Enduring over 24 hours of relentless Japanese assaults, the members of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion understood that another night of intense attacks awaited them. With 830 US Marines preparing to confront a large force of over 2,500 enemy soldiers, the outlook appeared bleak. It was at this moment that Col. Merritt Edson climbed onto a grenade box to address the group.
“You men have done a great job, and I have just one more thing to ask of you,” Edson told them. “Hold out just one more night. I know we’ve been without sleep a long time. But we expect another attack from them tonight and they may come through here. I have every reason to believe that we will have reliefs here for all of us in the morning.”
United in support of Edson, the group extended their collective effort into another night, overwhelming the Japanese forces. The Marine colonel displayed remarkable courage as he led and inspired his men on the battlefield, earning the ground they fought over the moniker, “Edson’s Ridge.”
Merritt Edson’s entry into the US military
Merritt “Red Mike” Edson’s military path was a diverse odyssey that saw him rise from a private in the Vermont National Guard to the rank of major general in the US Marine Corps. Born in Vermont in 1897, he enlisted in the First Infantry Regiment of the National Guard in 1916.
After a hiatus, Edson resumed his college studies at the University of Vermont and joined the Marine Corps Reserve in October 1917, obtaining a commission as a second lieutenant. Although deployed to France with the 11th Marine Regiment, he didn’t see any combat during the First World War.
1st Marine Raider Battalion
After World War I, Merritt Edson served in a variety of capacities, and eventually developed an interest in flight training, earning his wings in 1922. He served in the South Pacific out of the Marine Naval Air Station on Guam, where he got his first look at some of the tropical islands where hard-earned real estate would eventually bear his name. Physical reasons limited his ability to fly, however, and he eventually returned to ground duty.
Edson went on to command a Marine detachment, which went ashore in Nicaragua in 1928 and ’29. He experienced his first real action in combat, earning the Navy Cross for his leadership under enemy fire. He continued to serve with distinction in the 1930s, and World War II found him a colonel with the right skills and experience at precisely the right moment in history.
Edson was given command of the 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, helping to train and mold them into what would become the 1st Marine Raider Battalion in early 1942. While he led his men through a number of engagements early in the conflict, it was a particular ridge of Guadalcanal where his place in US Marine Corps history was permanently enshrined.
Merritt Edson prepare’s his men for a fierce encounter
In August 1942, the American forces landed on Guadalcanal and successfully seized a Japanese airfield under construction, which would later become known as Henderson Field. The enemy was determined to reclaim it, setting the stage for prolonged combat in the following months.
Merritt Edson’s 1st Marine Raider Battalion played a significant role in this grueling conflict. On the evening of September 12, they received orders to move to a reserve position near Henderson Field, with the hope of getting some much-needed rest. However, their plans for rest were abruptly disrupted by an unexpected Japanese assault, forcing the Marines to once again fight for their survival.
As parts of their positions were overrun, Edson made the strategic decision to withdraw his men to a ridge line approximately 400 yards to the south. He rallied his troops and instructed them to prepare for the impending defense. It was on this ridge that Edson provided his Marines with the inspiration to endure one more night, affording them the crucial time to mentally and physically prepare for the trials that lay ahead.
Battle of Edson’s Ridge
Just as expected, nearly 2,500 Japanese soldiers poured out of the jungle and assaulted the 830 Marines with everything they had. Initial successes in the Japanese assault led to some Marine positions being overrun and their flanks dangerously exposed. One officer later recounted, “The Japanese attack was almost constant, like a rain that subsides for a moment and then pours the harder… When one wave was mowed down – and I mean mowed down – another followed it into death.”
As portions of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion began to withdraw, they ran into Merritt Edson, who was never short of the right words to say as he rallied them to prepare the defense around Hill 123. It’s often said that his men would follow him anywhere, and their only problem was keeping up.
Throughout the night of September 13, Edson was always be seen just 20 yards behind the front firing line, rallying his Marines and organizing their defense. At times, when other Marines could be seen hugging the ground, the brave colonel exposed himself to dangerous fire, in order to single-handedly save the battalion.
The morning after the intense engagement
As day broke the next morning, Merritt Edson’s Marine were still in command of Hill 123, the Japanese assault was repulsed. The world often refers to this particular ridge as “Bloody Ridge,” but those who fought there only referred to it as Edson’s Ridge, given how much their commander was determined to defend it.
For his actions and leadership under constant fire, Edson was awarded the Medal of Honor and the respect of every man who saw him in action. He went on to serve with distinction throughout the rest of the Second World War and even picked up his first star to become a brigadier general. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1947 as a major general, and continued to serve the nation in various civil capacities.
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In addition to his personal awards for gallantry in service, the USS Edson (DD-946), a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer, was commissioned in his name, along with a portion of Camp Pendleton, where Marine recruits learn the skills of marksmanship.