The Actions along the Matanikau were the two most prominent engagements
across the Matanikau River in Guadalcanal during World War II. In the
first of these separate but related actions (23–27 September 1942),
elements of three U.S. Marine battalions attacked Japanese troop
concentrations around the river. The attack was intended to destroy any
Japanese forces in the area and to disrupt their attempts to stage
attacks on the Marine's defenses at Lunga Point by denying their use of
Point Cruz peninsula, the village of Kokumbona, and a series of ridges
and ravines stretching inland from the coast. The Japanese repulsed this
attack. In the second action (6–9 October), a larger force of Marines
crossed the river and inflicted heavy casualties on an infantry
regiment. This forced the Japanese to retreat from their positions east
of the Matanikau and hindered their preparations for a planned major
offensive on the U.S. Lunga defenses set for later in October.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actions_along_the_Matanikau>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1459:
Yorkist forces led by Richard Neville defeated Lancastrian
troops at the Battle of Blore Heath in Staffordshire, England, a major
battle of the Wars of the Roses.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blore_Heath>
1568:
Anglo–Spanish War: At San Juan de Ulúa (in modern Veracruz,
Mexico), Spanish naval forces forced English privateers to halt their
illegal trade.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_San_Juan_de_Ul%C3%BAa_(1568)>
1875:
Billy the Kid was arrested for the first time after stealing
clothes from a laundryman, beginning his life as an infamous American
outlaw and gunman.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_the_Kid>
1932:
The Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz merged with Al-Hasa and Qatif to
form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with Ibn Saud as the first monarch and
Riyadh as the capital city.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_of_Saudi_Arabia>
2010:
Teresa Lewis became the first woman to be executed by the US
state of Virginia since 1912, and the first woman in the state to be
executed via lethal injection.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_Lewis>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
balebos:
1. (Judaism) Master of the house, head of the household, host.
2. (Judaism) House owner, homeowner.
3. (Judaism, by extension) Boss, person in charge (of anything).
4. (Judaism) Important man, bourgeoisie.
5. (Judaism) Layman, congregant, non-clergy.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/balebos>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
I believe that we are soft creatures in a world with some very
hard edges. It's remarkable that we survive at all, much less do high
deeds or write great music. I think … tension … is a condition of
our existence, and I do my best to depict it.
--Brian McNaughton
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Brian_McNaughton>