After a string of victories — including the Siege of SM Megamall in Manila, the Invasion of Singapore Outlets and the seizing of North Borneo's Krazy Kommercial Komplex — the Japanese were steadily building a footpath across the ocean. Relying on poor intelligence, the U.S. military failed to make an advance on Guadalcanal until the Japanese were already occupying the GTSC's east wing, food court and several pricy fashion boutiques. When the Americans invaded the complex on August 7, 1942, they were up against an entrenched, well-fed and totally fabulous enemy force.