US Marine Corps MajGen Merritt Edson: WWII Medal of Honor Recipient

Welcome back everyone! 

Before I tell you this week’s story, I’m going to share the Medal of Honor story about US Army Air Forces MSG Henry Erwin pulled from the Duty & Valor Youtube channel. 

Fearing that Msg Erwin would not survive long, Army Air Forces leadership expedited the approval for his Medal of Honor.  Within hours, it was flown from Hawaii to Guam where it was presented to MSG Erwin as he lay in a hospital bed, bandaged head to toe, and surrounded by the men he saved that day.  MSG Henry Erwin endured dozens of surgeries but he survived.  He lived until January 16, 2002 when he passed away at the age of 80.  

Now on today’s main story, you’ll hear about Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Major General Merritt “Red Mike” Edson.  Known for his fearless leadership and exceptional tactics, General Edson played a pivotal role in World War II, where he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic defense during the Battle of Guadalcanal, and this is his story.

Merritt was born in Rutland, VT on April 25, 1897.  He was one of three children born to parents Erwin and Lelia Edson.  After graduating high school, he attended the University of Vermont.  In 1916, two years into his studies, he was sent to Texas with the Vermont National Guard where they stood guard on the border at Eagle Pass.  He returned to the university and joined the Marine Corps Reserve in June of the following year. 

Edson received a commission as a Second Lt. in the regular Marine Corps on October 9, 1917 and was sent to France in September the following year.  Departing from Philadelphia, Lt. Edson and B Company, 11th Marine Regiment arrived in Brest on October 13th.  Almost as soon as he arrived, Lt. Edson was stricken with the mumps and spent weeks at the camp hospital.

As World War I soon ended, he and his regiment saw no combat action in the war.  After being sent back to the US, he was promoted to 1LT in June 1920 and he spent the next two years at the Marine Barracks in Quantico, VA.  His interest in flying led him to apply for flight training.  He was accepted and attended flight training at NAS Pensacola in FL and was awarded his gold wings in 1922.  

Lt. Edson was first to Guam where he was attached to the Marine Air Station there for three years.  In 1925 he returned to the US and in 1926 he was unable to finish the advanced flying course at Kelly Field Texas.  There it was discovered that he lacked adequate depth perception and was sent back to Quantico for further flight physicals.

In addition to the issue with his depth perception, it was reported by others at flight training with him that he lacked adequate flying skills.  After months of medical testing, Lt. Edson’s commander banned him from flying.  

In defiance of this ban, he took flight in a bi-plane, on Jan. 22, 1927, to prove that he was a more than capable pilot.  As he was crossing VA, his plane crashed in a field in Ark.  Lt. Edson claimed that the plane suffered engine troubles which forced it down.  But the subsequent investigation showed that he would have had enough time and elevation to circle the field and land safely.  Lt. Edson admitted that he overshot his landing and was eventually permanently banned from flying. 

In April 1927, Lt. Edson was sent to the Philadelphia Navy Yard and became an ordinance officer, before taking over the Marine detachment aboard the USS Denver.       

They were sent to Nicaragua during the rebellion against the US occupation of the country.  Edson, who was now a Captain, led 160 Marines in twelve engagements against guerilla fighters.  While in Nicaragua, Captain Edson sported a red beard, which led to the nickname “Red Mike”.  

On August 7, 1928 Captain Edson was leading his men up the Coco River when they were ambushed by enemy fighters entrenched on both sides of the river.  Capt. Edson was credited with leading his men in hand-to-hand combat, forcing the enemy retreat, and for this he was awarded a Navy Cross.

Captain Edson returned to the US the following year and was assigned as a tactics instructor for newly commissioned Lts at the Basic School in Philadelphia.  He was also involved in rifle and pistol competitions and won the national trophy with the Marine Corps rifle and pistol team in 1935 and 1936.

He was promoted to Major in 1936 and was sent to China as an operations officer with the 4th Marine Regiment.  He was there for a few years before returning to the US where he was promoted to Lt. Col. in April, 1940.

In June, 1941, Lt. Col. Edson was transferred back to Quantico and was given command of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. On February 16, 1942, he took command of the newly formed 1st Marine Raider Battalion.  This Raider Battalion, nicknamed Edson’s Raiders, was a special operation unit that were highly trained for light infantry warfare, but throughout the war, they were mostly used as a conventional fighting force.   During WWII four Raider battalions were formed, but all four were disbanded in early 1944 as they outlived their original mission to conduct small amphibious landings and fight behind enemy lines in guerilla style operations.

Edson was promoted to Col on May 21, 1942 and was sent to American Samoa where the Edson Raiders received further training.  On August 7, 1942, he led his Raider Battalion in fighting against Japanese Naval troops on the island of Tulagi, in the British Solomon Islands.  With only 1,500 men defending the island, the Japanese were outnumbered 5-to-1.  The surprise attack on the island led to a nearly unopposed landing by the Marines, but they were soon fighting hard for every square foot of the island.  

