32D Red Arrow Infantry Division and Brigade

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 (a.k.a. Buna Government
Station) 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 “2^D
Battalion” and both were commanded by an officer named Herbert Smith (both were
Wisconsin National Guard officers).

‘Red’ Smith vs.
‘White’ Smith:

The 2^D Bn., 126^TH Inf. was
commanded by Maj. (later Lt. Col.) Herbert M. Smith, from Neillsville, WI.  The 2^D Bn., 128^TH Inf.
was commanded by Lt. Col. Herbert A. Smith, from Oshkosh, WI.  Both Smiths were longtime Wisconsin National
Guard officers and both of them had served with the 128^TH Inf. for
many years.  Maj. H. M. Smith, in his
book, Four Score and Ten, stated “I
was going to inquire of Division how to distinguish between the two Herb Smiths
and the two 2^nd Battalions. Their radio reply was that I was Red
Smith and the other Herb was White Smith.” (94-5).  If there was a specific reason why he was
‘Red’ and the other was ‘White’, he did not explain it.  At least one reference states that the
decision was made by the Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Harding, but again, no
reason was given.

Lt. Col. Herbert A. Smith, 2^D Bn., 128^TH
Inf., was the commander of URBANA Force.

    “As soon as reconnaissance indicated what a
strong position the Japanese had developed at The Triangle, he [Lt. Col. 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, Lt. Col. 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 scheduled for
URBANA and WARREN Forces.  Both attacks
were better planned and organized than previous attempts.  The fire support was better coordinated on
both fronts.

URBANA Force’s attack commenced before dawn, after
a difficult advance through the swamps the night before.  Part of 2^D Bn., 126^TH
Inf. got within 100 yards of Buna Village, but could not take it.  Company F, 128^TH 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)”  More information about these
three Soldiers and their medals can be found below as well as on the roster of DSC recipients.

1st Lt. Cladie Alford ‘Gus’
Bailey, from Heltonville, Indiana, and Commander of
Co. G, 126^TH Inf., earned with the DSC for his actions on 2 December
(some references list date as 30 Nov.).  Later, Lt. Col. Bailey was KIA 20 Apr. ‘45
while commanding 1^ST Bn., 126^TH Inf., at Luzon,
Philippines.  He later earned the Silver
Star and Purple Heart w/OLC. [updated
24 Aug. ‘18]

1st Lt. Nummer earned the DSC for his actions as 1st Lt.
and Commander of Co. F, 126^TH Inf. on 30 November, he was also WIA.  He was a Sgt. in the Michigan National
Guard’s Service Co., 126^TH Inf., at Grand Rapids, MI, when the
Division was mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added 13 Dec. ‘12]

Sgt. Lincoln was from Michigan and assigned to Co. E, 126^TH
Inf.  His DSC was bestowed posthumously
because he was KIA the afternoon of 30 November “after leading his squad with great distinction all day against the
enemy outpost on the outskirts of [Buna Village]. (Milner 192)”  He
was a Pfc. in Co. E, 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Big
Rapids, MI, when the 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40.  Unfortunately his body was not found so he is
still MIA.  He also earned the Bronze
Star and the Purple Heart. [added 20 Dec. ‘12]

Several Soldiers earned the Silver Star for their gallantry on 30 November.  Some of them are listed below and more information about them and their
medals can be found on the roster of Silver Star recipients.

1st Sgt. George Pravda, from Spring Lake, Michigan, and
assigned to Co. F, 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 30 November near Buna Mission.  He was a Sgt. in Co. F, 126^TH
Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Grand Haven, MI, when 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  He earned the
Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star for his actions the next day. [added 22 Apr. ’13, TPB]

Sgt. James K. Broner (James K. Brower), from Muskegon,
Michigan, and assigned to Co. G, 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star
for his leadership and initiative during the attack on Buna Village on 30
November.  He was a Pvt. in
Co. G, 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Muskegon, MI, when 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  He was
seriously WIA a week later during the same battle near Buna in which his
brother, Sgt. Willard I. Broner, from the same unit, was KIA. [added 12 May ’13, TPB]

Pvt. O’Donnell O’Brien, from Muskegon, Michigan, and
assigned to Co. G, 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 30 November near Buna.  He was a
Pvt. in Co. G, 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Muskegon, MI,
when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added 19 Apr. ’13, TPB]

Pfc. William H. Oliver and Pvt. Bennie B. Richell earned the Silver Star for their actions on 30
November near Buna; they both ran through heavy mortar and sniper fire to
rescue a wounded comrade.  Pvt.
Richell, from Muskegon, Michigan, was a Cpl. in Co. G, 126^TH Inf., Michigan
National Guard, when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  Pfc. Oliver was from Phoenix, Arizona, and likely also served with Co. G, 126^TH
Inf. [updated 22 Jul. ’17, added 25 Apr.
’13, TPB]

Pfc. Robert F. Strong, from Mount Clemens, Michigan, and
assigned to Co. F, 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 30 November near Buna Mission.  [added 15
Sep. ’17, TPB]
 

Also on 30 November, Capt. Edward Henry Sandell, 32^D Div. Chemical Officer, led a small,
daring reconnaissance patrol near Buna Mission (a.k.a. Buna Government Station).  He swam across a creek to determine if it
would be safe for the rest of the patrol to cross in small boats.  They were able to cross and later returned
with important information. [added 28 Aug. ’17, TPB]

