The 32nd 'Red Arrow'
Veteran Association
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The 32nd Infantry
Division
in World War II
"The Red
Arrow"
Part 3B
Urbana Force during
the Battle of Buna
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Mr. Howard Kelley, a 32nd Infantry Division Veteran, has
written a book describing his service during World War II. In Born in
the U.S.A. - Raised in New Guinea, he shares some of his most
personal experiences as a member of the 'Red Arrow's' 3rd Battalion, 127th
Infantry. This book offers a rare, first-hand glimpse of the 32nd Infantry
Division in World War II, as seen through the eyes of an enlisted GI. Click
on the book cover to the left, it will take you to Mr. Kelley's web site,
where you will find information about how to purchase this book. |
Urbana Force During the Battle of Buna
In the meantime, Urbana Force was having a tough time in front of
strong defenses around the junction of the trails which forked toward Buna
Village and Buna Mission from the Dobodura-Buna track. This area was known as
the Triangle.
Adding to some of the confusion as a result of the mixed units was
the fact that both of the two main units had the designation “2nd Battalion”
and both were commanded by an officer named Herbert Smith (both were Wisconsin
National Guard officers).
LTC Herbert A. Smith, 2nd Bn., 128th Inf., was the commander of
Urbana Force.
"As soon as reconnaissance indicated what
a strong position the Japanese had developed at The Triangle, he [LTC Smith] began
flanking operations to both sides of what appeared to be the main position.
These movements, pressed for several days and nights under conditions of almost
incredible hardships, had to be made through swamps which were at times
neck-deep. Company G, 128th Infantry (Lieutenant Theodore Florey), spent a
miserable night in the deepest part of one of these swamps. On both flanks, the
envelopments emerged against enemy positions as strong as those at the The
Triangle.
"There was again the familiar story of lost
direction, communication difficulties, ineffective air support (including a
strafing of Colonel Smith's command post by our P-40s), malfunctioning of wet
and muddy weapons and ammunition, and of wet, sick, and hungry men struggling
forward to suddenly find themselves under murderous fire, the source of which
they could not locate. Maps were insufficient in number and inaccurate of
content; information about the enemy's strength and positions was nonexistent.
The only solution - and it seemed an almost impossible one - was vigorous
attack." (Blakeley 71-2)
On 27 November 1942, Colonel John W. Mott assumed command
of Urbana Force. General Harding had sent his Chief of Staff to the area to
evaluate the situation, with authority to assume command if he thought it would
be beneficial. After COL Mott took over command of Urbana Force, LTC Smith
could concentrate entirely on his own battalion. COL Mott began planning an
attack for the night of 29-30 November.
In addition to these problems, by 28 November,
there was only one operational supply boat left, the others had been damaged or
destroyed by enemy action or accidents. There weren't enough aircraft available
to adequately supply the troops solely by air. Once supplies did land at the
Dobodura air strip, they still had to be transported to the front, 10 or 12 miles
away. The few available trails were not suitable for vehicles. Natives were
hired to carry supplies and help evacuate the wounded, but they would not go
into the areas being reached by enemy fire. The soldiers had to carry the
supplies the rest of the way themselves.
On 30 November an attack was also scheduled
for Warren Force. Both attacks were better planned and organized than previous
attempts. The fire support was better coordinated on both fronts.
Urbana’s attack commenced before dawn, after a difficult
advance through the swamps the night before. Part of 2nd Bn., 126th Inf. got
within 100 yards of Buna Village, but could not take it. Company F, 128th Inf.
was able to sever the enemy’s communications between Buna and Sanananda. "Winners of the Distinguished Service Cross during
this operation were Lieutenants Erwin J. Nummer and Cladie A. Bailey, and
Sergeant Boyd L. Lincoln. (Blakeley
73)"
At this point you should return to the main Battle of
Buna page for some information related to the 32nd Division as a whole. You
will then be directed back to this point at the appropriate time.
On about 2 December 1942, Colonel John E. Grose, I Corps inspector
general, took over command of Urbana Force.
On the morning of 5 December, attacks were
scheduled for both Warren Force and Urbana Force. On the Urbana front, the
attack commenced at 1030, after a B-25 attack and artillery and mortar barrage.
"Forward to observe the actions were Generals Eichelberger and
Waldron, Colonels De Graaf, Rogers, McCreary and Tomlinson, LTC Merle H. Howe
(Division G-3), and CPT Daniel K. Edwards, (General Eichelberger’s aide).
