This Military Service Page was created/owned by
CWO2 Philip E. Montroy
to remember
Marine MGen Ralph Spanjer ("Smoke").
If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Hillside
Last Address Delafield, WI
Date of Passing Feb 08, 1999
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
MajGen Spanjer retired from the USMC on Jan. 1, 1978 after 36-years of a very active career.
Other Comments:
In 1978, MajGen Spanjer became the Superintendent of the Marine Military Academy. He stayed in that position until 1984. After moving to North Carolina, and then Alaska, he accepted the position of President of St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in WI in 1994. In this position he oversaw the merger of the Academy with Northwestern Military and Naval Academy in Lake Geneva, WI.
Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)/Battle of Eastern Solomons (Stewart Island)
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
August / 1942
Description The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons (also known as the Battle of the Stewart Islands and, in Japanese sources, as the Second Battle of the Solomon Sea) took place on 24–25 August 1942, and was the third carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II and the second major engagement fought between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Guadalcanal Campaign. As at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, the ships of the two adversaries were never within sight of each other. Instead, all attacks were carried out by carrier-based or land-based aircraft.
After several damaging air attacks, the naval surface combatants from both America and Japan withdrew from the battle area without either side securing a clear victory. However, the U.S. and its allies gained tactical and strategic advantage. Japan's losses were greater and included dozens of aircraft and their experienced aircrews. Also, Japanese reinforcements intended for Guadalcanal were delayed and eventually delivered by warships rather than transport ships, giving the Allies more time to prepare for the Japanese counteroffensive and preventing the Japanese from landing heavy artillery, ammunition, and other supplies.