In a message to their commander at Rabaul, the Japanese officer leading the defense of the island said “Enemy troop strength is overwhelming.  We will defend to the last man”.  And that’s exactly what they did.  Of the initial 1,500 defenders, all were killed except for the 23 who were taken prisoner by the Marines, while Allied forces lost 248 men in capturing the island.  For his inspiring leadership during the two days of fighting, Col. Edson received a gold star in lieu of a second Navy Cross.

The following month Col. Edson and the 1st Marine Raider Battalion were sent to nearby Guadalcanal.  Weeks earlier, allied forces led by Marines had attacked Guadalcanal and eventually captured the unfinished airfield at Lunga Point, which was renamed Henderson Field.  Though they lost control of the airfield, the Japanese defenders were not completely defeated.

Knowing that the Japanese would try to recapture it, Edson’s Raiders, along with two companies of the 1st Parachute Battalion were sent to a reserve position on Lunga Ridge, just south of the airfield.  In total 830 Marines would fight a bloody battle on that ridge against Japanese forces that numbered 3,000.

When the Marines arrived on the ridge in the evening of Sept. 12, they were hoping to get a little rest, but an expected attack by the Japanese ensured that didn’t happen.  At 21:30 Japanese ships began shelling Marine positions for twenty minutes, but caused little damage.  With the area illuminated by powerful searchlights from the ships, the initial attack overran some Marine positions on its left center of their line. 

Throughout the night, the Marines endured fanatical attacks by the Japanese.  One unnamed Marine Corps officer is quoted as saying that “The Japanese attack was almost constant, like a rain that subsides for a moment and then pours harder… When one wave was mowed down, and I mean mowed down, another followed it into death”.

The Marines were able to counter each Japanese attack and when the sun rose in the morning, they were still in control of the ridge.  

 Col. Edson knew this wasn’t the end of the battle, in fact he gave a speech imploring his Raiders to fight for their lives for one more night.  

To address his Marines, Col. Edson stood atop a grenade box and said, 

“You men have done a great job, and I have just one more thing to ask of you. Hold out just one more night. I know we've been without sleep a long time. But we expect another attack from them tonight and they may come through here. I have every reason to believe that we will have relief here for all of us in the morning”.

Throughout the day they made improvements to their defensive positions, so when the time came, they were ready. 

As night fell on Sept. 13, 1942, the Japanese unleashed a barrage of shellfire from seven destroyers and then commenced another fierce attack on their positions.  Even though they were being hit by artillery fire, Japanese forces had initial success, forcing some Marines to withdraw.  

As they did so, they ran into Col. Edson who was able to rally them and get them into positions to defend the ridge.   Col. Edson made the decision to withdraw to a reserve line 400 yards to the south, to Hill 123.  Luckily for the outnumbered Marines, they suffered few casualties during this movement. Wave after wave of attackers hit Marine positions.  Eventually they got so close to the Marines that fierce hand to hand combat commenced. The opposing sides were using anything they could to save themselves.  Bayonets, rifles, pistols, grenades and knives.  

Repeated assaults were pushed back and by daybreak, the Marines found countless dead attackers littering the ground around them. 

Throughout the night, Col. Edson faced constant enemy fire, but was always seen within 20 yards of the front lines, encouraging his Marines and organizing their defense.

Captain Tex Smith, who observed much of what Col. Edson did that night, said "I can say that if there is such a thing as one man holding a battalion together, Edson did it that night. He stood just behind the front lines—stood, when most of us hugged the ground”.

Though most refer to those two days as the Battle of the Bloody Ridge, to the Marines who fought there, they always referred to it as The Battle of Edson’s Ridge. 

For his tactical decisions, heroism, and overall leadership over those two days, Col. Merritt Edson was awarded the Medal of Honor.  

Following the battle that bore his name, Col. Edson took command of the 5th Marine Regiment and in August, 1943, he was named the chief of staff of the 2nd Marine Division.  In December he was promoted to Brigadier General and was awarded a Silver Star for his leadership during the capture of Saipan.

He went on to serve in various command positions until his retirement on Aug. 1, 1947 at the rank of Major General after 30 years of military service.

He became the first commissioner of the Vermont State Police and was the President of the NRA from 1949-1950.

On August 14, 1955, Major General Merritt Edson passed away at the age of 58 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Major General Merritt "Red Mike" Edson exemplified courage, leadership, and unwavering dedication to his mission, standing firm in the face of overwhelming odds. His legacy reminds us that true heroes rise when the stakes are highest, leading with both heart and honor. 

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To read more about this week’s hero, check out the sources used in today's episode in our show notes and at dutyandvalor.com.

Remember, we release new episodes on the Duty & Valor YouTube channel on Fridays at 5 pm. On our channel, we also release daily YouTube shorts that highlight our Nation’s heroes, many of whom haven’t been featured on the show yet.

Please join us for our next episode, where we'll be sharing the inspiring story of another American hero who served with pride and lived with humility.