Yes there was. It was on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Island chain. The battle is also called the Battle of Edson's Ridge Most of the details from the book are historically accurate including the weaponry, tactics and the participation of the "Cactus Airforce". About 800 Marines held the ridge for 2 days against more than 3000 elite Japanese troops who had never been defeated in battle. Less than 100 of the Japanese troops survived. It's an incredible story of real heroes who were really not much more than boys.