Capt. Edward H. Sandell, from
Beloit, Wisconsin, and Cdr. of Chem. Section, HQ, 32^D Div., earned
the Silver Star for his actions on 30 November near Buna Mission.  The
decoration was bestowed posthumously; he was KIA 25 Dec. ’42 by a Japanese
sniper.  He was
a 2d Lt. in Co. L, 128^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, Beloit, WI,
when the 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added 28 Aug. ’17, TPB]

Capt. Sandell
and part of his Chem. Section had landed at Port Morseby
on 18 Oct., “among the first chemical sections to participate in combat in WWII
after the fall of the Philippines. (Kleber
and Birdsell 198)”  Capt. Sandell
deployed to the Buna area on 27 Nov., “to see if chemical smoke or incendiary
supplies would be useful in pushing the attack. (Kleber
and Birdsell 199)”
[added 28 Aug. ’17, TPB]

Capt. Sandell
returned to Port Moresby, where he and 2 other members of his Chem. Section, T.
Sgt. John K. King and Sgt. Raymond F. Dasmann, “collected
HC smoke pots, Australian rifle smoke grenades, thermite aerial bombs, blasting
powder, gelignite, safety fuzes, detonators, and
friction tape. (Kleber and Birdsell 199)”  They and their supplies were
transported to Buna on 4 Dec., see below. [added 28 Aug. ’17, TPB]

At this point you should return to the main Battle of
Buna page for some information related to the 32^D Division as a
whole.  You will then be directed back to
this point at the appropriate time.

1st
Sgt. George Pravda, from Spring Lake, Michigan, and assigned to Co. F, 126^TH
Inf., earned the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star for his actions on 1
December near Buna.  He was a
Sgt. in Co. F, 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Grand Haven,
MI, when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40.  He also earned the Silver Star for his
actions the previous day. [added
22 Apr. ‘13]

On about 2 December 1942, Colonel John E.
Grose, I Corps inspector general, took over command of URBANA Force.

2d Lt. Paul L. Schwartz, from Syracuse, New York, and
assigned to Co. F, 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
leadership and courage on 2 December during an attack on Buna Village.  More information about him and his medal can be
found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients.
[added 17 Dec. ‘12]

Three members of the 32^D Div. Chem.
Section, led by Capt. Sandell, arrived at Buna from
Port Moresby on 4 December, the
other two men were T. Sgt. John K. King and Sgt. Raymond Fredric Dasmann.  Capt. Sandell had been to Buna six days earlier, when he earned
the Silver Star for leading a small, daring reconnaissance patrol on 30 Nov.,
see above.  The trio brought with them “HC
smoke pots, Australian rifle smoke grenades, thermite aerial bombs, blasting
powder, gelignite, safety fuzes, detonators, and
friction tape (Kleber and Birdsell
199)”
which they used to manufacture makeshift hand grenades.  The infantrymen were reluctant to use them,
but after they learned the improvised munitions were safe to use, “The
grenades were then much in demand. (Kleber
and Birdsell 199)” [added
28 Aug. ’17, TPB]

Sgt. Dasmann and Sgt.
King continued to improve their improvised munitions, see 11 Dec. below.  Sgt. King also had an active part in the
first attempt of the 32^D Div. to deploy flame throwers, see 8 Dec.
below.  Sgt. Dasmann,
from San Francisco, CA, and Sgt. King, from Los Altos, CA, had trained together
at Camp Roberts, CA, before being assigned to the 32^D Div. [added 28 Aug. ’17, TPB]

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, Lt. Col. Merle H. Howe (Division G-3), and Capt. Daniel K. Edwards,
(General Eichelberger’s aide).  Before
the day was over, the “observers” were all in the fight, General Waldron and Capt.
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)”

Pfc. James J. Boorman, from Madison, Wisconsin, earned
the Silver Star for his actions as orderly for Brig. Gen. Albert W. Waldron,
the acting Division Commander, on 5 December near Buna.  Both men were knocked down by a Japanese
grenade blast, uninjured; they got up and continued on until the Gen. was shot
by a sniper.  Pfc. Boorman treated his wounds
and organized stretcher bearers to carry him to the aid station, all under
heavy enemy fire.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster of Silver Star recipients. [added 18 Feb. ‘13]

Tec. 4 James E. Lowthers, from Stoneham, Massachusetts,
and assigned to the 114^TH Engr. Bn., earned the Silver Star for
braving intense enemy fire to rescue Capt. Daniel K. Edwards, who had been
severely wounded, on 5 December near Buna.  He had
entered active service with the Massachusetts National Guard on 16 Jan. ’41 at
Medford, MA.  More information
about him and his medal can be found on the
roster of Silver Star recipients. [added 15 Apr. ‘13]

Brig. Gen. 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 32^D.

The objective, Buna Village, was not taken due to
determined enemy resistance.  However,
some important gains were made during the attack.

The 2^D Bn., 126^TH Infantry,
with Cannon Company, 128^TH Inf. on its left, was the main
effort.  Cannon Company soon ran into
trouble so it was reinforced with a platoon from Co. F, 126^TH 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, 126^TH Infantry (Capt.
Schultz), also made it to within 50 yards of the village.  Lt. Thomas E. Knode
and 1st Sgt. Paul R. Lutjens were severely wounded while gallantly leading
their platoons.  Sgt. Harold E. Graber,
also from Co. E, 126^TH, was killed when he attacked an enemy
strongpoint while firing a light machine gun from the hip.  Lt. Robert H. Odell (Commander of Co. F) had
the unique experience of receiving his attack orders from a three star general,
Lt. Gen. Eichelberger.  The attack, led
by Lt. Odell and 1st Sgt. George Pravda, initially made some progress but was
soon stopped with heavy casualties.

