December 1942 (2)
8-19 December – after Buna and Gona, on New Guinea, were finally taken, the Allies knew that at least 7,000 Japanese might be defending Sanananda. So, it came as quite a surprise to generals Vassey and Eichelberger when MacArthur released his communiqué, “The Papuan Campaign is in its closing phase.” It would be another 2 weeks before the last enemy soldier left his bunker [where evidence of cannibalism was found]. The close quarter battles killed about 630 of the enemy, but the 530 Australian casualties were a heavy price to pay.
On Guadalcanal, the Japanese had suffered, at this point, about 23,000 casualties; more from disease and starvation than combat, out of 40,000 men. They lost 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 12 destroyers, 16 transports and many hundreds of planes. Adm. Tanaka would later say, “There is no question that Japan’s doom was sealed with the closing struggle for Guadalcanal.” He went on to conclude that Japan’s lack of planning spelled her defeat.
9 December – MGen. Alexander M. Patch replaced Vandergrift as the commander of the Guadalcanal forces. The 1st Marine Division left the island as their replacements arrived. During December, as many as 58,000 US troops were on the island verses 20,000 poorly equipped Japanese.
12 December – the President Coolidge had hit a mine while bearing troops from New Caledonia to Espiritu Santo Island in the New Hebrides. Capt. Henry Nelson rammed the sinking ship onto a coral reef. She slid off that reef, turned turtle and sank, but as a result of the captain’s swift action, only 5 lives were lost out of the 5,050 on board. The picture above shows the troops scrambling down the cargo nets.
17-31 December – the 14th Indian Division began to work their way back into Burma. They crossed the border of India and advanced 150 miles (241 km) to positions just north of the Maungdau-Butnidaung line. Their goal was to reach Akyab, 60 miles (96 km) south. They were initially halted by the Japanese 55th Division. Then, Allied forces continued southward and by the end of the month, they took Rathedaung.
During the closing hours of 1942, Adm. Yamamoto wrote, “How splendid the first stage of our operation was! But how unsuccessfully we have fought since the defeat of Midway.” (The Admiral had predicted in 1940 that Japan would have her way for 6 months, but after that would be a hostage to the fortune that haunted her leaders.)
26-31 December, on Guadalcanal, the US XIV Corps battled a desperate Japanese force. Although they were half-starved and so many stricken with malaria, the enemy proved to be tenacious. However the Imperial General Staff would order an abandonment of the island and for their troops on New Guinea to retreat to Giruwa, disguised publicly as a “strategic withdrawal.”
During December, 700,000 tons of US shipping was supplied to Guadalcanal. This proved to be beyond the Japanese capacity to compete with.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor – from Bill Mauldin –
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Farewell Salutes –
Donald Austin – Benton, AR; US Army, WWII
Henry Benvenuti – Boynton Bch., FL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, Personnel Sgt. Major
James Davis – Oso, WA; US Navy, WWII / US Army, Korea, Purple Heart
John HIggins – Boise, ID; US Navy (Ret.), Vietnam, fighter pilot, Purple Heart, Bronze Star
Christopher Lee – Chelsea, UK; RAF, WWII, ETO, No. 269 Sq. & w/ Gurkhas/8th Indian Inf. Reg, (beloved actor)
Colin Maultsby Jr. – Raleigh, NC; US Army, Korea
Stanley Ribee – UK & CAN; British Merchant Service, WWII
Ed Simolo – Merrill, WI; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 457th Artillery
William Spornitz – Sioux City, IA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 188th/11th A/B Div.
Merlin Twogood – Woonsocket, SD; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 511th/11th Airborne
Walter Wilke – Taranaki, NZ; RNZ Air Force # 4211605/ RNZ Army # 631267, WWII
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Posted on June 11, 2015, in WWII and tagged Guadalcanal, History, Japan, Marines, Military History, New Guinea, USA, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 55 Comments.
“…700,000 tons of US shipping was supplied to Guadalcanal. This proved to be beyond the Japanese capacity to compete with.”
Logistics – always the game changer, I reckon.
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I agree, Eric, Fuel and Ammo for the grunts is mandatory!
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Can’t wait for part 3
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It is what war does to people…
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Unfortunate – but true, Mia. I wish we knew how to stop the repetition.
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That first paragraph where you mentioned evidence of cannibalism in the bunkers gave me chills. There was so much more happening than met the eye, especially of those back home.
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Too much was going on at any given moment, simply everywhere. We are almost at the Intermission between 1942-43, so we’ll have stories of home front too.
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I have to join everyone else in admiring the Coolidge photo.The officer’s mess is a gem too. It really is a mess (of a place). 😉
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Good one, Ann!!
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I think we have to recognize the lack of familiarity with these Pacific places even as the planning went on . Unfortunately the combat troops paid the price , as always , for weak plans , at times, and miscalculations , at times . Maulden’s cartoon nails it .
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True on all counts, Dan, and thank you for bringing those points up. Mauldin – he usually nailed it, especially since he was out with the men himself; he nailed it so well some times that the big brass would call him on it!
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The close up shot of the men scrambling on the nets of the Coolidge is fantastic, could only have been photographed from another craft, outstanding effort really, considering five lost out of 5050.
