New “Guadalcanal” - Military Historical Tours · Guadalcanal. For the Marines of the First and...

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1 - 12 A U g U S t 2 0 1 4 “Guadalcanal” “The american VicTory ThaT desTroyed The myTh of Japanese inVincibiliTy!” Post-tour: 11—17 Aug of the Central Solomons & Munda Tour Leaders: Col Joe Mueller, USMC & Shayne Jarosz, USMC 13198 Centerpointe Way Ste. 202 13198 Centerpointe Way Ste. 202 13198 Centerpointe Way Ste. 202 Woodbridge, VA 22193 Woodbridge, VA 22193 Woodbridge, VA 22193-5285 5285 5285 703 703 703-590 590 590-1295 * Fax 703 1295 * Fax 703 1295 * Fax 703-590 590 590-1292 1292 1292 [email protected] * www.miltours.com [email protected] * www.miltours.com [email protected] * www.miltours.com Tenaru Sand Bar Go To milTours.com To read maJor dale robinson’s mili- tary Officer magazine article of his return with mht! All meals, departure taxes, & tips included no hidden costs! New Itinerary adds additional exploration and night on Tulagi!

Transcript of New “Guadalcanal” - Military Historical Tours · Guadalcanal. For the Marines of the First and...

Page 1: New “Guadalcanal” - Military Historical Tours · Guadalcanal. For the Marines of the First and Second Marine Divisions, this battle, ... General “Jim” Amos, 35th CMC returns

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“Guadalcanal”

“The american VicTory ThaT desTroyed The myTh of

Japanese inVincibiliTy!”

Post-tour: 11—17 Aug of the Central Solomons & Munda

Tour Leaders: Col Joe Mueller, USMC & Shayne Jarosz, USMC

13198 Centerpointe Way Ste. 20213198 Centerpointe Way Ste. 20213198 Centerpointe Way Ste. 202

Woodbridge, VA 22193Woodbridge, VA 22193Woodbridge, VA 22193---528552855285

703703703---590590590---1295 * Fax 7031295 * Fax 7031295 * Fax 703---590590590---129212921292

[email protected] * [email protected] * [email protected] * www.miltours.com

Tenaru Sand Bar

Go To milTours.com To read maJor dale robinson’s mili-

tary Officer magazine article of his return with mht!

All meals, departure taxes, &

tips included no hidden costs!

New

Itinerary

adds additional

exploration

and night on

Tulagi!

Page 2: New “Guadalcanal” - Military Historical Tours · Guadalcanal. For the Marines of the First and Second Marine Divisions, this battle, ... General “Jim” Amos, 35th CMC returns

Guadalcanal. For the Marines of the First and Second Marine Divisions, this battle,

remain as the landmark of their history, the first combatant actions for both on Guadal-canal plus the US Army’s 23rd & 25th Infantry Divisions participated in the liberation of “The Canal.” This year we return to this epic battlefield as part of our annual fall Pacific Battlefields & Guadalcanal 72nd Anniversary Tour. Fly to Fiji and connect to Guadalca-nal where we spend the next seven days, before we start we offer a post-tour up the Slot to Munda to commemorate this often forgotten campaign.

The unique Military Historical Tours in-depth approach includes extensive pre-

departure research, utilizing a vast resource of maps and other source material, ensur-ing the finest possible experience. Our Tour Leaders for this program are among the most knowledgeable on this subject. In-depth, but easily understood, briefings are con-ducted on each battle and other historic sites. For those wanting to go into more detail, the onsite staff is always available. We will visit and cruise to interesting sites un-seen and unknown to the vast majority of battlefield tourists.

Participants are invited to contribute by sharing their personal knowledge and expertise as we walk the battlefields. Ample time is allowed for personal exploration and sightseeing. Since we come close to many places of great historical interest, we will include stops at some of these, depending on available time and group interest.

All of these things, along with the most experienced staff of Tour Leaders, Battlefield Guides, and Historians will combine to make your trip the most enjoy-able, relaxing, entertaining and educational experience possi-ble. We welcome your phone calls, letters or e-mails to dis-cuss this expedition with one of our Battlefield Specialists. Call us toll free at 800-722-9501, M-F 9:30AM-5:30PM, write or e-mail us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Daily Itinerary 1 & 2 Aug Fri & Sat - (Day 1 & 2) Depart CONUS Depart Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) aboard an Air Pacif-ic flight at 11:30PM for Fiji. Cross International Dateline lose a day.

3 Aug Sun - (Day 3) Fiji Arrive in Nadi, Fiji, at 5:15AM. Check into the Raffles Fiji and re-covery before continuing on to Guadalcanal.

