Abstract:
Tojo And Me recounts the dangers faced by the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion on a thirty day combat patrol behind Japanese lines on Guadalcanal that was subsequently termed “The Long Patrol” in recognition of its uniquely perilous nature. The success of the mission depended on the entire Battalion’s infiltration of enemy controlled territory inside the Japanese lines during the ongoing combat operations in the defense of Henderson Field, the island’s only landing strip. Gen. Vandegrift, commander of operations on Guadalcanal, issued a citation recognizing the Battalion for the successful completion of its mission under extremely difficult circumstances.