United States Marines with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force stood alongside U.S. and Solomon Islands officials atop Skyline Ridge at the 83rd anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Guadalcanal. Hosted by U.S. Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock and government officials with the Solomon Islands, the ceremony served as a solemn reminder to the shared history and sacrifice that binds the U.S. and the Solomon Islands in strength, security and prosperity.
Representing the U.S. Marine Corps and 1st Marine Regiment’s “The Old Breed” at Honiara, MRF-D’s presence honored the memory of Marines from the 1st, 5th and 7th Marine Regiments who landed at Guadalcanal in 1942 and to the courage of those that helped define the identity of the modern Corps. Their presence also reflected a deep respect for the sacrifices of Americans and Solomon Islanders and lives lost during the six-month campaign that turned the tide of the Pacific War.
“As Marines returning to this region today, we do so with humility and gratitude,” said Col. Jason Armas, commanding officer of the MRF-D 25.3 MAGTF. “We are here to acknowledge that victory in Guadalcanal was not won by Marines alone, but forged in partnership with the people of these islands. May their courage be remembered, and their spirit of unity and resilience live on in our bond of friendship, today and always.”
The sunrise ceremony, held at the Guadalcanal American Memorial, included wreath-laying and tributes to the more than 7,000 Allied service members and Solomon Islanders who died in the Guadalcanal Campaign. Superintendent Ryan Blum of the American Battle Monuments Commission noted that Skyline Ridge, once known as Hill 73, witnessed some of the fiercest fighting of the war and now serves as hallowed ground. During the memorial’s construction, the U.S. Defense Prisoner-of-War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency uncovered the remains of more U.S. service members, bringing closure and peace of mind to the families of lost loved ones.
Later that morning, MRF-D Marines honored the Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers — local and Allied personnel whose bravery and intelligence-gathering were instrumental in defeating enemy imperial forces. These individuals operated deep in enemy territory, often unarmed, guiding Allied forces through dense jungles, rescuing downed airmen and relaying critical information that shaped the outcome of the campaign.
“These were not supporting roles,” said Col. Armas. “The Coastwatchers and Solomon Scouts were integral to the success of the Guadalcanal campaign and to turning the tide of war in the Pacific.”
Among those remembered was Sergeant Major Sir Jacob Vouza, a local hero tortured by enemy captors refusing to betray Allied forces. His story, along with those of the Coastwatchers like Frederick “Snow” Rhoades and local scouts like Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, was shared to highlight the deep and often overlooked impact of the Solomon Islander sacrifice.
Today, MRF-D continues to serve as a forward-deployed force in the Indo-Pacific, committed to enhance regional security and to honoring the legacy of those who came before. That legacy includes not only U.S. Marines in uniform, but to the brave communities who fought beside them in times of great peril.
“As we commemorate today those lost in this bloody battle and give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy as a result of their sacrifices, let us also remember that the work continues to ensure safety of all of our countries, and the Pacific,” said Ambassador Yastishock. “From UXO (unexploded ordnance) clearance to educational exchanges, the United States will continue to work with Solomon Islands to ensure our people are safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
As wreaths were laid and names echoed across revered grounds, the Marines of MRF-D stood with U.S. and Solomon Islands government officials as quiet sentinels of memory — part of a small but enduring presence that connects the past to the present and reaffirms the shared values of peace, sacrifice and unity.