The most important gain of the day occurred when
German born S. Sgt. Hermann Johann Friedrich Bottcher led his platoon from Co.
H (Capt. Harold ‘Handy’ Hantelmann) on a breakthrough
to the sea on the far right.  S. Sgt. Bottcher’s platoon was attached to Capt. Cladie A. ‘Gus’ Bailey’s Company G.  Capt. Hantelmann was wounded during this
engagement and had to be evacuated; while rolling away from a grenade he
inadvertently rolled onto another one. 
With S. Sgt. Bottcher’s achievement, the
encirclement of Buna Village was complete and Japanese communication between
the Village and Buna Mission (a.k.a. Buna Government Station) was severed.  S. Sgt. Bottcher and his soldiers held their
position (nicknamed “Bottcher’s Corner”) against
violent counterattacks from both sides. 
General 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 2^D Battalion, 128^TH
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)”  First
Sgt. Lutjens received a battlefield promotion to 2d Lt., and S. Sgt. Bottcher
was promoted, at the recommendation of General Eichelberger,
directly to the rank of Captain.  More
information about these Soldiers and their medals can be found below as well as
on the roster
of DSC recipients.

Lt. Col. Howe earned the DSC for his actions 5 December;
when a unit which had lost its officers and its momentum, he rallied the unit
and led it in an attack at Buna Village. 
He had entered the service as a Pvt. at the beginning of
WWI.  After completing the First
Officers’ Training Camp at Fort Sheridan, IL, he was commissioned and served as
an Air Corps pilot during WWI.  He was
Capt. and commander of Co. K, 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard,
at Grand Rapids, MI, when the 32^D Div. was mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.

Maj. Beaver, from Yankton,
South Dakota, earned the DSC for his actions
5 December at Buna Village.  Capt. Beaver had earned the Silver Star for
his actions 16 November at Cape Sudest. 
Lt. Col. Beaver was later killed in a plane crash on 31 Jul. ’44
near Funafuti, Ellice Island (now named Tuvalu). [updated 31 Mar. ‘17, TPB]

First Lt. Knode was bestowed
with the DSC for his actions 5 December at Buna Village.  He was born in California but
spent some of his formative years in the Washington D.C. area.  He entered the service Mar. ‘42 at Washington
D.C. and was commissioned 2d Lt.  He was
offered a desk job in Army radio due to his employment in media field before
the war, but he turned it down.  He was
WIA twice at Buna; at least one of those was quite serious.  After 11 months in hospitals he was retired
as Capt. in Nov. ‘43.  He returned home
and resumed working in media again.

Second Lt. Paul L. Schwartz, from New York and assigned
to Co. F, 126^TH Inf., was bestowed with the DSC for his actions 5
December at Buna Village.  He had
recently earned the Silver Star for his actions on 2 December near Buna.  Some references state or imply that 2d Lt.
Schwartz earned the DSC for his actions ca. 18-21 Dec. near Tarakena,
New Guinea. [added 17 Dec. ‘12]

First Sgt. Lutjens was bestowed with the DSC for his
actions 5 December at Buna Village.  He
was a Sgt. assigned to Co. E, 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard,
at Big Rapids, MI, when the 32^D Div. was mobilized on 15 Oct.
‘40.  He continued to serve in the Army
after the war.  He attained rank of Col.
and is a member of the Army’s Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. [added 13 Dec. ‘12]

Pvt. Graber was bestowed with the DSC for his actions 5
December at Buna Village.  He
was assigned to Co. E, 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Big
Rapids, MI, when the 32^D Div. was mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added 19 Dec. ‘12]

Several other Soldiers were decorated for their heroic actions in the
Buna-area on 5 and 6 December.

First Lt. Herbert Gale Peabody, from Vermont and assigned
to Div. HQ, was bestowed with the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Service
Cross for his actions on 5 December.  He
organized and led a carrying party through heavy enemy fire to resupply
“Bottcher’s Corner” with ammunition.  1st
Lt. Peabody had been bestowed his first DSC as a result of his actions 16 Nov.
near Cape Sudest, New Guinea.  More information
about him and his medal can be found on the
roster of DSC recipients. [added 13 Dec. ‘12]

The following personnel earned the Silver Star for their
actions 5-6 December in the Buna-area. 
More information about them and their medals can be found below and on
the roster of
Silver Star recipients.

Capt. John T. Boet, from Michigan and a medical officer
assigned to the 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his actions
on 5 December near Buna.  He
was a Capt. in 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, when 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added
10 Jan. ‘13]

Cpl. Rex R. Leland, from Easton Township, Michigan, and
assigned to Co. H, 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
numerous efforts to direct mortar and artillery fire from dangerous, exposed
positions (often in trees) between 29 November and 5 December during the attack
on Buna Village.  He was KIA
on 5 Dec. ’42.  He was a Pvt. in Co. H,
126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Ionia, MI, when 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  [added
15 Apr. ‘13]

Pfc. Lionel R. Anderson, from Rudyard, Michigan and
assigned to Med. Det., 126^TH Inf., was bestowed with the Silver Star
for his actions as a medic on 5 December near Buna Village.  Pfc.
Anderson was married shortly before he entered service on 22 Apr. ‘41.  He also earned the Purple Heart, not sure
when he was WIA.  Pfc. Anderson is
listed here thanks to information provided by his family. [added 16 Mar. ’16, TPB]