Before the day was over, the “observers” were all in the fight, General Waldron
and CPT Edwards had received serious wounds, and Eichelberger had revised his
opinion of the 32nd‘s fighting ability upward and thought there was 'much
to be proud of in the day’s operations.' (Blakeley 88)"
BG Frayne Baker, who was in command of the
Division’s elements in Australia, succeeded Gen. Waldron as acting Division
commander. General Byers assumed command of the forward elements of the 32nd.
The objective, Buna Village, was not taken due to
determined enemy resistance. However, some important gains were made during the
attack.
The 2nd Bn., 126th Infantry, with Cannon Company,
128th Inf. on its left, was the main effort. Cannon Company soon ran into
trouble so it was reinforced with a platoon from Co. F, 126th Inf. (Lt. Paul L.
Schwartz). MAJ Chester M. Beaver (Division staff) became the commander of
Cannon Company, and together with Lt. Schwartz's platoon, managed to get to the
edge of the village. Company E, 126th Infantry (CPT Schultz), also made it to
within 50 yards of the village. Lt. Thomas E. Knode and 1SG Paul R. Lutjens
were severely wounded while gallantly leading their platoons. SGT Harold E.
Graber, also from Co. E, 126th, was killed when he attacked an enemy
strongpoint while firing a light machine gun from the hip. Lt. Robert H. Odell
(CO Co. F) had the unique experience of receiving his attack orders from a
three star general, LG Eichelberger. The attack, led by Lt. Odell and 1SG
George Pravda, initially made some progress but was soon stopped with heavy
casualties.
The most important gain of the day occurred when
German born SSG Herman J. F. Bottcher led his platoon from Co. H (CPT Harold
'Handy' Hantelmann) on a breakthrough to the sea on the far right. SSG
Bottcher's platoon was attached to CPT Cladie 'Gus' Bailey’s Company G. CPT
Hantelmann was wounded during this engagement and had to be evacuated; while
rolling away from a grenade he inadvertently rolled onto another one. With SSG
Bottcher's achievement, the encirclement of Buna Village was complete and
Japanese communication between the Village and Buna Mission was severed. SSG
Bottcher and his soldiers held their position (nicknamed Bottcher's Corner)
against violent counterattacks from both sides. LG Eichelberger said, "The
breakthrough was, possibly, lucky; the holding of the position was accomplished
by intelligence and sheer guts! (qtd. in Blakeley 91)"
Also, the 2nd Battalion, 128th Infantry had
surrounded the Japanese positions to the right rear of the troops advancing on
Buna Village.
"For their parts in this day's work,
the Distinguished Service Cross was later awarded to General Waldron, Colonel
De Graaf, Colonel Rogers, Lieutenant Colonel Howe, Major Beaver, Captain
Edwards, Lieutenants Schwartz and Knode, and Sergeants Lutjens, Graber and
Bottcher. (Blakeley 91)" Sgt.
Lutjens was given a battlefield promotion to 2LT, and SSG Bottcher was
promoted, at the recommendation of LG Eichelberger, directly to the rank of
Captain.
On 7 December, COL Tomlinson succeeded COL Grose
as commander of Urbana Force. COL Grose had been promised command of the 127th
Infantry.
On the morning of 7 December, the Japanese
launched more fierce counterattacks against Bottcher's Corner from Buna Village
and Buna Mission. "Among the
small reinforcements added to Bottcher's command the previous day was Corporal
Harold L. Mitchell, Company H, 126th Infantry, whose alertness and vigorous
action contributed strongly to the successful repelling of these attacks. He
was awarded the [Distinguished Service
Cross] for his part in the fight. (Blakeley
92)"
"Later in the day, MAJ [Herbert M.] Smith was severely wounded while
encouraging the attacks of Companies E and G. (Blakeley 92)"
The mortar round that wounded MAJ Smith also killed two soldiers and wounded
two more. MAJ Smith was succeeded by CPT Boice (regimental S-2) as commander of
2nd Battalion, 126th Infantry. A platoon-sized company, commanded by Lt. Odell,
achieved the only gain of the day. That evening the Japanese attempted to
reinforce the Village by sea from the Mission, but the attempt was prevented by
machine gun fire from CPT Bottcher, who had been wounded during the day.
"In the next few days the 2nd
Battalion, 126th Infantry, continued the attack on the village, successfully
threw back a fanatical counterattack, unsuccessfully tried to use two flame
throwers which had recently arrived at the front, and added two awards of the
Distinguished Service Cross to the list of decorations won by members of the
unit. Lieutenant James G. Downer won his leading an attack which cost him his
life; Private First Class Walter A. Bajdek won his when he dashed through
enemy-held territory and established communication with an advanced observation
post. (Blakeley 92-3)"
By this time, the battalion was reduced to a total
strength of about 150 men. The exhaustion from almost constant combat was
magnified by extremely hot days and torrential rains at night.
