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Following their defeat off Savo Island, the Japanese abandoned their attempts to recapture Henderson Field. They withdrew into the jungle and fortified their positions.

Meanwhile, a changing of the guard was occurring at Henderson. US Army General Patch took over from Marine General Vandegrift, overseeing elements of the 2nd Marine Division and the Army Americal Division. On Dec 9, the 1st Marine Division was withdrawn to Melbourne, Australia to rest and refit, having lost more men to malaria and other tropical diseases than the enemy. They spent nearly a year camped out in the Melbourne Cricket Ground while they regained their strength. They would next see action in December 1943, fighting throughout the South Pacific in places like New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa.

The Army would continue its offense on Guadalcanal throughout December and January, but the Japanese high command had already given up Guadalcanal as a lost cause. They began evacuating their troops, and on February 9 General Patch realized that the Japanese were gone and declared Guadalcanal secure.

Guadalcanal was a turning point in the war, proving that the Japanese army was not invincible and also offering the Allies a critical airfield for operations in the South Pacific.

"Before Guadalcanal the enemy advanced at his pleasure — after Guadalcanal he retreated at ours."
- Admiral "Bull" William Halsey

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