Col. Clarence M. Tomlinson, from Florida and commander of
the 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his actions on 6 December
near Buna and Giruwa. [added 15 Feb. ‘13]

S. Sgt. Joseph P. Doran, from Nahant, Massachusetts, and
assigned to Co. A, 114^TH Engr., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 6 December near Sanananda.  He
entered active service 16 Jan. ‘41 as Pvt. with Massachusetts National Guard at
Lynn, MA. [added 20 May
‘14]

Cpl. Fred Kinsley Robinson, from Haverhill, New
Hampshire, and assigned to Co. A, 114^TH Engr., earned the Silver
Star for his actions on 6 December near Buna. [added 23 May ‘14]

Cpl. Edward L. ‘Tux’ Wernholm, from Negaunee, Michigan,
and assigned to Co. A, 114^TH Engr., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 6 December near Buna.  He
was a Pvt. in Co. D, 107^TH Engr. Regt., Michigan National Guard, at
Marquette, MI, when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [updated 19 Mar. ’14; added 5 Jan. ‘13]

On 7 December, Col. Tomlinson succeeded
Col. Grose as commander of URBANA Force. 
Col. Grose had been promised command of the 127^TH Infantry,
which was then preparing to move from Port Moresby to the combat zone.  Col. Grose had been at the front in command
of URBANA Force for 5 whole days; he used his pending command of the 127^TH
as an excuse to ask Brig. Gen. Byers to transfer command of URBANA Force to
Col. Tomlinson, who had been on the front line since day one. Seeing as Col.
Grose and Brig. Gen. Byers worked together on General Eichelberger’s
staff, it is no surprise that Grose’s request was granted and he was soon
headed to the rear.

On the morning of 7 December, the Japanese
launched more fierce counterattacks against “Bottcher’s
Corner” from Buna Village and Buna Mission (a.k.a. Buna Government
Station).  “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)”

“Acting as a
forward outpost, Mitchell detected the enemy force from the village while it
was creeping forward under cover of the jungle. 
Just as it was about to launch its attack, he charged at the Japanese
suddenly with a loud yell and bayonet fixed. 
Mitchell so surprised and dumbfounded them that instead of continuing
with the attack they hesitated and momentarily fell back.  His yell alerted the rest of the force, with
the result that when the Japanese finally did attack they were cut down.  Mitchell escaped without a scratch. (Milner 249)”  Cpl. Mitchell was
also lauded when, on 9 December, he seized a Japanese prisoner and brought him
back to be interrogated.

Cpl. Mitchell was from Ionia, Michigan.  He enlisted as a Pvt. in Co. H, 126^TH
Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Ionia, MI, on 7 Jun. ‘36; he mobilized with
that unit on 15 Oct. ‘40.  He was
seriously WIA 19 Dec. ‘42 during an attack on the Triangle and he was awarded
his DSC while he was in the hospital. 
Sadly he died from his wounds on 26 December.  More information about him and his medal can
be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 28 Dec. ‘12]

“Later in the day [7
December], 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 Capt. William
Francis ‘Jimmy’ Boice (S-2, 126^TH Inf.) as Commander of 2^D
Battalion, 126^TH 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 (a.k.a. Government Station),
but the attempt was prevented by machine gun fire from Capt. Bottcher, who had
been wounded during the day.

Maj. Smith, from Neillsville, Wisconsin, was bestowed
with the DSC for his actions on 7 December. 
More information about him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 17 Dec. ‘12]

Cpl. Wilbur G. Tirrell, from Weymouth, Massachusetts, and
assigned to the 114^TH Engr. Bn., earned the Silver Star for his efforts
to employ a flame thrower against a Japanese bunker on 8 December near Buna.  The flame
thrower malfunctioned and he was WIA. 
More information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 15 Feb. ‘13]

“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 [see above], 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)”

Second Lt. Downer, from Illinois, was posthumously
bestowed the DSC for his actions on 9 December. 
More information about him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.

Pfc. Bajdek, from Grand Rapids,
Michigan, earned the DSC for his actions 10 December.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 18 Dec. ‘12]

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 127^TH Infantry was now arriving at
the front.  Col. Grose had taken command
of the regiment from Lt. Col. Edwin J. Schmidt, who now became the XO.

Capt.
Oliver O. Dixon, from Indiana and the S-3 of the 126^TH Inf., earned
the Silver Star for his actions on 10 December in the Buna area.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 11 Jan. ‘13]

On 10-11 December the 3^D
Battalion, 127^TH Infantry relieved the 2^D Bn., 126^TH.

“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 [Winzenried], Company [I], 127th Infantry, had
single-handedly and on his own initiative reduced an enemy bunker with hand
grenades. (Blakeley 93)”

Sgt. Winzenried, from Menasha, Wisconsin, was a Pfc. in Co. I,
127^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Neenah, Wisconsin, when the
32^D Div. was mobilized 15 Oct. ’40. 
More information about him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.

