This Day in Military History — Nov 13: Friday the 13th Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dedicated

Host 1: Welcome to this day in military history. On this day, November 13th, we are doing a deep dive into historical sources to explore the decisions, the courage, and you know the consequences that shaped military history on this date.

Host 2: Right and um the mission for you the listener is just focusing on the facts right not taking sides just looking at what happened.

Host 1: Yeah focusing on the facts. So let's start in 1942. It is November 13 1942 the naval battle of Guadalcanal Japanese Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki brings a battleship force down to shell Henderson Field

Host 2: And US Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan intercepts with these outgunned cruisers the action kicks off around 1 25 AM in a terrible rain squall

Host 1: Yeah navigating this close range night battle I mean it is like stumbling through a dark room where any sudden movement brings disaster

Host 2: oh for sure I mean the fleets passed at rock throwing distance before a single gun even fired

Host 1: wait rock throwing distance

Host 2: yeah then the battleship he spotlighted the cruiser Atlanta and both US admirals Callahan and Norman Scott were killed Scott was reportedly hit by friendly fire actually

Host 1: oh man that is rough but the Hiei was sunk the next morning right

Host 2: it was yeah and the bombardment was stopped saving the afterstrip But at 11.01 a.m. that morning, the cruiser Juno was torpedoed by the submarine I-26.

Host 1: And that is where the human cost gets staggering. Among the 687 to 697 dead were all five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo, Iowa.

Host 2: Right.

Host 1: But I have to ask, how did a rescue effort fail so badly that only 10 men survived?

Host 2: Well, a B-17 pilot reported seeing 140 men in the water, but that report was never passed to the Navy.

Host 1: Are you serious? Just a communication breakdown.

Host 2: Pretty much. The survivors drifted for eight days before a PBY flying boat rescued them. George Sullivan actually lived for several days in the water just you know calling out for his brothers

Host 1: oh that is just heartbreaking

Host 2: it is and you know moving from that overwhelming loss at sea it makes you wonder how nations process and remember such sacrifice 40 years later

Host 1: Right, which brings us to 1982. The Washington dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Host 2: Yeah. Designed by Maya Lin, who was a 21 year old Yale student.

Host 1: Only 21.

Host 2: Just 21. Her entry, 1026, was chosen blindly from 1421 submissions.

Host 1: Wow.

Host 2: Yeah. And it is a black granite V that lists names chronologically by casualty date. But the design divided opinion, you know.

Host 1: Because it was not a traditional statue, right?

Host 2: Right. So Frederick Hart's bronze statue and a flag were added in 1984 as a compromise.

Host 1: Well looking at the wall it gives no ranks or service branches why was that choice made?

Host 2: According to veteran Jan Scruggs the reasoning was that quote all were equal in their sacrifice.

Host 1: That is powerful.

Host 2: Yeah. Today it holds over 58,000 names and draws 3 million visitors a year.

Host 1: Well, also on this day in 1775, American troops under Richard Montgomery took Montreal.

Host 2: And in 1941, German submarine U-81 torpedoed British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. But before you go, consider how stripping away military rank on a public monument alters your relationship with the individuals who lived that history.

Host 1: Thanks for tuning in. See you back here tomorrow.