal was transferred to the Fifth Division for Iwo Jima. Hal was field promoted to Lt. on Saipan after all the officers & senior NCOs in his company were killed or wounded.

He liked the Marines and spent 30 years in the Corp. He is definitely a tough minded guy and has a great sense of humor. He rarely talks about the actions, but will always talk about his friends... Marines are a very eccentric funny bunch

[82NDHMINUS]

How long was he with the 2nd raiders? I would be really interested in hearing about his time as a raider.

[WilliamABarnes]

I know he was with the Raiders during the Guadalcanal campaign, but I think he had moved on to a regular line battalion by the time of Tarawa. Seems like he said something about the 2nd Raiders being re designated and moved into a regular regiment, but I'll have to ask him.

[kinggeorgescastle]

awesome story semper fi.

my grandfather george king from boston was also a marine on guadalcanal.

i foundmy self listening to this story as intently as i used to listen to his stories about being a marine on guadalcanal.

thanks for posting

[WilliamABarnes]

You bet.

[jhiggi28]

My grandpa was K/3/5/1 Marines. Semper Fi to all. if you never eat rice or fish again...i dont blame you

[MiaBellaGSD]

Semper Fi sir!

[miniman631]

massive respect

US marines got really stuck into the combat

must have been horrible

[bellinoification]

god bless all marines that fought on guadalcanal...........vito,,,m­y dad...1st marine 1st bat company a...died in veterans hospital sept 11 99......thought just another day...will i remember this day....he was a patriot...never knew bush would would declare this day patroits day...by the way he was born dec 25th,,,,hit cape glouster on his birthday

[CowboyOld]

The Marines landed on Guadalcana, Ttulagi,and Florida islands 68 years ago today. The 2nd Marine Regiment of the Second Marine Division was attached to the 1st Marine Division for the invasion. My older brother was a squad leader in a platoon of A company, 1st battalion of the Second Marines. He dropped out of high school and joined the Marines in August 1940. He was just 16 years old. He was killed in action on Guadalcanal on 3 November 1942. I think of him almost ever day.

[chestah123]

Awesome story! Thanks for posting this.