On 11
December, the forward element of the 32^D Div. Chem. Section
(Capt. Sandell, T. Sgt. King, and Sgt. Dasmann) received additional ordnance and chemical
materials with which they continued development of the improvised grenade they
had created and fielded on 4 Dec., see above. 
“They also produced a dependable Molotov cocktail and developed a
hand-thrown concussion torpedo capable of killing all the occupants of a large
bunker.  After combat testing the
improvised weapon, the 127th Infantry requested all the torpedoes the [Chem.
Warfare Service] sergeants could
manufacture. (Kleber and Birdsell
199-200)” [added 28 Aug. ’17, TPB]

At 0700 on 14 December, after a
comprehensive preparation by the 25-pounders and mortars, there was an all-out
attack on Buna Village.  Company K, 127^TH
Inf. was the main effort, Co. I was in support on the left flank.  “The advance continued steadily and
cautiously.  There was no
opposition.  By 1000 the entire area was
overrun.  Moving slowly and warily
because they feared a trap, the troops soon discovered that none existed. (Milner
252)” 
Apparently the Japanese, reduced to an effective strength of only
100 troops, saw the writing on the wall and had evacuated the Village the night
before by swimming along the coast to the west.

          “After all the bitter fighting that had
raged on its outskirts, [Buna Village] had fallen without the firing of
a single enemy shot.

          “The village was a mass of
wreckage.  Its few huts had been blown to
bits; the coconut palms in the area were splintered and broken by shellfire;
and there were craters and shell holes everywhere.  The bunkers still stood, despite evidence of
numerous direct hits registered upon them by the artillery.  The Japanese had left little equipment and
food behind: a few guns, some discarded clothing, a supply of canned goods, and
a store of medical supplies.

          “Thus anticlimactically had Urbana
Force taken its first objective.  The Coconut Grove remained as the only
position on the left bank of Entrance Creek still in Japanese hands.  This labyrinth of trenches and bunkers was
next.” (Milner 252) [added
3 Jan. ‘13]

Later in the day, Company K eliminated a small
group of Japanese found east of the Village.

Pvt.
Robert J. Packard, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and assigned to Co. K, 127^TH
Inf., was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions on 14-15
December near Buna Village.  He
was twice WIA on two consecutive days while manning his machinegun to aid his
unit’s advance.  He was later KIA on 29
December.  He had been a member of Co. K,
127^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Milwaukee, WI, when 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 3 Jan. ‘13] 

After the campaign, in an
unaccredited wartime dispatch from Australia on 15 Feb. ’43, printed in the Chicago
Daily Tribune on 8 Mar. ‘43, a war correspondent asked several leaders “What was the outstanding act of heroism you
saw during the Papuan Campaign?” 
Capt. Melvin W. Schulz referred to Sgt. Halbert
D. Davidson, from Big Rapids, MI, and assigned to Co. E, 126^TH Inf.,
and said of him:

“Sergt. Davidson had led various attacks and
would have been a lieutenant had he lived. 
There was one big pillbox of heavy logs and dirt just off the trail which
had to be taken out.  It was decided to
try a flamethrower and Davidson went along with an officer in the chemical
warfare unit.

“They crawled toward the pillbox in broad
daylight to give it a try, turned the flamethrower on but something went wrong and
it failed.  The Japs spotted them, opened
fire and killed Davidson.  He did a
heroic job that day.”

Davidson was a Pfc. in
Co. E, 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Big Rapids, MI, when
32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. 
The newspaper article above stated he was KIA “about Dec. 7” but his
memorial monument at West Cemetery, Mecosta County, MI, states he was KIA 14 December.  Neither date is an exact match for the two
known flame thrower attempts on 8 Dec. (above) or 16 Dec. (below).  Maybe there was another attempt to employ
flame throwers, or maybe one of the dates is off a day or so.  Either way Sgt. Davidson was admired for his
bravery, but does not appear to have been decorated for it.

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 2^D Bn., 128^TH Infantry, commanded by Lt. Col. 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 at 1520 hours on 15
December, after a brief mortar
preparation which had no significant effect on the Japanese emplacements.  Maj. Roy F. Zinser (Bn. XO) and Capt. Joseph
M. Stehling (CO of Company E), both personally led units as small as
squads.  “The Japanese had the approaches
to the [Coconut Grove] covered and laid
down heavy fire on the attackers. 
Progress was slow, but Colonel Smith’s forces were pressed up tight
against their objective by nightfall.  A
heavy rain fell during the night, drenching the troops and filling their
foxholes with water. (Milner 253)”
[revised 18 Dec. ‘12]

The attack was resumed early on 16 December.  When Maj. Zinser’s group encountered a
remarkably tenacious bunker, they attempted to reduce it with a flame thrower,
the same type as the one that had proved so unreliable a week earlier
(described above).  Maj. Zinser lamented that this one performed no better, it “fizzed
out and Japanese shot it up. (qtd. in Milner
253)”  As with most of the Japanese bunkers
encountered at Buna, this one had to be eliminated with only hand grenades and
small arms.  Almost as soon as that
bunker was reduced, they encountered an even larger one which dominated their
approach to the Coconut Grove. [added 18 Dec. ‘12]

“Two men of Company E [128^TH
Inf.] made possible the reduction of the big bunker which was the key to
the position.  While Private Bernardino (Bernadino) 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)”

Lt. Col. Herbert A. Smith, commander of 2^D
Bn., 128^TH Inf., witnessed the heroism of Cpl. Rini
and Pvt. Estrada.  He was about 30 yards
away and also contributed some covering fire during the skirmish.  He was called to the field phone to confer
with Col. Tomlinson, commander of 126^TH Inf., during the event.  Just as he reached the phone he heard some excitement
coming from the bunker that Cpl. Rini was heading for. [added 18 Dec. ‘12]

