In May 1942 the Japanese landed on a number of southern islands in the British Solomons and began constructing an airfield on Guadalcanal. Their actions threatened Australia and her vital American supply lines and could not be tolerated by the Allies. The 1st Marine Division, with its attached 1st Marine Parachute Battalion, was directed to spearhead the assault on Gavutu Island and take the Guadalcanal airfield, even though it was not prepared for such an offensive action. The result was a bloodbath, and when it was over, fewer than one in five of the Marine paratroopers walked off Bloody Ridge. -- From the book jacket.

August 1941 --Crossing the Pacific -- Operation Shoestring -- H-Hour, Gavutu -- Gaining the Upper Hand -- Tanambogo -- Secured -- Tulagi -- Guadalcanal -- Tasimboko -- Lunga Ridge -- 12 September -- 13 September -- Bloody Ridge -- Alamo -- 14 September -- Rest and Recovery.