TFH 1/10: Tropic Lightning On Guadalcanal

By January 10, 1943, the days of the Imperial Japanese Army on Guadalcanal were numbered. They were largely cut off from reinforcement and resupply, and their withdrawal and defeat were just a matter of time. This fact did not, however, reduce the enemy's tenacity or dampen their fanatical fighting spirit.

The United States Army's 25th Infantry Division, "Tropic Lightning", had begun landing on Guadalcanal in December 1942. This day, 70 years ago, was one of their first in combat. Company M of the division's 35th Infantry Regiment (this would have been the 3rd or 4th battalion) found themselves under heavy counterattack by the Japanese on the slopes of Mout Austen.

Company M and its parent battalion were in grave danger of being overwhelmed as they were about to move into the attack and were not prepared to repel the enemy assault. Two soldiers with Company M's machine gun squad were among the few gunners who didn't become casualties when the Japanese attacked. They knew that without fires being laid down on the advancing enemy, the Japanese would at a minimum break up the impending attack and at worst, defeat it.

Sergeant William G. Fournier, a 29-year old from Maine, and 47-year old Technician Fifth Grade Lewis R. Hall of Obetz, Ohio disregarded instructions to withdraw and instead got one of the vital machine guns back in action, raking the enemy with a high volume of fire, and blunting their advance.

Both of these brave soldiers received our nation's highest award for valor: the Medal of Honor.

From Medal of Honor Citations for World War II (A-F):


*FOURNIER, WILLIAM G.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 10 January 1943. Entered service at: Winterport, Maine. Birth: Norwich, Conn. G.O. No.: 28, 5 June 1943. Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. As leader of a machinegun section charged with the protection of other battalion units, his group was attacked by a superior number of Japanese, his gunner killed, his assistant gunner wounded, and an adjoining guncrew put out of action. Ordered to withdraw from this hazardous position, Sgt. Fournier refused to retire but rushed forward to the idle gun and, with the aid of another soldier who joined him, held up the machinegun by the tripod to increase its field action. They opened fire and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. While so engaged both these gallant soldiers were killed, but their sturdy defensive was a decisive factor in the following success of the attacking battalion.

Sergeant Fournier initially survived the battle on January 10, but succumbed to his wounds three days later at a field hospital. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.


From Medal of Honor Citations for World War II (G-L):

*HALL, LEWIS

Rank and organization: Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, Company M, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 10 January 1943. Entered service at: Obetz, Rural Station 7, Columbus, Ohio. Born: 1895, Bloom, Ohio. G.O. No.: 28, 5 June 1943. Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. As leader of a machinegun squad charged with the protection of other battalion units, his group was attacked by a superior number of Japanese, his gunner killed, his assistant gunner wounded, and an adjoining guncrew put out of action. Ordered to withdraw from his hazardous position, he refused to retire but rushed forward to the idle gun and with the aid of another soldier who joined him and held up the machinegun by the tripod to increase its field of action he opened fire and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. While so engaged both these gallant soldiers were killed, but their sturdy defense was a decisive factor in the following success of the attacking battalion.

Lewis Hall rests in peace at the Glen Rest Memorial Estate in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.


One battalion, the 2nd, of the 35th Infantry Regiment is active today as part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division. They are home based at the Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii.