Aftermath Carlson's patrol

solomon island native scouts display japanese weapons , flags captured during patrol

as carlson s battalion ending patrol, shōji , surviving troops reaching friendly positions west of matanikau. in addition losses sustained attacks carlson s raiders, lack of food , tropical diseases felled many more of shōji s men. time shōji s forces reached lunga river in mid-november, halfway matanikau, 1,300 men remained main body. when shōji reached 17th army positions west of matanikau, 700-800 survivors still him. survivors shōji s force later participated in battle of mount austen, galloping horse, , sea horse in december 1942 , january 1943.

during 29 days of patrol, carlson s raiders hiked approximately 150 mi (240 km) cover straight-line distance of 40 mi (64 km) aola bay matanikau river. carlson claimed troops killed 488 japanese soldiers , captured or destroyed large amounts of equipment, including 2 howitzers , various small arms , ammunition.

the 2nd raiders suffered 16 killed , 17 wounded (plus 2 wounded native guides). non-battle casualties totaled 225, of 125 suffered malaria, 29 dysentery, , 71 ringworm or jungle rot. of remaining raiders suffering type of physical ailment. on 17 december, raiders departed guadalcanal ship , arrived @ home camp on espiritu santo on 20 december. @ espiritu santo, unit continued affected lingering tropical diseases many had contracted during guadalcanal patrol. in second week of march 1943, 2nd raiders declared unfit combat duty, although finding never announced in official document. 2nd marine raiders did not participate unit in combat operation until bougainville campaign beginning on 1 november 1943. in spite of high fallout disease, carlson s troops felt had performed unit during patrol , had accomplished mission. cleland e. early—a lieutenant in carlson s company e—described long guadalcanal patrol , effect on unit: enduring living conditions worse combat. platoon went in 30 men, 1 corpsman , 1 officer. when came out had 1 officer, 1 corpsman, , 18 enlisted, of whom had malaria, worms, diarrhea, jungle rot , high morale.