4 Aug Mon - (Day 4) Guadalcanal After breakfast we depart for Guadalcanal and arrive at historic "Henderson Field" mid-morning. We transfer to our hotel for the next week, with time to settle in and refresh before departing for our battlefield briefing and orientation of the eastern battle sites from a vantage point atop Mount Austen. Sites pointed out will be "Red Beach," the site of the landing; Henderson Field, the amphibious force objective; Edson's Ridge, the Tenaru River (Alligator Creek); Lunga Point, and other pertinent sites. Later we will tour the U.S. Memorial on Skyline Ridge for another panoramic view of the island

and the western bat-tle sites from this van-tage point. Sites pointed out will be Tulagi, Gavutu -Tanambogo, and the Florida Islands. Also, we will orient on Savo Island, "Iron Bottom Sound": as well as key terrain features ashore. We will see Point

Guadalcanal Tour Price: $ 2,195 Based on Double Occupancy (BoDO)

Single Supplement: $ 695

Post-Tour Up the Slot (BoDO) $ 2,995 Single Supplement $ 495

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Tour Price Includes: *

All meals, departure taxes, & tips

included (NOT a hidden cost surprise!) *

Three Star Hotel Accommodations *

Air-conditioned motorcoach *

Emergency Medical, Evacuation, Repatriation,

and baggage insurance included *

Trip Kit: tour ball cap, bag tags & name badge *

MHT “FieldBook” information map packet *

All Admission fees to all sites, museums, and

special attractions listed *

Services of experienced MHT Tour Leaders &

English--speaking local guides.

OPTIONAL DISCOUNT AIRFARE AVAILABLE: MHT can book you round trip from your home

city to Guadalcanal via MHT’s Airline Partners and save you domestic baggage fees! MHT’s discount airfare is available upon re quest. Business Class upgrade is also available upon request (prices sub-ject to confirmation at time of booking!)

USS Sampson (DDG-102) off

shore for the 70th Anniversary

Page 3: New “Guadalcanal” - Military Historical Tours · Guadalcanal. For the Marines of the First and Second Marine Divisions, this battle, ... General “Jim” Amos, 35th CMC returns

Cruz, the Matanikau River, Cape Esperance, and other key sites that played significant roles in this landmark battle. Ho-tel: Solo-mon Kitano

Mendana (B/L/D)

5 Aug Tue - (Day 4) GUADALCANAL This morning we will travel east to Tetere, site of a Japa-nese bivouac and current home to a massive Amtrac “Boneyard” left behind at the end of the war. We visit Red Beach, site of the initial landing of the 1

st Marine Division

and explore the area around Henderson Field, see Pagoda Hill, the plane revetments & control tower, and Gen Vander-grift's command post. Crossing the Lunga River we will see “Fighter Two”, the strip where the planes for the "Yamamoto Mission" took off. We will view the site of Carney Airfield & the Army logistics base as we return west. (B/L/D)

6 Aug Wed - (Day 5) GUADALCANAL We depart today for a tour of the "Gifu" area of Mount Aus-ten, one of the best preserved battlefields on the island. We walk the battlefield, seeing the foxholes and remnants of the battle, visit the Japanese War Memorial, as well as a Solo-mon Island village. We continue our tour with a visit to the east and west banks of the Matanikau River, scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the battle. (B/L/D)

7 Aug Thur - (Day 6) GUADALCANAL Today we commemorate the 72nd Anniversary of the Bat-tle as we visit the American War Memorial, site of the wreath laying and remarks by the all the participating countries. Further individual ceremonies will be conducted such as wreath laying at the Solomon Island Coast Watch-ers Statue. One highlight is the wreath laying for Signal-man First Class Douglas Munro, USCG who was the only coast guard recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroic ef-forts in evacuating a battalion of Marines trapped near Point Cruz. Lunch to follow after the ceremony. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B/L/D)

8 Aug Fri – (Day 7) GUADALCANAL Today we begin our Solomon Sea Cruise by sailing around Savo Island. We continue on to Florida Island, these islands were scenes of fierce fighting early in the campaign, and Marines who fought here were used to reinforce Gua-dalcanal after these islands were secured. We see the land-ing beach at Haleta before heading for Tulagi’s Blue Beach, we finish viewing Calvertville and the PT Boat Base at Ses-api before checking into our hotel finishing the day walking around the Tulagi battlefield. Hotel: Vanita Lodge (B/L/D)

9 Aug Sat - (Day 8) TULAGI After breakfast we sail to the pre-war PBY base at Gavutu & Tanambogo. We will also see the landing beach on the Ha-

lavo Peninsula. We travel to Tokio Bay to photograph the bow of an LST and a Japanese Destroyer Kikuzuki, both sunk in the battle, now lying in shallow water. We finish our cruise at the Iron Bottom Bay Club marker before returning to Honiara. *Note: This two day cruise portion is dependent on weather conditions, available small craft, and current sea

state and we will adjust these days in the itinerary. (B/L/D)

