 The Battle of Guadalcanal, was fought between August 7, 1942, and February 7, 1943, in the Pacific theatre of World War II and was the first major offensive launched by allied forces against the Empire of Japan.Cole arrived on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942 for the first American offensive of World War II; and his first opportunity to fill in as a machine-gunner in the absence of the regular gunner.After Guadalcanal, Cole served in several more battles throughout the Pacific theatre, including the battles of Kwajalein, Saipan and Tinian.