his regiment were involved in a number of sharp encounters with enemy units around Koli Point, which is about 5 miles east of Lunga Point. Although the personnel of his command were physically exhausted from previous hard fighting, Sims led his regiment into action against a large force of recently landed enemy troops on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Engaging the Japanese in a grueling series of hand-to-hand combats extending through a period of ten days, he succeeded with his men in driving them back across the Malimbiu and Metapons Rivers and eventually annihilating them in the vicinity of Tetere Village. Sims was subsequently decorated with his second Silver Star for leadership of his regiment during the annihilation of troops at Tetere. The 7th Marine Regiment was subsequently pulled back to the Lunga Point defensive area, where they carried out the routine patrols for the next several weeks to eliminate those Japanese soldiers who still remained behind in the areas seized by the Americans. During the whole Guadalcanal Campaign, "The Iron Duke" Sims, as his men called him, and his regiment annihilated over 6,000 Japanese in 42 separate engagements. Sims later recalled: "I would stack this regiment against any other group of fighting men in the world, for shouting, fighting, accuracy of fire, knowledge of weapons, and the will to fight. Give me a week and I would stack them against any outfit on the parade ground." The Relief on the 7th Marines took place in January 1943 and the entire regiment sailed from Guadalcanal for Australia. A week later, Sims and his regiment embarked at Port Phillip off Melbourne. They were subsequently sent to the camp at Mount Martha for rest and refit. Sims also received the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service on Guadalcanal. New Britain Sims held the command of the regiment until the end of June 1943 and then succeeded Colonel Gerald C. Thomas as Chief of staff of 1st Marine Division. While in this capacity, he served under Major General William H. Rupertus and participated in the planning of Cape Gloucester Operation. The Operation was launched on December 26, 1943, and lasted until January 16, 1944, and during the course of the battle the division had 310 killed and 1,083 wounded. Sims served in that capacity until the beginning of February 1944, when he was succeeded by Colonel Oliver P. Smith. For