The 127th Infantry was now arriving at the front.
COL Grose had taken command of the regiment from LTC Edwin J.
Schmidt, who now became the XO.
On 10-11 December the 3rd Battalion, 127th
Infantry relieved the 2nd Bn., 126th.
"One more Red Arrow Battalion had
experienced its first World War II combat, and acquired [a Distinguished Service Cross] in the process. On the
13th, Sergeant Samuel G. Winzenraid, Company L, 127th Infantry, had
single-handedly and on his own initiative reduced an enemy bunker with hand
grenades. (Blakeley 93)"
At 0700 on 14 December there was an all out
attack on the Village. There was no opposition. Apparently the Japanese had
evacuated it the night before by swimming along the coast to the west. Later in
the day, Company K eliminated a small group of Japanese found east of the
Village.
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U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo the National Archives & Records Administration Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 127th Inf., 32nd Division, on alighting
from a transport plane, adjust their clothing and equipment on 15 Dec. 1942.
The plane took them from Port Moresby, New Guinea to the Dobodura Airstrip, 8
miles SW of Buna, New Guinea. |
U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo the National Archives & Records Administration Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 127th Inf., 32nd Division, on alighting
from a transport plane, adjust their clothing and equipment on 15 Dec. 1942.
The plane took them from Port Moresby, New Guinea to the Dobodura Airstrip, 8
miles SW of Buna, New Guinea. |
U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo the National Archives & Records Administration Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 127th Inf., 32nd Division, on alighting
from a transport plane (C-47 named 'Eager Beaver'), adjust their clothing and
equipment on 15 Dec. 1942. The plane took them from Port Moresby, New Guinea
to the Dobodura Airstrip, 8 miles SW of Buna, New Guinea. |
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U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo from the National Archives & Records
Administration
Soldiers of the 14th Portable Hospital (attached to 3rd Bn, 127th
Inf., 32nd Division), along the Buna front (near the Dobadura Airstrip) about
8 miles south of Buna on 15 Dec. 1942. |
U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo from the National Archives & Records
Administration
COL Swedburg and some of his soldiers from 3rd Bn., 127th Inf.,
32nd Division, standing before a Japanese pillbox at Buna Village (just
outside Buna Mission), New Guinea on 15 Dec. 1942. |
Next, Urbana Force would turn its attention to the
Coconut Grove, southeast of Buna Village, with the objective of clearing the Japanese
from it. This task was assigned to 2nd Bn., 128th Infantry, commanded by LTC
Herbert A. Smith. By now the battalion was down to about 350 men, and only
about 100 of these were available to start the attack.
The attack commenced in the afternoon of 15
December. Progress was slow. MAJ Roy F. Zinser (Bn. XO) and CPT Joseph M.
Stehling (CO of Company E), both personally led units as small as squads. "Two men of Company E made possible the reduction of
the big bunker which was the key to the position. While Private Bernardino Y.
Estrada covered him with fire from his BAR, Corporal Daniel F. Rini ran
forward, jumped to the top of the bunker, and pushed hand grenades thru the
firing slits. Both were killed a little later. They and Major Zinser were awarded
the [Distinguished Service Cross]. (Blakeley 93)"
General Byers, acting commander of the forward
elements of the 32nd Division, was wounded during the day’s fighting. LG
Eichelberger was now the only U.S. general officer left in the combat area, so
he took command of the forward elements of the 32nd Division. "With
three generals knocked out of action by enemy fire, Eichelberger says in Our
Jungle Road to Tokyo that he permitted himself a grim chuckle as he
recalled a fragment of the World War I song: "The General won the
Croix de Guerre - But the so-and-so was never there - Hinkey, dinkey,
parlez-vous". (qtd. in Blakeley 95)"
He also pays tribute
to the National Guard officers in the 32nd Division: “There were many
great commanders among the National Guard officers of the 32nd Division. In
crises, I would like to have them again as comrades. I can mention only a few
here: Colonels Merle H. Howe of Michigan and Herbert M. Smith of Wisconsin, MAJ
H. E. Hantlemann of Iowa, MAJ Edmund R. Schroeder of Wisconsin, the inimitable
CPT W. H. Dames of Wisconsin, whose Company G, 127th Infantry, never made a
wrong move in battle. (qtd. in Blakeley 95)”
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This table contains ten Associated Press photos taken in
the Buna area in November and December of 1942. These photos were contributed
in memory of Edward
S. Anderson, a 32nd Infantry Division Veteran who served with the
114th Eng. Bn. (Companies A & C) in New Guinea and the Philippines. The
photo captions, in italics, are the original captions from when the photos
were taken. The photos were contributed by M. Anderson, Edward Anderson's
nephew. |
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“Scout
Car Crosses Stream on New Guinea – An army scout car takes a jungle stream in
New Guinea with ease - - more or less. While soldiers push, some of their
buddies watch from the “privacy” of their bath. The Americans were reported,
Nov. 13, to be pushing the Jap army down the Buna trail.” Associated Press photo
dated 11-13-42. |
“Peeps
in New Guinea Traffic Jam – Heavy traffic on a jungle trail in New Guinea has
American Peeps moving in single file – no passing to the right. The Army
vehicles move up with no room for anything much coming in the opposite
direction.”
