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August 21, 1942 – Guadalcanal: “Remember that we didn’t start this war, but we are going to end it to our own liking.” Armed with those words, the men of the 1st Marine Division landed on the island of Guadalcanal to seize its strategic airfield. Japan sent the elite Ichiki Regiment to dislodge them. Now, on August 21, the clash has come. After midnight, on the banks of Alligator Creek, the Marines pour a “wall of fire” into assault after assault of Japanese soldiers. By dawn, the attack would be shattered, and 800 of Ichiki’s men would lay dead, the first major land defeat of Japanese forces. As one Marine corporal quipped: “They ain’t supermen.”
Want to know "who" signed which print edition? Click the EDITIONS tab above.
Shipping added in checkout // print size: 31" x 19" // ships rolled in a tube
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VICTORY EDITION
100 limited-edition prints, signed by two Marines who fought at Alligator Creek: Sid Phillips and Jim Young. Includes historic photos, 1st Marine Division patch, and Certificate of Authenticity hand-signed by artist Larry Selman.
PUBLISHER PROOF Sold Out - email us to join the waitlist!
Only 100 limited-edition prints, signed by 13 veterans of Guadalcanal: H-Company (H/2/1) Marines Sid Phillips and Jim Young, who fought at Alligator Creek. D-Company (D-1-7) machine gunner Richard Greer who fought alongside John Basilone. Elite Marine Raiders Bob Addison (Bloody Ridge), Marlin Groft (Bloody Ridge), Gerry West (Bloody Ridge), and Harold Berg. K-Company Marines (K/3/5, “Ack Ack” Haldane’s legendary unit) T.I. Miller, Jesse Googe, and Jim McEnery. Aviators Sam Folsom (VMF-121 F4F pilot), Bob Maxwell (VF-11 F4F pilot), and Bud DeVere (VMSB-141), who operated from Henderson Field & Fighter One. Includes historic photos, 1st Marine Division patch, and Certificate of Authenticity hand-signed by artist Larry Selman.
PUBLISHER PROOF "LEGENDS" UPGRADE Sold Out
A Publisher Proof print with four additional autograph cards of heroes who fought on Guadalcanal: Art Pendleton, Chuck Lindberg, Gene Hanson & Harry Ferrier.
OTHER EDITIONS
Signer Proofs and Artist Proofs exist. A canvas giclee & main edition may be released.
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"First Victory" is hand-signed by a collection of Navy & Marine heroes who were on Guadalcanal! Signers vary print by print. Please click "editions" to see which veterans signed which prints.
Robert Addison
Bob was a mortar squad member with the elite 1st Marine Raider Battalion “Edson’s Raiders” fighting in the battles for Tulagi and Guadalcanal, including the Battle of Edson’s Ridge (Bloody Ridge).
Harold Berg
Harold joined the Marines at age 17. Became a member of the Raiders and joined them on Guadalcanal. He later fought in the battles for New Georgia and Bougainville. When the Raiders were disbanded, joined the 4th Marine Regiment (China Marines). Fought at Guam and Okinawa and was wounded twice.
Carl "Bud" DeVere
As a member of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 141 (a SBD Dauntless squadron), Bud was deployed with the squadron to Guadalcanal in Sept. 1942. There, he served as the first control-tower operator, working out of the famous Japanese built "Pagoda" on Henderson Field.
Harry Ferrier (Publisher Proof "Legends")
Ferrier enlisted in the Navy in 1941 at the age of 16 and flew as a gunner in one of Torpedo Eight’s new TBF Avengers during the battle of Midway. His aircraft was the only one of the squadron to survive the battle. Wounded in action, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart for his bravery that day. Ferrier’s story continued during the Guadalcanal campaign where he flew with the land-based Torpedo 8 detachment operating from Henderson Field. The Guadalcanal VT-8 aircrew flew grueling missions against Japanese shipping in the waters around the island, contributing to the attrition of enemy supply runs through "the Slot" during the brutal fighting of late 1942.
Sam Folsom
Folsom flew F4F Wildcats with VMF-121 as pilot in Major Joe Foss' famous "Flying Circus" on Guadalcanal. He shot down two Betty bombers and a Zero fighter! He later flew Hellcats on Okinawa and Corsairs during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. In 1998, Folsom foiled a bank robbery and landed himself on the Conan O'Brien show for his heroism.
Jesse Googe
Googe fought on Guadalancal, was Captain Andrew "Ack Ack" Haldane's runner on Cape Gloucester, and a rifleman on Peleliu, where he was wounded and taken off the line. He is mentioned in the book Voices of the Pacific.
