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