Lt. Col. Smith later said, “I sensed that this was probably the break we were looking for, so I
told Colonel Tomlinson that I must get forward and see what was happening.  I arrived just in time to see Corporal Rini
on top of the big bunker and the rest of the squad closing in on it.  Later I learned that Rini, after working up
as close as he could, had suddenly made a dash, jumped on top of the bunker,
and leaning over had pushed hand grenades through the firing slits. (qtd. in Milner 253)” [added 18 Dec. ‘12]

“Realizing that
he would have to move fast to take full advantage of this turn in the fighting,
Colonel Smith ordered all-out attacks on the remaining enemy positions.  Charging at the head of a squad, Smith
cleared out a bunker in the center, and Capt. Joseph M. Stehling of Company E
did the same in an attack on his right. 
The bunkers fell in quick succession, but Corporal Rini and Private
Estrada were both killed in the mop-up which their valor had made
possible.  Rini
was shot by a wounded Japanese to whom he was trying to administer first aid,
and Estrada fell not long after while helping to clear the last enemy position
in the [Coconut Grove]. (Milner 253-4)” [added 18
Dec. ‘12]

Maj. Zinser was from Monroe, Wisconsin.  He had joined the Wisconsin National Guard in
‘28 and was a 1st Lt. in Co. K, 128^TH Inf. at Monroe, WI, when the
32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added 18 Dec. ‘12]  Cpl.
Rini was from Wellsville, Ohio. [added 1 Jan. ‘13]  Pvt. Estrada was from Tucson, Arizona.
[added 18 Dec. ‘12]  More information about them and their
medals can be found on the roster of DSC recipients.  [added 18 Dec. ‘12]

Several Soldiers also earned the Silver Star for their actions during the
attack on the Cocoanut Grove on 16 December. 
They are listed below and more information about them and their medals
can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients.

Lt. Col. Herbert A. Smith, commander of 2^D
Bn., 128^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his actions on 16
December. [added
3 Jan. ‘13]

Capt. Stehling, from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, earned the
Silver Star for his actions on 16 December.  He was a 2d Lt. in Co. E, 128^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, when the 32^D Div. mobilized on 15
Oct. ‘40. [added 18 Dec.
‘12]

First Lt. Benjamin G. McKnight, from North Carolina, and
assigned to the 128^TH Inf., was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
for his actions on 16 December.  He was KIA or DW a few days later on
26 December. [added 3 Jan.
‘12]

Sgt. Howard C. Purtyman, from Sedona, Arizona, and
assigned to Co. F, 128^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 16 December near Buna.  Even
though his rifle had jammed, he approached to within five yards of a Japanese
pillbox and eliminated it with grenades.
[added 18 Feb. ‘12]

Brig. Gen. Byers, acting commander of the forward
elements of the 32^D Division, was WIA by a Japanese sniper while he
was observing the attack on the Coconut Grove the morning of 16 December.  General Eichelberger
was now the only U.S. general officer left in the combat area, so he took command
of the forward elements of the 32^D 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)”

Brig. Gen. Clovis E. Byers, originally from Columbus,
Ohio, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions while observing
the attack by URBANA Force on 16 December near Buna.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 9 Jan. ‘13]

Capt. Alfred
E. Meyer, from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and commander of Co. K, 127^TH
Inf., earned the Silver Star for his actions on 16 December near Buna.  He was a 2d Lt. in Co. F, 127^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Sheboygan, WI, when 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 11 Jan. ‘12]

First Lt.
Francis J. Endl, from Jefferson, Wisconsin and assigned to Co. L, 127^TH
Inf., was KIA on 17 December at Buna.  He
was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions 14-17 December near
Buna.  He was a 2d Lt. in Co.
L, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Jefferson, WI, when 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 11
Jan. ‘12]

General Eichelberger also pays tribute to the National Guard
officers in the 32^D 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. [Hantelmann]
of Iowa, Maj. Edmund R. Schroeder of Wisconsin, the inimitable Capt. W. H.
Dames of Wisconsin, whose Company G, 127th Infantry, never made a wrong move in
battle. (qtd. in Blakeley 95)”

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.
 

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 (a.k.a. Buna Government Station).  The capture of Buna Village and the
anticipated arrival of the 127^TH 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 128^TH Inf. detachment at Siwori Village was replaced by a
platoon of the 126^TH Inf. (Lt. Alfred Kirchenbauer), and a
detachment from Co. F, 126^TH Inf. (Lt. Schwartz), was sent to
Tarakena, west of Siwori Village.

On 18
December, the 2^D Battalion, 128^TH Infantry was
relieved by the just arrived 2^D Battalion, 127^TH
Infantry, commanded by Lt. Col. Loren L. Gmeiner.

On 18 December, Co. L, 127^TH Inf.
(Capt. Roy F. Wentland), attempted to occupy Musita Island, which was separated
from the mainland by an un-fordable 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 Capt.
Wentland, were killed and six were wounded. 
That night, for reasons that are not clear, the company was ordered to
withdraw to the mainland.

Capt. Roy F. Wentland was
from Ripon, WI.  He was a 2d Lt. assigned
to Co. E, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Manitowoc, WI
when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.

