Up The Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons

The narrative opens with a sweeping view of the Central Solomons in mid‑1943, where the Allied push to neutralize the Japanese airfield at Munda Point begins to take shape. It details the early, largely uncontested landings on the Russell Islands—Operation Cleanslate—as the first foothold for new airstrips that will support the larger campaign. From there the story moves to the painstaking buildup of troops, Seabees, and equipment that will enable the looming amphibious assaults on New Georgia’s hostile coastline.

Against this backdrop, the book lays out the intricate choreography of Operation Toenails, splitting the fleet into Western and Eastern task forces and assigning a bewildering array of Army, Marine, and naval units to each objective. The author describes the logistical challenges of crossing narrow channels, positioning artillery on Rendova, and preparing to strike at Munda’s concealed airstrip. Readers gain a vivid sense of the coordinated planning and raw tension that defined this critical early phase of the Pacific war.