Associated Press photo dated 11-14-42. |
“Mortar
Blasts at Japs in New Guinea – An American three inch trench mortar, almost
hidden in a deep New Guinea jungle lets loose at a Jap position as the
combined force of Australians and Americans under General MacArthur worked
its way across the Owen Stanley Mountain Range to trap the enemy in the
Buna-Gona area.”
Associated Press photo dated 12-15-42. |
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“Allies
Toil Across New Guinea to Attack Japs – Working their way across the
trackless New Guinea jungles and mountain wastes of the Owen Stanley Ranges,
to get a crack at the Japs in the Buna-Gona area, engineer troops of a
combined Australian-American task force under General MacArthur build a
bridge to move men and equipment to an advance base on jeeps and motorized
transport. After almost three months they finally trapped the Japs along Buna
Bay.”
Associated Press photo dated 12-15-42. |
“’Wild
Man’ From Michigan Takes Jap Bullet Calmly – Described as a “Wild Man” at the
front and credited with killing between 30 and 40 japs as his unit cross New
Guinea to trap the enemy in the Buna-Gona area, Private First Class Orin
Sutton (left) of Charlevoix, Mich., sits calmly and has his leg bandaged
after he was hit by a Jap machine gun bullet. He was back in action in less
than 24 hours. Doing the bandaging is Private First Class Allie Poole of
Petersburg, Mich.”
Associated Press photo dated 12-15-42. |
“Manpower
Moves Ammunition for Attack on Japs – Ammunition for three inch trench
mortars is loaded on the back of a pack carrier for transport to weapons set
up in the jungles of New Guinea as a combined Australian and American task
force under General MacArthur advanced against the Japs and trapped them in
the Buna-Gona area.”
Associated Press photo dated 12-15-42. |
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“Exhausted
Jap Prisoner Observed by Americans – American soldiers on the Buna front
watch an exhausted Japanese prisoner. This picture is one of several release
by the Army from among those made by Edward Widdis, Associated Press
photographer, who was encamped with the fighting forces just 100 yards behind
the front in Buna.”
Associate Press photo dated 12-18-42. |
“Moving
in For Jap Flank – Moving along the Buna Road in New Guinea, these American
soldiers were to open a flanking movement against the Japs in the bitter
fighting in that area. They moved up toward the Japs single file, well
scattered.”
Associate Press photo dated 12-18-42. |
“Bringing
Home the Wounded – American soldiers on the Soputa front near Buna, New
Guinea, bear their wounded to headquarters as they return from 11 days
fighting the Japs. Note the automatic gun by the soldiers side on the
stretcher."
Associated Press photo 12-24-42.” |
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“Hot
Food Comes to a Fox Hole – Hot food has come up to these soldiers in the line
on the Soputa front near Buna, New Guinea. These Americans were in the line
11 days. Hot food was brought up through the jungle and underbrush as often
as possible despite the danger. L. to R.: Private William Mills, Sommerville,
Mass.; Private Hebert Van Lier, Boston, Mass.; Private Edward K. Fairbanks,
Sommerville, Mass.; and Sgt. Joseph P. Doran, Nahant, Mass.” Associate Press photo
dated 12-24-42. |
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Meanwhile, the engineers were making progress constructing jeep trails to the
front, although they needed to build a bridge a hundred feet long to cross a
stream that was only six feet wide but bordered by swamps. These improved
trails would make supply, evacuation and communication easier.