“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)”

Capt. William Francis ‘Jimmy’ Boice, S-2, 126^TH
Inf., was from Swayzee, IN.  He graduated
from DePauw University and was commissioned 2d Lt. from ROTC in ‘26.  Married, father of 1, he was a teacher at
Deedsville, IN, and a teacher and basketball coach at Ervin Township H. S.
(Howard Co.) from ’34 to ’41.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [updated 3 Sep. ’18, TPB]

Pfc.
Charles E. Agner, from Milan, Michigan, and assigned to Med. Det., 126^TH
Inf., earned the Silver Star for his actions as a medic on 19 December near
Buna Mission.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 15 Feb. ‘13]

By order of General 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 127^TH
Infantry.

On 20 December, following an artillery and
mortar barrage, Co. E, 127^TH Infantry (Capt. James L. Alford) made
another effort to seize The Triangle. 
They moved forward but were soon halted. 
At Capt. 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
S. Sgt. John F. Rehak Jr., were among those killed.  “S.
Sgt. 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)”

S. Sgt. Rehak was from
Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  He was a Pfc.
in Co. E, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Manitowoc, WI,
when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 1 Jan. ‘13]

Capt. Bottcher was later bestowed with the OLC to the
Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Buna on 20 December.  He was also WIA for about the
third time in two weeks.  He had been
bestowed with his first Distinguished Service Cross only about nine days
earlier.  More information about him
and his medal can be found on the roster of DSC recipients.

Several Soldiers earned the Silver Star for their gallantry on 20 December near Buna.  Some of them are listed here and more
information about them and their medals can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients.

Second Lt. Donald Ward Feury, from Cadillac, Michigan,
and assigned to Co. E, 127^TH Inf., was posthumously awarded the
Silver Star for his efforts to capture the Triangle, near Buna, on 20 December.
[added 13 Jan.
‘13]

First Lt. Paul Whitaker, from Phoenix, Mississippi, and
assigned to Co. E, 127^TH Inf., posthumously earned the Silver Star
for his actions near Buna, on 20 December. 
He singlehandedly attacked an enemy emplacement that was delaying his
unit’s advance. [added
5 Feb. ‘13]

Pfc. Harold J. Huebner, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and
assigned to Med. Det., 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star,
posthumously, for his actions on 20 December near Buna.  He was KIA when, as a medic, he ignored heavy
enemy fire and rushed to the aid of a wounded Soldier lying in full view of a
Japanese machine gun position. [added 5 Feb. ‘13]

Pfc. Rex N. Purk, from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and assigned
to the 32^D Div., earned the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star for
his actions as a medic on 20 December near Buna.  He also earned the Silver Star for his
actions as a medic on 25 December near Buna.
[added 22 Apr. ‘13]

That evening, Col. Grose resumed command of URBANA
Force; as the 127^TH 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, 127^TH
Infantry (Capt. 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 un-fordable
stream, and was killed in the process. 
Co. K lost 54 killed and wounded.

Early on 22 December, Co. I (Capt. 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 2^D
Bn., 126^TH Inf.  Lt. Schwartz
was wounded and replaced by Lt. James R. Griffith, who also became a
casualty.  Lt. Louis A. Chagnon, 127^TH Infantry, assumed command of the
detachment when he was sent over there with a small detachment from
Headquarters Company and Service Company of the 127^TH.

Sgt.
Erwin A. Boness, from Neenah, Wisconsin, and assigned to Co. I, 127^TH
Inf., was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for crawling through buffalo
grass and crossing a trail under heavy enemy fire in order to reduce an enemy
pillbox on 22 December near Buna.  Initially MIA, he was later declared to have been KIA 8
Jan. ’43.  He was a Pfc. in Co. I, 127^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Neenah, WI, when 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [updated 23 Apr. ‘13]

On 22 and 23 December, Musita Island was
cleared by elements of the 127^TH Infantry.  Company H’s heavy weapons were then able to
fire on Buna Mission (a.k.a. Buna Government Station) from a position on the
island.

Lt. Col.
Benjamin Randolph Farrar, from New Jersey and assigned to Headquarters, U.S.
Forces Buna, was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on 22-23 December near
Buna Mission.  He was
temporarily assigned as the S-3 for the 127^TH Inf. at the time.  He was WIA by small arms fire on 24
December.  More information about him and
his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 12 Jan. ‘13]

On 24 December, 2^D Bn., 127^TH
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)”

“Another member of the same company [Co. I, 127^TH Inf.]
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 [on 24 December].
(Blakeley 104)” PFC Fisher was from Indiana. More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 19 Dec. ‘12]

SGT Hugo J. Arno, from Co. I, 127^TH Infantry,
earned the Silver Star at the risk of his life for adeptly outflanking and
killing a stubborn Japanese sniper who was impeding the movement of him and his
men near Buna Mission on 24 Dec. ’42. Just like 1SG Burr, he was
from Menasha, Wisconsin, and was a member of Co. I, 127^TH Inf.
Wisconsin National Guard at Neenah, Wisconsin, when the 32^D Div. was
mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40. More information about him and his medal can be
found on the roster of Silver Star recipients. [added 17 Dec. ‘12]

SGT Charles I. Maynor, from Neenah, Wisconsin, and
assigned to Co. I, 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 24 December 1942 near Buna Mission. He was a PVT Co. I, 127^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Neenah, WI, when 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40. More information about him and his medal can
be found on the roster of Silver Star recipients. [added 17 Apr. ‘13]

MAJ Harold M. Hootman
(misspelled ‘Hooten’ in Blakeley), regimental S-4,
volunteered to go forward to report on the situation for COL Grose, and was
KIA. “Hootman’s body was later recovered, rifle in hand, not far
from a Japanese bunker under circumstances which suggested that he fell while
trying to take it singlehanded. (Milner 294)”

