"They never found any part of that [U.S] patrol, or any parts of bodies or anything else." (Video Interview, 7:37)

Ned C. Steele

Ned Steele, 2003 War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Marine Corps Unit: 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Division Service Location: Pacific Theater; Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) Rank: Platoon Sergeant Place of Birth: CA

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, 19-year-old Ned Steele joined the Marines the very next day, along with thousands of other willing patriotic men. Steele served in many dangerous campaigns, one of the most dangerous-as well as physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting--was Guadalcanal. The Japanese were good soldiers who knew how to wear down the Americans. One of their tactics was not to let any American soldiers get any sleep. Planes soared over American positions at all hours of the night dropping bombs or small units of soldiers attacked during the early morning hours. Steele may have been on Guadalcanal for 150 days, but he says it felt like he was there for 1500 nights.