10 Aug Sun - (Day 9) GUADALCANAL Following breakfast we will explore battle sites around the Ilu, Tenaru and Lunga Rivers. Stops will in-clude Pvt Al Schmid’s ma-chine gun posi-tion along “Alligator Creek” (Ilu Riv-er), which he continued to de-fend even after being blinded by a Japanese gre-nade. We will also spend time on Bloody Ridge, known from a previous battle as Ed-son’s Ridge, where the Japa-nese were halted in their at-tempts to reach Henderson Field, in one of the pivotal bat-tles of the Pacific War. From here we view “Fighter One”, the field from which the Cactus Air Force and famous avia-tors like Joe Foss, Bob Galer, Jeff DeBlanc, John Smith, Marion Carl, and others flew. (Meals: B/L/D)

11 Aug Mon - (Day 10) GUADALCANAL We begin this morning driving west to Cape Esperance to

visit the site of the Japanese evacua-tion of the island. From Honiara west, the battle was prosecuted by the 2

nd

Marine Division and the 25th Infantry

Division of the US Army. We will view these battlefields, as well as the op-portunity to visit the Vila War Museum to view relics from the battles, includ-ing an F4F Wildcat and an SBD

Dauntless dive-bomber. Along the coast are the remains of Japanese freighters, which were beached after coming under attack by U.S. aircraft. (B/L/D)

12 Aug Tue - (Day 11) DEPARTURE Leisurely morning check-out before our noon departure by air from Guadalcanal to Fiji. Transfer to your flight back to the USA. Cross the International Dateline and arrive back in Los Angeles (LAX) on the same day. (B/D provided on plane) or

Depart for the SLOT/MUNDA or Enjoy the Guadalcanal Dive Ad-venture Post Tours

We will have a dive post tour opportuni-ty available. Please ask us for more information.

General “Jim” Amos, 35th CMC

returns for the 70th Anniversary!

Page 4: New “Guadalcanal” - Military Historical Tours · Guadalcanal. For the Marines of the First and Second Marine Divisions, this battle, ... General “Jim” Amos, 35th CMC returns

13198 Centerpointe Way, Ste 202

Woodbridge, VA 22193-5285

Guadalcanal 2014

don’T miss The

plane back!

See Munda & go up

the Slot too!

Up the Slot—MUNDA Water/Land Post Tour

Acclaimed WWII Guide Alfie “Barney” Paulsen will accompany

you throughout your tour.

Day 1; Tue 12 Aug – We depart Honiara and arrive by midday,

ready for a ½ day tour boat trip tour to Rendova Island. Visit the

sites of the US advance camps in Rendova Harbour. Visit the site

of the P.T. boat base at Lumbaria.

Day 2; Wed 13 Aug – Follow the path of

the U.S. forces towards the Japanese built

Munda Airstrip. Boat trip to Honavisu /

Sasavele Passage where the US forces

passed through en route to New Georgia

Island. Visit Sasavele to view WWII re-

mains and the American built road. Visit

Zangana where the US forces first landed

on New Georgia. Travel the Munda Trail

between Zangana and Ilangana.

Day 3; Thur 14 Aug – Visit WWII sites

around Munda including

Horseshoe and Bartley

Ridges, Munda Airstrip

and “Dump” with equip-

ment and machinery from

the war and WWII Muse-

um Collections. We fin-

ish the day at the Ameri-

can Cemetery site and the

Kindu Guns.

Day 4; Fri 15 Aug - Boat tour to On-

dongo Airstrip. Visits to the Japanese

sites at Baeroko and Enoghae with its

anti-naval guns knocked out by raiders.

We travel via Kula Gulf and Kolom-

bangara to Kohinggo Island and get a

chance to see the Stuart Tank there.

Day 5; Sat 16 Aug – Boat trip to Gizo

via Blackett Strait to visit famous Kenne-

dy Island. We return via Ferguson Pas-

sage, site of the sinking of PT-109 and

Lt. John Kennedy and crew. We finish

the day by continuing through Vona

Vona Lagoon to Skull Island.

Day 6; Sun 17 Aug -

½ day land-based

tour to revisit addi-

tional Munda WWII

sites. Return flight to Honiara in the afternoon.

Day 7; Mon 18 Aug - Departure for return flight to USA.

Includes: Rooms, Boat & Bus Transportation up the slot plus All

Meals & 3 Liters of Water per day with all entrance, tour and

guide fees included.