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U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo
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General Eichelberger scheduled the next attack for
18 December. Warren Force was assigned the successive objectives of Cape
Endaiadere, the New Strip, the Old Strip, and Giropa Point. Urbana Force would
be tasked with cleaning out the Triangle, driving through to the coast, and
cutting the coast road between Giropa Point and Buna Mission. The capture of
Buna Village and the anticipated arrival of the 127th Infantry had improved the
situation, but the Japanese still held Musita Island, they were still firmly
entrenched in the Triangle, and Entrance Creek would prove to be a difficult
obstacle.
In order to increase protection of the left flank,
the 128th Inf. detachment at Siwori Village was replaced by a platoon of the
126th Inf. (Lt. Alfred Kirchenbauer), and a detachment from Co. F, 126th Inf.
(Lt. Schwartz), was sent to Tarakena, west of Siwori Village.
On 18 December, Co. L, 127th Inf. (CPT Roy
F. Wentland), attempted to occupy Musita Island, which was separated from the
mainland by an unfordable tidal stream. No bridging equipment was available, so
the Company was forced to cross with the help of a cable, carried across by
swimmers. At first, there was no opposition, but they encountered intense enemy
fire as they moved to the east end of the island. Five men, including CPT
Wentland, were killed and six were wounded. That night, for reasons that are
not clear, the company was ordered to withdraw to the mainland.
"As elements of the 127th Infantry
arrived, Colonel Tomlinson planned to relieve the weary units of the 126th and
128th as rapidly as possible. Aside from the condition of the men, the strength
of the two battalions that had been his main units was now so small as to
hardly permit their functioning as battalions. On 18 December he was able to
pull the 2nd Battalion, 128th Infantry, less some of the heavy weapons
elements, out of the operation. Unfortunately, he had to use the 2nd Battalion,
126th Infantry, less detachments, in another attempt to take The Triangle. (Blakeley 101)"
"On 19 December, after an early
morning air attack by B-25s and A-20s on the enemy positions in The Triangle,
Company E and Company G, under the personal leadership of Captain Boice,
attacked from the north while Company F executed a holding attack from the
south. The main attack was stopped by effective cross-fires. Captain Boice was
mortally wounded. (He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross). Captain John J. Sullivan succeeded him in command of the battalion. (Blakeley 101)"
By order of LG Eichelberger, two additional
attacks were attempted, with the support of all available mortars, but both
were halted by strong defensive fire from the mutually supporting Japanese
bunkers. The following day, COL Tomlinson started to take the remnants of the
battalion, now down to a total of about 240 men, out of the line and replace it
with units from the 127th Infantry.
On 20 December, following an artillery and
mortar barrage, Co. E, 127th Infantry (CPT James L. Alford) made another effort
to seize The Triangle. They moved forward but were soon halted. At CPT Alford's
suggestion, another attack was launched but met with the same result as the previous
attempt. The Company suffered 39 casualties in the process. Lt. Paul Whittaker,
Lt. Donald W. Feury and SSG John F. Rehak Jr., were among those killed. "SSG Rehak was posthumously awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross for his courageous attempt to lead a platoon in an
infiltration of the Japanese position. (Blakeley
101)"
That evening, COL Grose resumed command of Urbana
Force; as the 127th Infantry became the major element.
General Eichelberger now decided to contain and
bypass The Triangle, by attacking across Entrance Creek to the north.
On the night of 21-22 December, Co. K,
127th Infantry (CPT Alfred E. Meyer) succeeded in crossing the creek, after
several daylight attempts had failed. Lt. Edward M. Greene Jr. had led the
first attempt to string a rope across the unfordable stream, and was killed in
the process. Co. K lost 54 killed and wounded.
Early on 22 December, Co. I (CPT Michael F.
Ustruck) crossed the creek on a footbridge, constructed by the engineers
further upstream, and linked up with Co. K. Also around this time, Lt.
Schwartz’s detachment at Tarakena had encountered problems and he had to be
reinforced with small detachments from 2nd Bn., 126th Inf. Lt. Schwartz was
wounded and replaced by Lt. James R. Griffith, who also became a
casualty. Lt. Louis A. Chagnon, 127th Infantry, assumed command of the
detachment when he was sent over there with a small detachment from
Headquarters Company and Service Company of the 127th.
On 22 and 23 December, Musita Island was
cleared by elements of the 127th Infantry. Company H's heavy weapons were then
able to fire on Buna Mission from a position on the island.
