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| Cpl. Brandon Nadeau served on Guadalcanal during the critical October 24-25, 1942 Battle of Bloody Ridge. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107795555 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalcanal_campaign |
Brandon was born July 5, 1919 in Winterville, Maine. His parents Joseph and Susie were also born in Maine. His father was a farmer and later worked in a woolen mill. Brandon had four older brothers, five older sisters, two younger brothers, and a younger sister. Brandon worked as a carrier for the Waterville Morning Sentinel newspaper, and graduated from Waterville High School, where he was on the football team. In 1940 Brandon was living at home with his family.
Brandon enlisted in the US Marine Corps in September 1940 and served as a Corporal in B Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, of the First Marine Division (aka “The Old Breed”). The 7th Marines arrived on Guadalcanal on 18 September 1942, providing much needed assistance to the other 1st Marine Division leathernecks who had been there for six weeks. Cpl. Nadeau’s battalion was given the critical job of defending Bloody Ridge, a short distance from Henderson Field. Bloody Ridge had already been the object of one fierce Japanese attack against outnumbered Marines who repelled wave after wave of Japanese charges. The 1st Battalion Marines would have to repeat this success or risk losing the airfield, which would mean Japanese control of the air and sea, thus dooming American efforts to capture the island.
During the month of October 1942, the Japanese delivered thousands of reinforcements to Guadalcanal. As the end of October neared, the Americans and Japanese were pretty equally matched in numbers, however the Americans had to spread their men around to guard all possible approaches, even the beaches. The Japanese had the advantage of using the jungle to hide their troops and concentrate their battalions to overwhelm one part of the line.
On the night of 24 October, a Japanese regiment numbering 3,000 men attacked dug-in elements of the 1st Battalion near the Tenaru River, hammering the Marines with machine guns, grenades, and mortar fire. Wave after wave of the enemy were kept at bay by the small teams of 1st Battalion Marines, an action that earned Sgt. John Basilone the Medal of Honor. By the end of the engagement, which extended into the early morning hours of 25 October, the attacking Japanese forces had been virtually annihilated. Cpl. Nadeau was killed in action on 25 October, a casualty of this intense and heroic stand by the 1st Battalion Marines that helped to ensure the success of the Guadalcanal campaign.
Brandon Andrew Nadeau is buried in Saint Francis Catholic Cemetery in Waterville, Maine.
Thank you Cpl. Nadeau for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Brandon.
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This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled William Kuffner of the 90th Infantry Division. You can read about William here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
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