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   USMC August 22, 1942  U.S. Army March 23, 1943  USN June 16, 1943   Peter Flahavin 1996   Peter Flahavin 1999 |
Location Tenaru village is located on the north coast of Guadalcanal. To the east is the mouth of the Tenaru River (Alligator Creek) with a tidal lagoon and a wide sandbar rougly 20' to 50' wide near the mouth of the river. Beyond is mouth of the Block Four River and beyond the mouth of the Ilu River. To the west is Lunga Point and Henderson Field. During the Battle of the Tenaru the Americans nicknamed the Tenaru River / Illu River "Alligator Creek", a misnomer as only crocodiles inhabit the island. After the Battle of the Tenaru, the western side of the Tenaru River became known as Hell's Point. Battle of the Tenaru (Battle of the Ilu River/Alligator Creek) The Battle of the Tenaru was also known as the "Battle of the Ilu River" or "The Battle of Alligator Creek" was fought at this location on August 21, 1942. Wartime History On August 20, 1942 U.S. Marines Corps (USMC) 1st Marine Regiment under the command of Colonel Clifton B. Cates plus 100 Marines from the 1st Special Weapons Battalion with two 37mm anti-tank guns began preparing defensive positions on the west bank of the Tenaru River on the eastern end of the U.S. perimeter. The Marines were supported by divisional artillery including 75mm howitzers and 105mm howitzers that could fire on the eastern side of Alligator Creek and sandbar area. Meanwhile, on the west bank of the Ilu River (Alligator Creek) U.S. Marines from the 1st Marine Regiment under the command of Colonel Clifton B. Cates plus two 37mm anti-tank guns from the 1st Special Weapons Battalion rushed to prepare defensive positions on the west bank. The Marines were supported by divisional artillery including 75mm howitzers and 105mm howitzers that could fire on the eastern side of Alligator Creek and sandbar area. After the Battle of the Tenaru, the area continued to be defended as part of the U.S. eastern perimeter until the conclusion of the Guadalcanal campaign. Later, the area became a camp area then became a dump. On June 16, 1943 a Japanese air raid by D3A Vals scored one direct hit on the deck and two near misses on USS LST-340 whose deck was set on fire and was beached off Tenaru to extinguish the flames. Today The Tenaru area is overgrown. To the left (west) of the trail to the beach is a Marine camp area with water tank. To the right of the trail on the west bank, just along the river line, is a large area where some war wreckage was buried including plane parts from Henderson Field. The wreckage includes engine mounts, pieces of planes, parts, propellers and lids from 37mm ammunition cases. This dump area is atop the defensive position from the battle. Ilu River Memorial at Tenaru White Memorial pillar near the beach, obscured by high grass, plaque ripped off since 1995. This memorial is reportedly at the position where U.S. Marines Private Albert A. Schmid, Corporal Leroy Diamond and Pfc John Rivers manned a .30 caliber water-cooled machine gun inside a sandbag and coconut log emplacement camouflaged with palm fronds and vegetation. During the Japanese attack, Johnny Rivers opened fire breaking up the advance. Screams of rage and pain came from the other side as the Japanese concentrated their firepower against this gun position and on another machine gun position 150 yards downstream. The machine gun on their right stopped firing when it was knocked out of action. Then a dozen bullets hit Rivers in his face, killing him instantly. His finger froze on the trigger, firing roughly 200 rounds into the darkness. Schmid shoved Rivers' body out of the way and took over the gun. Corporal Diamond got in position to load it for him, but was hit in the arm, the bullet knocking him partially across Schmid's feet. He could not load anymore, but while Schmid fired the gun, Diamond stood beside him, spotting targets. Schmid now was both loading and firing the machine gun. When he got close to the end of a 300 round belt of ammunition. Schmid continued loading and firing the machine gun for more than four hours, with and without help, and once the enemy got close enough to throw a grenade into Schmid's position, wounding him in his eye and after the battle was later evacuated. On February 18, 1943, Schmid earned the Navy Cross "for extraordinary heroism and outstanding courage." Japanese Memorial at Tenaru Simple pillar memorial to the Ichiki Regiment. The memorial reads in English & Japanese: "Ichiki Party" was organized in Ashikawn, Japan. They landed on this land in August, 1942 and most of them were to die in fierce battle. We praise the soldiers of Ichiki and those of all nations who died here, for their nation. It is our sincerest wish that the world will remain peaceful, forever without anymore wars." Fighter 3 (Emergency Field) Built after the Battle of the Teneru as an emergency airfield to the east of the Ilu River, south of Tenaru village. P-39K Airacobra Serial Number 42-4287 Pilot Farron crashed October 15, 1942 identified 2013 remains recovered 2015 Contribute
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