'KILLER' PIECE OF USMC AND USMC RAIDER HISTORY. THIS IS A 100% ORIGINAL WIRE STAKE 'PIGTAIL' FROM BLOODY RIDGE, GUADALCANAL. THIS WAS FOUND ABOUT MID-RIDGE WHERE THE JAPANESE VAINLY TRIED TO BREAK THROUGH AMERICAN LINES IN THEIR EFFORT TO OVERRUN HENDERSON FIELD.
THESE WERE SCREWED INTO THE GROUND ON ONE END. BARBED WIRE WAS RUN THROUGH THE OTHER END TO STOP THE JAPANESE FROM ADVANCING. THEY WERE HELD ON THE WIRE AND MOWED DOWN. THIS ONE CAME FROM THE MIDDLE OF BLOODY RIDGE, JUST IN FRONT OF A FOXHOLE USED BY THE USMC RAIDERS IN THE SEPTEMBER, 1942 BATTLE OF "EDSON'S BLOODY RIDGE."
THE SHORT 'TRIP WIRE' PIGTAILS WERE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE BEFORE THE JAPANESE ENTERED AMERICAN FOXHOLES AND GUN POSITIONS. THIS CAME NO MORE THAN 3' IN FRONT OF A U.S. FOXHOLE. ONE OF THE PICS SHOWS A PIGTAIL ON BLOODY RIDGE. ACTUALLY STANDING IN A RAIDER'S FOXHOLE TO TAKE THE PHOTO. TO PROVE IT'S AUTHENTICITY, I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF JOHN INNES "MR. GUADALCANAL' FRIEND HOLDING IT IN FRONT OF THE EDSON RAIDER'S MONUMENT AT THE TOP OF BLOODY RIDGE
