The Marines had spread out to form battle lines, and then advanced on the Japanese positions. Heavy fighting followed, but the superior numbers of the Marines managed to force the Japanese defenders onto the southeastern part of the small island. It took several days to end the fight and in the end 45 Marines had died. Only a handful of Japanese troops survived to be taken prisoner.
The tiny island of Tulagi became a valuable part of the overall plan for the campaign to retake the Solomons. Only two miles long and several hundred yards wide, it had ideal protected waters where damaged ships could be repaired. It soon served as an important base of operations for short-ranged Patrol Torpedo boats. These boats would prove to be a great asset in the battles for Guadalcanal and later in the campaigns in the Central Solomon Islands. The Allies would make use of the other nearby islands too, such as Florida Island, but Tulagi would be crucial in the Allies' war effort.
The nurses had seen many changes to the tiny island in their brief time on shore. In addition to the work on the docks and the use of the island for supplies, a recreational facility was planned. When Charlotte broke the news to the nurses, they were elated. Despite the parties, there had been little to do on the island. The increase in personnel soon brought more nurses too. The increased numbers meant that shifts could be reduced and days off were possible. The island had some nice beaches and the nurses were looking forward to the days they might be able to use them.
Despite the increased number of nurses, the workload in the hospital was non-stop. The increase in combat assured that a nearly constant stream of wounded kept them all busy most of the time, and crazy-busy at others. Jenny was getting used to her operating room duties. It troubled her that the blood and carnage of so many of the Marines seemed less noticeable to her. As the weeks became months, she had seen it all: limbs blown off, stomach wounds that gaped open, eye wounds, and everything in between. It troubled her deeply that she could be so callous and unaffected by the misery and suffering of these soldiers but, to do her job properly, she had to be.
They all got to know the other nurses despite working separate shifts. Charlotte kept the original group all together, knowing she would have a rebellion on her hands if she tried anything different, and put the new group on second shift. Night fighting was as fierce as that during the day, on Guadalcanal, but evacuation of the wounded was far more difficult and often waited until sunrise. Thus, second shift was usually slower than first shift. Because the daytime influx of wounded was the heaviest, she kept the more experienced team on days.
The new recruits of nurses had gone through San Diego, just like them. With that in common, they struck up friendships with the other team. Bonnie, Jackie, and Darla were from the Midwest, like Jenny, May, and Bea. Rose and Thelma were from back east, near Charlotte, in North Carolina. This was their first assignment since being recruited, so Charlotte was constantly working their shift to train them. With Charlotte's heavy schedule, she needed someone to be in charge of first shift. Jenny was the logical choice given her assignment, and duties in the OR. Jenny was promoted to Petty Officer, Second Class, and put in charge of the day team when Charlotte wasn't there. Jenny was happy for the increased pay, some of which she sent back home, but didn't like having to tell her friends what to do.
The slightly reduced workload resulting from the additional nursing staff gave them all a little more free time. They eagerly watched the construction crews putting up some new buildings for recreational activities. The Solomon Islands now boasted a strong sizable force of Allied Forces despite the fleet's being away on other operations. The original waves of Marines on Guadalcanal were finally being relieved from duty for some much needed rest. Many of the ones that made it to the base on Tulagi had all sorts of problems, ranging from disease and tropical infections to malnutrition. Those with psychological problems were the worst, for the nurses. They could treat the men for what ailed them, but not for what plagued them.
Parties grew more frequent, and were not just limited to weekends. They sprung up as soon as a few people had some time off, something to drink and, hopefully, one or more of the nurses there to socialize with. Dorrie and Viv were increasingly popular, and their exploits were well known, though in hushed tones, on the base. Charlotte knew what was going on, as did her beau, Doctor Sanford, but they looked the other way, as did Major Felton.
Felton had begun calling on Jenny, frequently. They would go for long walks on the beach, talking about many things but all the time growing closer. May was seeing one particular Marine stationed at the base, and Bea was frequenting many of the parties Viv and Dorrie went to. Bea usually managed to escape with just one guy, though, and left the gang bangs to Viv and Dorrie. Even so, she was friendly now with several men who all wanted her attentions.
The new girls fit in, after they learned the ropes and Rose even attended a few of the parties with Viv and Dorrie. Rose was shorter, like Bea, with nice breasts, and Thelma was a tall thin girl with shoulder length hair. She had a smallish figure, but that didn't stop the guys from whistling at her or trying to get dates. Bonnie and Jackie were also tall, but with better figures, and were very cute. Darla was smaller and more plain, but had a funny nature about her that made her good company.