On 24 December, 2nd Bn., 127th Infantry,
with Co. G in reserve, attempted to drive across the Government Gardens. "The
troops had to cross in succession the so called Gardens - actually an area
overgrown with kunai - then a swamp some 125 yards wide and finally the coconut
grove known as Government Plantation. The whole area was well prepared for
defense with the usual mutually supporting bunkers and fire trenches. (Blakeley
104)"
"The attack ran into trouble from the start, but the
day was marked by an unusual number of acts of gallantry. An enemy grenade fell
close to CPT Ustruck of Company I. His First Sergeant, Elmer J. Burr, instantly
threw himself on the grenade, smothering the explosion with his body and saving
CPT Ustruck’s life. For his act of 'conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action above and beyond the call of duty,' Sergeant Burr was posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor. (Blakeley 104)" 1SG Burr was a Wisconsin
National Guard soldier in Co. I, in Neenah, Wisconsin, when the 32nd Division
was activated on 15 Oct. 1940. He was from Menasha, Wisconsin. 1SG Burr's Medal
of Honor citation can be read on the 32nd Division
Medal of Honor page of this web site.
"Another member of the same company
to win an award was Private First Class Albert L. Fisher, who was awarded the [Distinguished Service Cross] when, although wounded
himself, he crawled forward into an area swept by enemy fire to rescue two
other wounded men. (Blakeley 104)"
MAJ Harold M. Hooten, regimental S-4, went forward
to report on the situation for COL Grose, and was killed.
"Sergeant Francis J. Vondracek, also
of Company I, volunteered to remain at the front when his company was relieved
by Company G (CPT William H. Dames). He knocked out three bunkers in quick
succession by throwing grenades into them through the firing apertures and
greatly aided the progress of Company G. He was later awarded the [Distinguished Service Cross]. (Blakeley 104-5)" SGT (then Private) Vondracek was a
Wisconsin National Guard soldier in Co. I, in Neenah, Wisconsin, when the 32nd
Division was activated on 15 Oct. 1940.
"Two
artillery officers, - Colonel Horace Harding and Lieutenant Colonel Melvin L.
McCreary - were also awarded the [Distinguished
Service Cross]. Although wounded by a shell fragment, McCreary strapped
himself in a coconut tree about fifty yards from the enemy lines and functioned
as an observer until he became unconscious from loss of blood. COL Harding
promptly took his place in the same tree. (Blakeley 105)"
Co. L was the main effort for the drive across the
Government Gardens. The commander of Co. L, CPT Wentland, had been killed, the
Company was now commanded by Lt. Marcelles P. Fahres. A platoon of Company L
(led by Lieutenants Fred W. Matz and Charles A. Middendorf) made a quick
advance through the tall kunai grass; aided by most of the available fire
support and a diversion created by an unsuccessful attack across the north
bridge from Musita Island by a platoon of Company A.
When
Co. L was held up by enemy fire on the outskirts of the Plantation, SGT Kenneth
E. Gruennert, who was in the lead, alone eliminated two pillboxes that were
holding up the advance, at the cost of his life. SGT Gruennert was posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor. SGT (then
PFC) Gruennert was a Wisconsin National Guard soldier in Co. L, in Jefferson,
Wisconsin, when the 32nd Division was activated on 15 Oct. 1940. SGT
Gruennert's Medal of Honor citation can be read on the 32nd
Division Medal of Honor page of this web site.
"Under fire from both the Japanese and their own artillery, [and out of contact with their Company] the men of the platoon were in a desperate situation.
Lieutenant Middendorf was killed and Lieutenant Matz had only eight men left,
one of them seriously wounded. Matz decided to send the other men back and to
stay with the wounded man. It took the men two days to get back and it was
eight days before Matz was rescued. [Lt.] Matz was awarded the [Distinguished
Service Cross]. (Blakeley 105)"
When COL Grose discovered that the platoon had
apparently broken through, he tried to move additional troops forward to
consolidate the gain. Lt. Paul M. Krasne and eight men of Company K were the
only ones who got through to the beach. They withdrew after finding no sign of
the platoon from Co. L. Additional attempts to push the attack were
unsuccessful.
LG Eichelberger ordered COL Grose to continue the
attack on 25 December 1942. Eight companies of the 127th were now
available: A, C, F, G, I, K, L and M. Company F (CPT Byron B. Bradford) made
good progress and and was able to established a position about three hundred
yards from the sea.
"Captain James W. Workman, commanding
Company C, was killed while leading an attack on a bunker. He was later awarded
the [Distinguished Service Cross]. After CPT Workman
was killed, CPT Millard G. Gray, General
Eichelberger's new aide-de-camp, assumed command of Co. C, 127th Infantry, and was
also later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions between 24
Dec. and 1 Jan.
