According to plans for the Local Naval Defense Force a total of twelve tank lighters [LCM(2)], twenty T-boats [LCP(L)] with two depth charges each, and thirty TR boats [LCV] with five officers and 236 enlisted men were sent ashore before the transports sailed. Some additional men and boats were unavoidably left in the area, bringing the total to 288 men. The base’s personnel consisted of the Naval Local Defense Force, Boat Repair, and Harbor Signal Stations on Guadalcanal, Gavutu and Tulagi. In a week Dexter weeded out about half of those that really did not want to work leaving a preponderance of Coast Guardsmen.
Supporting the Marines
When the Japanese put pressure on the Marines, Coast Guardsmen dug their own machine gun nests in defensive spots. Others joined artillery men manning guns, and still others pitched in with the infantry, joining in the fighting with rifles and sub-machine guns. Dexter added to the defenses with a captured Japanese anti-aircraft gun.
Medal of Honor
Douglas A. Munro, Signalman First Class, U.S. Coast Guard, died heroically on Guadalcanal, September 27, 1942. He volunteered and successfully led five Higgins boats from the seaplane tender BALLARD to evacuate a detachment of Marines from a point where enemy opposition developed beyond anticipated dimensions. Munro's last words were 'Did they get off?' The Congressional Medal of Honor, the country's highest award, was poshumously [sic] presented to Munro in May 1943 by President Roosevelt at the White House. (REF: MoH Citation, full story in 2nd article)
Anti-submarine Patrols
Ray Evans, a Coast Guard Signalman recalls the anti-submarine patrols. “Those sub patrols that went on for about ten days or so, no subs or activity was ever noticed until this night. About one in the morning a mini-sub suddenly surfaced close aboard and turned its light on us, then immediately doused the light and submerged. I hollered at my coxswain to run toward the sub in the direction it was pointed and we would loose the depth charges, Instead he turned away and gunned us full speed the other way. What a disappointment, our only chance to get a sub by LCP gone forever.”
Transport Duty
In addition to anti-submarine patrols, ferrying Marines on special missions, and runs back and forth between Guadalcanal and Tulagi, the CACTUS Navy rescued both American and Japanese pilots shot down in dog fights. The Cactus Navy was kept busy ferrying men and supplies along the coast to the Marines and soldiers as well as unloading transports and working with the Coast Watchers.
Tokyo Express Ends
On December 9, Major General Alexander M. Patch, commanding general of the
Americal Division relieved General Vandegrift. A month later the combined Army-Marine forces mounted a multi-prong offensive against the remaining Japanese forces on the island. On the morning of February 9 advancing American columns met in Tenaro, ending organized fighting on Guadalcanal. General Patch sent the following message to Admiral Halsey:
“Total and complete defeat of Japanese forces on Guadalcanal effected 1625 today . . . Am happy to report this kind of compliance with your orders . . . because Tokyo Express no longer has terminus on Guadalcanal.”
Forgotten by History
In the saga of Guadalcanal, the CACTUS Air Force remains legendary But no one remembers the CACTUS Navy.
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