Page 2 of 6August 6
Preparing to land tomorrow on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Florida, and a couple smaller islands. We're supposed to stay about 36 hours, then the Army will relieve us. I' m a little nervous but not scared. Reveille at 3:00 a.m. Had ammo, bandoleer, machine gun all ready.
August 7
Made a landing party on Guadalcanal - Solomon Islands. We were bombed twice while on the ships. Supposed to have landed under cover of darkness. Up at dawn, landed later. Am carrying 250 rounds of ammo along with two days rations of canned beans and chocolate. Don 't think we going to have such a good time.
August 8
Set up our machine gun on the extreme left flank (Red Beach). We dug our mach. nest right on the beach. Our other gun is about 150 yds. away. Challenged a Jap but he got away. Nassef, Neil Clark and I went out to try to get him, but didn't find a trace of him. Probably a sniper. Bill Moore was shot in the lung.
August 9
Bill Moore is being evacuated. 5th Marines are moving on to the airport . We ' ll have the airport today. Arrived at the airport started to dig another machine gun nest. We 're expecting plenty of action soon. We've set our guns for A.A. and are situated right in the middle of the field.
Augut 10
(I'11 be alive today ) <--- written May 4th Carol's birthday.
We're working pretty darn hard trying to get our m.g. nest dug, but the ground is as hard as rock. Two Jap Zeros were over on reconnaissance Don't suppose it'll be long now. Shelled by Jap sub for short while.
August 11
Jap sub shelled about midnite. Still digging our m.g. nest and ground is tough. Cleaned some of our ammo. We've got about 25,000 rounds for our two guns.
August 12
Quiet day. Found out about the naval battle of Aug . 8. N. Car. sank 11 ships. If it hadn't been for the Navy we'd have been wiped out. We're waiting ? ? ?
August 13
Bombed by 29 Bombers
August 14
Shelled and bombed.