Sergeant William Fale, Private First Class
William Balza and Private Gordon W. Eoff, all of Headquarters Company, 127th
Infantry, also won the [Distinguished
Service Cross] for their efforts to get telephone wire forward to companies
which were out of communication with regimental headquarters. (Blakeley 107)"
On 26 December, "more progress was made. Company B was committed for
the first time and Major Edmund R. Schroeder, commander of the 1st Battalion,
127th Infantry, took charge of the attack. Major Schroeder and Lieutenant
Robert P. McCampbell (2nd Battalion S-2), along with Colonel Joseph S. Bradley
(Division chief of staff), succeeded in getting through to the defensive
perimeter held by Company F and a detachment of Company A, and were later
awarded [Distinguished Service Crosses]
for their achievements. Colonel Bradley and Captain Millard G. Gray also won
the [Distinguished Service Cross] during this period. (Blakeley 107)"
MAJ (then CPT) Schroeder was a
Wisconsin National Guard officer in command of Co. C, 127th Inf., in Oconto,
Wisconsin, when the 32nd Division was activated on 15 Oct. 1940.
On 27 December, Company B (Lt. John B.
Lewis) reached the position that MAJ Schroeder had organized. More units
arrived the next day. MAJ Schroeder’s position now almost reached the shore,
prompting MAJ Schroeder to telephone COL Grose and ask, “Do you need any
help in the rear areas? (qtd. in Blakeley 107)”
The Japanese in The Triangle now realized that
their position was untenable, and they successfully evacuated it without their
departure being detected. SGT Charles E. Wagner and PFC James G. Greene,
cautiously leading a detachment from Co. E, 127th Infantry, discovered that The
Triangle had been abandoned by the Japanese. "Urbana Force had
accomplished its missions[!] (Blakeley 107)"
Now Urbana Force was assigned its next mission. "On
the afternoon of 28 December, General Eichelberger told Colonel Grose that he
was to make an attack on Buna Mission at once; that the attack was to be made
by the 3rd Battalion, 127th Infantry, from Musita Island; and that the
Battalion was to be split into two elements – one to cross on the bridge at the
northeast end of the island, the other to move in assault boats from the south
side of the island. (Blakeley 108)"
|
U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo
Soldiers treating wounded comrade a few hundred yards from the
front line at Buna. |
"There was a gap in the bridge and it
was covered by enemy fire. Six men volunteered to go forward with timbers to
span the gap in the footbridge, a hazardous task, as the bridge was about forty
feet long. They were: Privates Arthur Melanson and Karl Wittelberger,
Technicians Fifth Grade Charles H. Gray and Bart McDonough of Company A, 114th
Engineer Battalion, and Privates Elmer R. Hangartner and Edward G. Squires of
Company H, 127th Infantry. They succeeded in getting the timbers in place, but
when the leading men of Company K started across the pilings, the far end of
the bridge collapsed and it was again useless. PVT Wittelberger had been killed
while on the bridge. He and five men with him were all later awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross. (Blakeley
108)"
Two men from Co. K fell into the water when the
bridge collapsed, neither could swim and one was wounded. Later, they were
rescued by Lt. William H. Bragg Jr., and three enlisted men that were able to
swim across the creek after nightfall.
"Colonels Bowen and Rogers were both
awarded the [Distinguished Service
Cross] for their parts in the attack. Rogers was twice wounded during the
day and it was his second award of the [Distinguished Service Cross]. (Blakeley 108)"
"The assault boat crossing was equally
unsuccessful. In spite of reconnaissance by Captain Stephen Hewitt (regimental
S-2) and energetic leadership by Lieutenant Clarence Riggs and Staff Sergeant
Milan J. Miljativich, the five assault boats missed direction and landed on the
point on the west side of Entrance Creek. Some were sunk. (Blakeley 108)"
On 29 December, the 2nd Bn., 126th Inf.
(minus the elements at Tarakena and Siwori Village) and 2nd Bn., 128th Inf.,
returned to the front line. Co. B, 127th Inf., after moving a short distance,
was able to establish a position on the beach. That night a patrol from Co. H,
127th Inf. (Lt. Allan W. Simms) discovered a fordable gap between two sand
spits that extended from the Village and the Mission. This information was
incorporated into the next attack, which included a pre dawn attack across the
two spits, together with attacks from the center and from MAJ Schroeder’s
position on the right. LTC Herbert A. Smith was to command the operation.
At 0430 on 31 December, Co. E, 127th Inf.
(led by Lt. Bragg of Co. H) started to cross the shallows, followed by Co. F,
128th Infantry (CPT Jefferson R. Cronk). The crossing went well, until some
men, in violation of orders, threw grenades, which attracted the attention of
the Japanese. Lt. Bragg was wounded, and some men, including a lieutenant and a
sergeant, ran to the rear. COL Grose, observing the attack, put the lieutenant
in arrest after he refused to lead the men forward.