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Wasn’t that something else!! I’ve received the most response because of that picture and I almost missed it myself. It was in a book I almost forgot I had!! [Jeez I’m getting OLD !!!]
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I’ve dived the Coolidge twice: first time in 1985, second time in 2011. It’s a huge wreck, you only get to do small sections at a time, but I’ve been down to where the screw was (I finned under the rudder – it’s gigantic!). Only two died, by the way, in what was a monumental effort by the captain to get everyone off in time. Great post.
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Thank you for sharing that, Rose. I’ve only taken one dive onto a wreck off the coast here in Florida – the ‘Coolidge’ must have been amazing!
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It was. We dived Million Dollar Point, too; not worth it. The Coolidge is the main attraction.
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Thank you for sharing that, Rose. We don’t get many first-hand diving stories.
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The photo of the troops abandoning Coolidge is really dramatic, GC. It’s amazing that only five lives were lost. –Curt
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Seems hard to imagine, eh Curt? I suppose that mass abandonment off an overturned ship is actually organized chaos. I was very lucky to find this picture. It was in a book I almost forgot I had!!
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Boy, I sure would have been scrambling down those ropes. I’m not sure a monkey could have kept up with me. Glad you found the photo. –Curt
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You and me both, Curt! Despite being a fairly good swimmer – I wouldn’t have been able to get away from that ship fast enough for my taste!!
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I would love to have witnessed that decision by another naval hero Nelson! Cool thinking, which seems to have paid off.
That ‘strategic withdrawal’ was way overdue. As in other battles, they were dead but wouldn’t lie down.
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Once the US Navy started to get back into action and the Pacific soldiers had time to get some training, the Japanese began to feel as though each major island battle was where they should make their big stand, an all-out defense to retain their territory.
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It showed!
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Unbelievable the conditions they went through, Everett. Such bravery. Also when you wrote ” During December, 700,000 tons of US shipping was supplied to Guadalcanal. This proved to be beyond the Japanese capacity to compete with.” Just incredible!
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Thank you for that tidbit on the USS President Coolidge. An amazing feat in seamanship in the midst of battle. Of course, if that were to happen today, the media bozos would look for an error to beat into the minds of their misguided viewership. I will stop! You got me going again…
While supplies, of course, play a major role, sheer luck plays another… like passing a spot a split second earlier or later would mean a bullet.
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I found that pix just in time for this post, exactly what happened with the pix of the officer’s mess. The “Coolidge” I found in a book that I almost forgot I had and the mess was found while researching something else. On these search engines [old-fashioned term – I know!!] you only have to change one word and a whole new set of websites pop up – amazing technology these days!!
And – don’t get ME started on media bozos either!! Things have been peaceful today – I don’t want to start ranting!!
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Lol!!
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Yes, I love dogs too – the texts were hilarious!!
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Great post and photos. Sounds like disease and starvation (sadly) were our Allies in defeating the Japanese. How awful to think they had to resort to cannibalism. What inhuman behavior we inflict.
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Sometimes it’s hard to admit that we too are humans, eh?
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I love how, even in war, there’s an officer’s mess (in that first picture).
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And, believe it or not, I found this one while I was researching cameramen; perfect picture discovered just as I’m about to close out Dec. ’42 – what are the odds?
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Love stopping by here and reading your posts. December 42 was the month my father was ordered to report to the induction center and my uncle, who’d been stationed in San Francisco with the National Guard, received orders to join a regular army unit head for the South Pacific.
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Uh-oh, not a very good month for your family, eh? 😳
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Bad for the family that had to do without two young men at home, but worked out in the end as both came home alive.
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Very true, Andrew. Thanks for stopping by.
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Another interesting account of the Pacific War. Thank you.
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Certainly my pleasure. I appreciate you taking the time to visit!
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Reblogged this on Janet’s thread and commented:
Graphic account of World War II in the Pacific.
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I really do greatly appreciate this, Janet. It is super to see such interest – I hope your readers feel the same!
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Hurray for Capt. Henry Nelson. Hitting a mine and then having the wherewithal to save most all on board.
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Great to hear a good outcome once in a while, isn’t it, Cindy?!
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Reblogged this on Hammerhead Combat Systems.
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Thank you very much, Steven. I hope your other readers are interested in the information.
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Another really interesting article. The Japanese seem to waste men’s lives as if they could just build some more in a factory somewhere!
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The Navy was destroying their supply convoys, officers got the best of what did get thru and this was how they had fought in the past – only it worked then… Japan meant more to them than their own lives and their leaders wanted power. [sounds familiar, doesn’t it?]
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The officers’ Mess is a stunning image of the conditions on that island. Yikes.
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What gets me is, the men always say that the officers had it easier – I suppose the grunts ate on the jungle floor!
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My dad never really complained about the officers. He gave small hints about the conditions and, without a lot of details being shared, we understood that they were awful.
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You can believe that, Dan!!
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The sheer industrial capacity of the USA simply overwhelmed the Japanese, that’s for sure. But it still needed a man and a rifle on the ground, to defeat them on that island.
More stories of bravery and determination. Thanks GP.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, every man had a story – getting it from him is another struggle, but beyond a doubt – this island took bravery and determination indeed. Thanks for coming by, Pete.
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Reblogged this on A Conservative Christian Man.
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Thank you very much, Paul. You’ll have most of the story before long, eh?
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