Richard Greer
As a machine gunner with D-Company, 7th Marines (D-1-7), Greer fought on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester. A close friend of John Basilone, Greer was tasked with re-writing the first draft of Basilone’s Medal of Honor citation. Greer served as a consultant on The Pacific and appears as a commentator before several episodes. Greer's first hand accounts of combat in the Pacific can be read in Voices of the Pacific.
Marlin Groft
As a rifleman with the elite 1st Marine Raider Battalion “Edson’s Raiders,” Groft fought at Tulagi, Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Okinawa. He is the subject of the book "Bloody Ridge and Beyond" by Larry Alexander.
Eugene Hanson (Publisher Proof "Legends")
As a pilot flying TBD Devastators with Torpedo 8, Hanson was in Hawaii transitioning to the new TBM Avenger when his squadron was all but wiped out at Midway. He joined them soon after and was flying from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal in fall 1942. There, he earned an amazing 2 Navy Crosses (second only to the Medal of Honor) while defending the Marines.
Chuck Lindberg (Publisher Proof "Legends")
Chuck joined the Marines following Pearl Harbor and volunteered for the elite Marine Raiders. As a member of Carlson's Raiders, he found himself on Midway during the famous battle and would later fight on Guadalcanal where he participated in the legendary "long patrol." He went on to fight on Bougainville and Iwo Jima where he earned the Silver Star assaulting pillboxes at the base of Mount Suribachi. The following morning, February 23rd, Chuck and the other survivors of the 3rd Platoon (E/28th), secured the top of Mount Suribachi. Chuck then became part of Marine Corps legend when he and five other Marines raised a pipe with an attached American flag to cheers of Marines & sailors on the island below and on the ships anchored nearby. On March 1st, Chuck would leave the battle with a serious arm wound. Following stateside recovery, Chuck was discharged from the Marines after more than five years of service. His awards include four battle stars.
Bob “Maxie” Maxwell
F4F Wildcat pilot in VF-11 “Sundowners.” Stationed at Fighter One airstrip on Guadalcanal in April 1943. Was downed in a mid-air collision and spent 16 days on the run in enemy-occupied territory. Rescued by a PBY and taken to Australia for hospital recovery. Later joined VF-51 as a Hellcat pilot flying off the USS San Jacinto where he escorted a young Avenger pilot named Lt (JG) George H.W. Bush! Shot down seven Japanese aircraft during this tour becoming the carrier’s only Ace.
James McEnery
A squad leader in K-Company (K-3-5), McEnery fought on Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and later on Peleliu alongside Eugene Sledge. McEnery's first-hand accounts of combat in the Pacific can be read in his book Hell in the Pacific.
Thurman “T.I.” Miller
T.I. Miller enlisted in the Marines prior to WWII, making him part of the legendary "Old Breed." Assigned to K-Company (K-3-5) commanded by Andrew “Ack Ack” Haldane, he fought on “the island of Death,” Guadalcanal, and later on Cape Gloucester. T.I. is the subject of the book Earned In Blood and is featured throughout the book Voices of the Pacific.
Art Pendleton (Publisher Proof "Legends")
Art joined the Marines after Pearl Harbor and was assigned to H-Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment — the heavy weapons company — where he served alongside Robert Leckie and Sid Phillips. He commanded one of the company's twelve .30 caliber machine gun squads. At the Battle of Alligator Creek, his gun was initially trained on the ocean in anticipation of a Japanese amphibious assault, then repositioned mid-battle to the post previously held by Johnny Rivers, Al Schmid, and Lou Diamond (see Pride of the Marines), where his crew poured fire into the Japanese. Art went on to fight at Cape Gloucester, was wounded twice, and was eventually sent home after suffering a ruptured appendix — spending the rest of the war as a machine gun instructor at Camp Lejeune. Art's first hand accounts of combat can be read in Voices of the Pacific.
Sidney Phillips
Sid Phillips joined the Marines at age 17 and found himself fighting on Guadalcanal as part of H-Company, 1st Marines (H-2-1), the same unit as Helmet for My Pillow author Robert Leckie. Sid has become internationally-known after his notable role in Ken Burns’ documentary, The War, and the Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg miniseries, The Pacific and for his beloved memoir, You'll Be Sor-ree!
Gerry West
West was an original member of the elite 1st Marine Raider Battalion “Edson’s Raiders.” West fought in the battles for Tulagi and Guadalcanal, including the Battle of Edson’s Ridge.
James Young
A three Campaign veteran, Young served as in the Mortar Platoon with H-Company, 1st Marine Regiment (H-2-1). Young fought alongside fellow H-Company Marines Robert Leckie and Sid Phillips on Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu. Young's first hand accounts of combat in the Pacific can be read in Voices of the Pacific.
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Explore the history of the Battle of Guadalcanal in this excellent HBO feature that accompanied The Pacific mini-series. Watch for appearances by "First Victory" signers Sid Phillips and Richard Greer!