Guadalcanal was the scene of fierce fighting each night. The Japanese fought hard to regain the island, and poured troops and equipment into the fray in a desperate attempt to push the Allies from the island and reclaim the all-important airstrip. The Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, realizing the importance of Guadalcanal to the region and the Allies, deployed available elements of the 17th Army, stationed out of Rabaul and fighting in New Guinea, to take on the task of overrunning the American positions on Guadalcanal and either retaking or destroying the airfield.
The first of those Japanese troops to arrive was the 28th Infantry under the command of Colonel Ichiki. It was a regiment-sized force of 917 men, and they landed via destroyers near Taiva Point, east of the Ilu River. Severely underestimating the size of the American forces they confronted, Ichiki attacked the Allied defensive positions in the predawn hours of August 21st . His troops suffered heavy losses and, when the Marine units counteracted after daybreak they managed to kill all but 128 of the Japanese, including Colonel Ichiki. The remaining Japanese fled back to Taiva Point to await further reinforcements. This engagement eventually became known as the Battle of Tenaru.
A further part of the offensive planned by the Japanese was to deliver 1,900 troops from Truk to Guadalcanal, using three slow-moving transport ships. The transports were being protected by a naval force consisting of thirteen ships under the command of Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka. As further protection, the Japanese Navy sortied three carriers and thirty other ships to guard the landing force.
In response, Admiral Fletcher combined three U.S. carrier groups and met the Japanese offensive in what would become known as the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. In one of the biggest naval battles since Midway, the carrier groups exchanged blows before retreating. The Japanese lost one carrier and Tanaka's convoy suffered heavy losses, including the sinking of one of the transports. The remaining convoy was forced to abort the landings on Guadalcanal and divert to the Shortland Islands for later redeployment, by destroyers, to Guadalcanal. This was hugely strategic to the war, as the Japanese would not be able to land much needed supplies and material now using destroyers only.
Once again, in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, the planes from Henderson Field proved invaluable in the defense of Guadalcanal and the Solomons. The U.S. aircraft and their crews, brought in all through August, were instrumental in harassing Japanese bombing attempts from Rabaul on the field, and on Japanese Naval shipping. In early September, the 1st Marine Air Wing came under the command of U.S. Marine Brigadier General Roy S. Geiger.
In early September, Major Russ Felton was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, as the brigade forces on Tulagi expanded to support the campaign on Guadalcanal and in the Florida Islands. The pace of activities for the Colonel and Jenny gave them little time together, but they still tried to spend a little time each week. They spent long hours walking along the beach talking, mostly about the war. Colonel Felton had a good handle on the development of the war efforts on Guadalcanal and elsewhere in the Solomons and Jenny found it fascinating talking to him.
"What was the name of that place, again?" Jenny asked as they walked along the beach.
"Tenaru," the Colonel said. "They'll probably call it 'The Battle of Tenaru', once the brass-hats in the Pentagon have had time to analyze everything that happened during the fighting."
"Do you think Admiral Fletcher redeemed himself, with his strategy in the Eastern Solomons, for pulling back from Guadalcanal too quickly after the landing?" Jenny asked.
"Time will tell, Jenny, but the Japanese are still determined to recapture Guadalcanal and push us out of the Solomons," Russ stated.
"Do you think we're in danger, here on Tulagi?" Jenny questioned nervously.
"Jenny, we're in a forward position in the war, and the Japanese Navy still owns the Sealark Channel at night," Russ claimed. "You must hear the naval bombardments of Henderson field, practically every night."
"Yes, and thankfully they have not turned their guns on us, that much," Jenny stated.
"True. We've been spared the worst of the fighting, so far," Russ agreed.
"Do you think you will remain here on Tulagi?" Jenny asked.
"I don't know, Jenny. I hope so. There are plenty of officers who are anxious to taste battle. Personally, I see enough of this crazy war with the wounded here on Tulagi, to want to remain here. I am comfortable with my command, for now. Do you think I should push to get a battle command?"
"No! Definitely not! You're doing a great job here! You're needed here!" Jenny said emphatically.
"Good," the Colonel stated, laughing. "I'd hate to think you felt I was a coward, for remaining in command here."
"Never!" Jenny proclaimed.
