35th Infantry Regiment (35th IR) "Cacti"
25th Infantry Division (25th ID) "Tropic Lightning"
U.S. Army (USA)

Background
The 35th Infantry Regiment in the U.S. Army. Nicknamed "Cacti".

Wartime History
On January 8, 1943 the Battle of Sea Horse on Guadalcanal began when the 35th Infantry Regiment (35th IR) "Cacti" commanded by Colonel Robert B. McClure attacked the Japanese defending this terrain feature. The 3d Battalion commanded by Lt. Col. William J. Mullen, Jr., was to advance from Hill 27 southwest then swing northward to attack Hill 43 and Hill 44 from the south. Following in reserve a half day's march behind was 1st Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. James B. Leer.

On January 10, 1943 during the Battle of Sea Horse during heavy fighting. Lost are machine gunners Sgt William G. Fournier and T/5 Lewis R. Hall who refused to withdraw and rushed forward to a machine gun and used it to inflict inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy with Hall holding the tripod to increase their field of action until both were killed. Both soldiers earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously. Also Killed In Action (KIA) that same day at Sea Horse was Pvt Martin P. Odenthal, Pfc Clem Kreft, Pvt Lewis H. Johnson, SSgt Frank Hopson, SSgt Joseph E. Hill, Pfc Emory Barkley and Pfc Thomas Baril (partial list).

On January 14, 1943 lost is Pfc Dale W. Ross who went Missing In Action (MIA) at Hill 27. His remains were recovered in 2017 and identified in 2019.

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