Casualties from the "Battle of New Georgia."Wounded Marines with the 4th Marine Raider Battalion lying on stretchers aboard a lighter. Munda Point, New Georgia, SW Pacific. 12th July 1943(Signal Corps Photo: 161-43-2100 by R.Wendlinger)
"......although both landings proceeded without resistance, what was meant to be a quick division-sized attack quickly bogged down due to thick jungle, the troops inexperience in jungle warfare, and a determined Japanese defense. The Northern Landing Force, consisting of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Marine Raider Regiment and the 3rd Battalions of the 37th Infantry Division's 145th and 148th Infantry Regiments, were soon slowed by the dense jungle. The Western Landing Force, consisting of the 43rd Infantry Division's 169th and 172nd Infantry Regiments, immediately found difficulty in marching the five miles to Munda Airfield. The men of the 43rd Infantry Division were soon introduced to the harsh realities of jungle warfare. Indeed, the 169th experienced great difficulty in even forming up for the main attack to begin on July 9, as the men (unaccustomed to combat) spent a sleepless night shooting at real and imagined enemy patrols. When the main attack finally commenced on July 11, both regiments quickly suffered depletion by disease, combat fatigue, and aggressive Japanese harassment. Furthermore, even though the troops advanced slowly, the continuous rain and dense jungle stretched their supply lines to the breaking point, with ammunition and the wounded being moved by hand over miles of difficult terrain. By July 15, despite General Hester's commitment of a battalion from the 103rd Infantry Regiment and a Marine Light Tank Company, as well as great efforts by Army engineers to keep moving men and materiel forward, the attack on Munda Airfield had completely stalled without even denting the formidable Japanese main defenses."
Something about this picture humanizes the men from that war better than most photographs; usually we see images of these clean-shaven soldiers marching in formation or storming beaches, but here we just see a group of guys waiting to be sent home. Their beards have grown out, their hair is long and unruly, they lay in pain or are chatting with another soldier; it's striking to see so many faces from so long ago that look as if they could have been plucked straight from 2018.
ColourbyRJM on June 23rd, 2018 at 16:32 UTC »
Casualties from the "Battle of New Georgia."Wounded Marines with the 4th Marine Raider Battalion lying on stretchers aboard a lighter. Munda Point, New Georgia, SW Pacific. 12th July 1943(Signal Corps Photo: 161-43-2100 by R.Wendlinger)
"......although both landings proceeded without resistance, what was meant to be a quick division-sized attack quickly bogged down due to thick jungle, the troops inexperience in jungle warfare, and a determined Japanese defense. The Northern Landing Force, consisting of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Marine Raider Regiment and the 3rd Battalions of the 37th Infantry Division's 145th and 148th Infantry Regiments, were soon slowed by the dense jungle. The Western Landing Force, consisting of the 43rd Infantry Division's 169th and 172nd Infantry Regiments, immediately found difficulty in marching the five miles to Munda Airfield. The men of the 43rd Infantry Division were soon introduced to the harsh realities of jungle warfare. Indeed, the 169th experienced great difficulty in even forming up for the main attack to begin on July 9, as the men (unaccustomed to combat) spent a sleepless night shooting at real and imagined enemy patrols. When the main attack finally commenced on July 11, both regiments quickly suffered depletion by disease, combat fatigue, and aggressive Japanese harassment. Furthermore, even though the troops advanced slowly, the continuous rain and dense jungle stretched their supply lines to the breaking point, with ammunition and the wounded being moved by hand over miles of difficult terrain. By July 15, despite General Hester's commitment of a battalion from the 103rd Infantry Regiment and a Marine Light Tank Company, as well as great efforts by Army engineers to keep moving men and materiel forward, the attack on Munda Airfield had completely stalled without even denting the formidable Japanese main defenses."
Image curtesy of www.topfoto.co.uk
endmoor on June 23rd, 2018 at 16:57 UTC »
Something about this picture humanizes the men from that war better than most photographs; usually we see images of these clean-shaven soldiers marching in formation or storming beaches, but here we just see a group of guys waiting to be sent home. Their beards have grown out, their hair is long and unruly, they lay in pain or are chatting with another soldier; it's striking to see so many faces from so long ago that look as if they could have been plucked straight from 2018.
jtothewooo on June 23rd, 2018 at 17:37 UTC »
Can’t even imagine what these men went through. I’m really appreciating the fact that I live in a generation where we haven’t been drafted