ww2letterproject

On January 1, 1944, the air strip was completed.

In February, the USO featuring Randolph Scott visited the island.  Division bands played concerts and there were local talent shows.

That same month locals informed the Allies of enemy gatherings on the island.  The Allies intercepted radio messages that hinted at a large-scale attack.  Japanese patrols began to probe the 37th lines.  In early March, the 136th field artillery was ordered to the southeast of Hill 700 to set up forward gun positions.

Hill 700 was located about two miles inland from Empress Augusta Bay near Canon Hill and on the perimeter of the position held by 37th.

Blackouts returned.  The only daylight fires were for cooking; extra rations were issued. The 37th held a position that extended two miles inland from the beach.  Knowing that a major Japanese offensive was near, GIs cleared fields of fire, established water points and strung communication lines.  Machine gun nests were built as were emplacements for mortars.

US Army intelligence estimated the IJA attack force to be 10,000 strong.  The force included units of the IJA’s veteran 6th Division which, during their in 1937 and 1938 campaign in China, committed atrocities against the Chinese that would be referred to as the “Rape of Nanking.”

As the IJA gathered in preparation for the upcoming battle, the generals of the IJA 6th Division were quoted as saying, “It is our duty to erase the mortification of our brothers at Guadalcanal.  Attack! Assault! Destroy everything! Cut, slash and mow them down.  May the color of [our red] emblem be deepened with the blood of the American… we are invincible.  Always attack.  Execute silently.”

On March 8th, IJA artillery began shelling the allied positions and the air field.  As the Japanese infantry amassed near Hill 700, the long-range capability of the 155MM howitzers that the 136th used was critical.  In a span of two hours, the 136th fired thousands of artillery rounds.  This actually forced the IJA to move closer to the Allied lines in an effort to escape the withering artillery fire. On March 9th, the IJA advanced up Hill 700 under the cover of darkness, heavy fog and rain.  The IJA broke through the Allied outer defensive lines, taking and commanding the high ground on Hill 700.  After daybreak, the Allies counter attacked, but stopped their advance when darkness fell. Over the next several days Allied and IJA forces waged several major attacks and counter attacks for the control of Hill 700. Most of the action was by small units at close range.  By 1600 on March 12, the 37th finally secured Hill 700.

On March 12 through 15, the IJA mounted a major attack on the center of the Allied line.  The IJA made short penetrations of the line, but Allied counterattacks quickly forced them back.

Over the next few days there were minor attacks by the IJA on Allied positions.  On March 24 at 1800, naval forces fired more than 4000 rounds into IJA positions.  The firing took place in a span of 15 minutes, creating a continuous deafening rumble.  On March 27, the IJA attacking force began its withdrawal.

During the battle for Bougainville, the IJA lost 6593 with 44 prisoners.  The Allies suffered 184 killed, 1304 wounded and 4 missing.  It was estimated that artillery caused about 25% of the IJA casualties.

On Hill 700 alone there were over 1500 IJA dead, rapidly decomposing in the tropical heat.  The stench of the decaying corpses was overwhelming.  Rear echelon troops, possibly including men from artillery units, were assigned to burial duty.  They and dozers were used to bury the Japanese soldiers in mass graves.

The Battle for Bougainville officially ended April 30, 1944.  For the campaign the 37th was awarded 51 DSCs, 169 Silver Stars, 29 Legions of Merit, 34 Soldier’s Medals and 1630 Purple Hearts.

Dad loved sports.  Much our time spent together was playing or watching or discussing sports.

I was about 12 years old when one day Dad informed me that he was going to play basketball that evening and wanted to know if I would like to go along.  I did.  Some of the guys at REA put together a team to play against other company teams.  Dad left work and picked me up and drove us to a local gym where he went to the locker room while I found a seat in the bleachers and settled in to watch the game.  The REA team came out of the locker room and took the floor to practice. Everyone on the team wore basketball shorts, high top shoes and a jersey; everyone, that is, but Dad.  Dad wore a pair of sneakers, his dark green work pants and a sleeveless undershirt.  The game began with Dad on the bench.  Sometime later he entered the game.  There were a group of young men nearby (probably another team awaiting its turn to play) and I heard someone say, “Check this guy out.” There was laughter from the group. 

I flinched.  Years later when I replayed that scene in my head, I walked over to that group and said, “You know that guy spent over three years fighting in the South Pacific so you creeps could enjoy playing on a second-rate company basketball team.”  But the moment passed, and I just sat there.  Sorry, Dad.  I wish I had your courage.

Dad played a few minutes of the game.  I think he took two shots, one was a hook shot from the corner, a shot that was about ten years out of date.  He missed.  A few minutes later he was coming up the court trailing the offense when the other team stole the ball and quickly moved it up court as one their largest players raced toward the hoop. The only thing in his way was Dad.  As the large man charged down the lane, Dad planted his feet, bent his knees and spread his arms in a classic if somewhat dated defensive position.  I’m not sure the other player saw Dad or assumed that the old and much smaller man would move.  Dad didn’t.  There was a terrific collision.  Dad flew back and his glasses spiraled into the air.  The whistle blew.  Charging.  Dad was obviously a bit stunned, but he got to his feet and stared around looking for his glasses.  Someone found them several feet away.  They weren’t broken, but they were bent.

A few plays later Dad took his second shot and was fouled.  He walked to the free throw line.  Adjusting his ill-fitting glasses and bending slightly at the waist, he tossed up an underhand free throw.  He missed.  It was the only time I saw Dad play organized basketball.

Years later my mom told me that the first time she saw Dad he was playing basketball.  Mom was not much of a sports fan, but she attended that basketball game with a friend shortly after the war ended.  She recalled that she enjoyed the game and admired the intensity, competitiveness, desire and hustle of a smallish player named Bill Nance.  They had their first date a few days later.  Within a few months, they would be married.

Beginning in April, the IJA subjected the 37th to minor harassing action.  The Allies used artillery fire, especially the long range 155MMs to keep the enemy from amassing.

There were rumors of the movement of the 37th to New Zealand. There were also rumors of rotation for the men who had served 18 months.  An official statement was released that all men who had served overseas for two years would be eligible to return to the continental US.  Impartial lotteries would choose the men to go home.  Over the next few months only a few hundred lottery picks were announced.  The process slowed even more when it was decided that any lottery winner would have to wait for his replacement, which was very difficult to achieve.  Some of the early lottery winners were KIA while waiting to get shipped home.