US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

440 A?n.pbib&ns Came To Conquer
with construction troops and equipment available in the foreseeable future.
,.. No one in SOPAC had then seen a SeabeeBattalion. . . .ls
On 29 August, COMSOPAC informed CINCPAC and COMINCH:
When the 7th Marines are embarked and if the situation then permits, I
intend to seize Ndeni, the occupation of which and the establishment of an
airfield thereon will greatly strengthen my position. . . .16
The actual deferment of HUDDLE became possible at the COMPHIB-
FORSOPAC level only after the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved CINCPAC’S
recommendation of 3 September that the JCS Directive of 2 July
be modified to permit occupation Santa Cruz Islands to a later phase [of
PESTILENCE] at discretion of COMSOPAC.17
On 9 September 1942, the modification having come through from the
Joint Chiefs, COMSOPAC, in his Op Plan 3-42, took cognizance of this
new authority and directed CTF 62 to “prepare to occupy Ndeni Island on
further directive.” ‘8 This was at least a step towards cancellation of the
hperation.
On the same day, with the 7th Regiment of the First Marine Division en-
route from Samoa to a rendezvous with a detachment of Marines from
New Caledonia, the needs of Guadalcanal rose up and demanded that the
7th Regiment proceed to Guadalcanal and that the 2nd Regiment remain
there.
Also on 9 September, Rear Admiral Turner wrote Rear Admiral Leigh
Noyes, Commander Task Force 18 in the lVa~p:
We have pending a decision as to whether or not to undertake an operation
for the reinforcement of the Marine garrison at CACTUS. . . .
*****
Final decision as to whether or not to make this landing at Taivu Point, will
depend on Ghorrnley’s decision after Vandegrift and I have had a conference
within the next two or three days. . . ,
*****
I expect to go up to CACTUS the eleventh, return to BU~ON the thirteenth,
and remain there until the move forward.lg
ISMajor GeneraL F. D, weir, USMC (Ret. ) to GCD, letter, 14 May 1969
10COM.SOPAC to CINCPAC, 290310 Aug. 1942.
IT CINCPAC to COMINCH, 032013 Sep. 1942.
m (a) COMSOPAC Op Plan 3-42; (b) COMSOPAC, 091016 Sep. 1942.
WRKT to Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes, letter, 9 Sep. 1942.