Co. F of the 128th, under CPT Cronk’s staunch
leadership, pressed forward. CPT Cronk, now commanding both companies, was only
able to establish a small beachhead. The other two corresponding attacks, in
the center and on the right, achieved small gains. "Among the men killed during the day were Private
First Class Herman Bender and Private Earl Johnson, both of Company M, 127th
Infantry, who greatly distinguished themselves and were posthumously awarded
the [Distinguished Service Cross]. (Blakeley 112)"
The Japanese situation was growing more desperate,
in spite of the delivery of supplies by submarine on the night of 25-26
December. They continued to fanatically defend their position and a relief
attack was being organized to the west, opposite the small 32nd Division
detachments around Tarakena.
On New Year’s Day of 1943, Urbana Force was
able to link up with Warren Force the right. "During the day’s fighting, Private Robert H.
Campbell, Company H, 127th Infantry, rescued a wounded soldier who was lying in
the open under machine gun fire. For this and other achievements, he was
awarded the [Distinguished Service
Cross]. (Blakeley 112)" Toward
the end of the day an outpost had reported seeing Japanese swimming from the
Mission.
|
U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo
Soldiers
of the Heavy Weapons Company, 1st Bn., 127th Inf., 32nd Division, firing into
enemy positions at Buna Mission on 1 January 1943. |
At dawn on 2 January, it was obvious that
some of the defenders were trying to escape by boat and by swimming.
Nevertheless, fighting continued all day. MAJ Schroeder was killed; CPT Donald
F. Runnoe succeeded him as battalion commander. "By early evening
the fight was over and the entire Buna area was in Allied hands, although it
was several days before the last Japanese was eliminated. Few prisoners were
taken and most of those were Chinese or Koreans. More than 1,400 Japanese had
been buried by the Allies in the course of the campaign. (Blakeley 114)"
|
U.S.
Army Signal Corps photo
Soldiers
from Co. G, 128th Inf., 32nd Division, firing rifles into a Japanese dugout
before entering it for inspection on 3 January 1943 in Buna area. |
U.S. Army
Signal Corps photo from National Archives & Records Administration Soldiers of Co. A, 127th Inf., 32nd Division, resting after the
capture of a Japanese position at Buna Mission, New Guinea on 3 Jan. 1943.
Men in foreground are examining an old bell; others hold a Japanese sword and
flag. |
The Japanese relief attack, west of Tarakena, was
just beginning when the 32nd Division captured Buna Mission. Colonel Yazawa
attacked Lt. Chagnon’s detachment anyway, to gain control of the spit off
Tarakena, which was the goal of swimmers escaping from the Mission. On 4
January, the day of the attack, Lt. Chagnon had received twenty-one
reinforcements from Co. E, 126th Infantry, but this gave him a total of only
seventy-three men (from seven different companies of two regiments). Short of
ammunition and taken by surprise, the detachment was put to flight. All but
four succeeded in getting to Siwori Village, mostly by swimming.
Early on 5 January, COL Grose had elements
of the 127th Infantry across Siwori Creek and moving toward Tarakena; the rest
of the regiment was soon following.
Return to the main Battle of
Buna page.
Bibliography:
Blakeley, H. W., Major General, Retired. The 32nd Infantry Division in World War II. The Thirty-second Infantry Division History Commission, State of Wisconsin, n.d.
Cannon, M. Hamlin. Leyte: The Return to the Philippines. U. S. Army Center of Military History, 1954.
Drea, Edward J. New Guinea - The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II. U. S. Army Center of Military History, n.d.
Hill, Jim Dan, Major General, Retired. The Minute Man in Peace and War. Harrisburg: The Stackpole Company, 1964.
Jungwirth, Clarence J. Diary of a National Guardsman in World War II. Oshkosh, WI: Poeschl Printing Company, 1991.
Milner, Samuel. Victory in Papua. U. S. Army Center of Military History, 1957.
Papuan Campaign - The Buna-Sanananda Operation. Washington, D.C.: Historical Division, War Department, 1945.
The Red Arrow - 1955 - The 32nd Division, Wisconsin National Guard. n.p., 1955.
Smith, Herbert M., Lieutenant Colonel, Retired. Hannibal Had Elephants II. Eau Claire, WI: Rev. William A. Heins, 1995.
Smith, Robert Ross. Triumph in the Philippines. U. S. Army Center of Military History, 1963.
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