MAJ Hootman was
originally from Union City, Indiana, but he lived in Kent County, Michigan, and
was a CPT in the 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, when the 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40. He had served as 2LT with Btry. B, 123^D
FA, 33^D Div. during WWI. Division records
suggest he was KIA on 24 Dec. ’42, but some other sources list his date of
death as 4 Jan. ’43. [added
19 Dec. ‘12]

“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, 127^TH Inf., in Neenah, Wisconsin,
when the 32^D Division was activated on 15 Oct. 1940. More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of DSC recipients. [added 15 Dec.
‘12]

SGT
Chester F. ‘Chet’ Gerbensky, from Hartland, Wisconsin, and assigned to Co. G,
127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star by using his innate pitching
ability to throw grenades to reduce several Japanese pillboxes near Buna on 24
December. He was a PVT in Co. G, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin
National Guard, at Oconomowoc, WI, when the 32^D Div. mobilized on 15
Oct. ’40. More information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 26 Dec. ‘13]

“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)”

Lt. Col. McCreary was the commander of 32^D
Division Artillery at this time. More information about him and his medal can be
found on the roster of DSC recipients. [added 13 Dec. ‘12]

Co. L was the main effort for the drive across the
Government Gardens. The commander of Co. L, Capt. Wentland, had been killed;
the Company was now commanded by Lt. Marcellus P. Fahres.
A platoon of Company L (led by Lieutenants Frederick 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.

“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.  [2d Lt.] Matz was awarded the [Distinguished
Service Cross]. (Blakeley 105)”  The wounded man that Lt. Matz stayed with was Cpl. William M.
Gleason, from Baldwin or Reed City, Michigan. 
Four of the eight other men were Sgt. Walter J. Wachowiak, from
Milwaukee, WI; Cpl. Harold Dolson, Jackson, MI; Pfc.
Elmer J. Amore, Lake Leelanau, MI; Pvt. William Richman, Cairo, IL.  Pfc. Amore was KIA a few days later on 29
Dec. ’42.

Second Lt. Matz was bestowed with the DSC, in part, for singlehandedly
eliminating a couple of Japanese positions that were impeding his platoon; he was
also WIA twice during the day.  He was a Cpl. in Co. A, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin
National Guard, at Marinette, Wisconsin, when the 32^D Div. was
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40, he also had ties to neighboring Menominee,
Michigan.  More information about him and
his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 13 Dec. ‘12]

Sgt. Frank David Duket, Jr., from Marinette, Wisconsin,
and assigned to Co. A, 127^TH Inf., reportedly
earned the DSC during the same event as Lt. Matz ca.
24 Dec.  He was a Pvt. in Co. A, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin
National Guard, at Marinette, Wisconsin, when the 32^D Div. was
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  Sgt. Duket
later earned the Silver Star for his actions on 14 May ’44 near Aitape, New
Guinea, and earned the Purple Heart the day after that.  More information about him and his medal can
be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 20 Mar. ’17, TPB]

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.

Tec. 4
Ralph M. Blake, from Ripon, Wisconsin, and assigned to the 127^TH
Infantry, earned the Silver Star for singlehandedly attacking a Japanese bunker
near Buna Mission on 24 December. He was a cook, but he volunteered to
eliminate a pillbox that was holding up the advance. He was a Pvt.
in HQ & HQ Det., 2^D Bn., 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin
National Guard, at Ripon, WI, when the 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct.
’40. More information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 26 Dec. ‘12]

Lt. Gen. Eichelberger
ordered Col. Grose to continue the attack on 25 December 1942. Eight
companies of the 127^TH were now available: A, C, F, G, I, K, L and
M. Company F (Capt. Byron B. Bradford) made good progress and was able to
establish 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 Capt.
Workman was killed, Capt. Millard G. Gray,
General Eichelberger’s new aide-de-camp, assumed
command of Co. C, 127^TH Infantry, and was also later awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross for his actions between 24 Dec. and 1 Jan.

Capt. Workman was from Bexar County, Texas. More
information about him and his posthumous DSC can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 18 Dec. ‘12]

“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)” Sgt. Fale was
from Sheboygan, Wisconsin (his DSC was bestowed posthumously because he was KIA
the next day) [added 18 Dec. ‘12]; Pfc. Balza was from Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin (some references list him assigned to HQ Co., 2^D Bn., 127^TH
Inf.); [added
15 Dec. ‘12];
and Pvt.
Eoff was from Boone County, Arkansas. More information about them and
their medals can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.

Numerous Soldiers
earned the Silver Star for gallantry on Christmas
Day. Some of them are listed here and more information about them
and their medals can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients.

LTC Loren L. Gmeiner, from Waupaca, Wisconsin, and the
commander of 2^D Bn., 127^TH Inf., earned the Oak Leaf
Cluster to the Silver Star for his actions on 25 December. He had earned his
first Silver Star near Juvigny, France circa September 1918 while serving with
the 32^D Division during WWI. He was a 1LT in Howitzer Co., 127^TH Inf.,
Wisconsin National Guard, at Waupaca, WI, as early as 1923. He was a CPT in
charge of Anti-Tank Platoon, HQ Co., 127^TH Inf. at Waupaca, WI, when
the Division mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40.

1LT James T. Coker, from Durant, Oklahoma and assigned to
Co. F, 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his actions 25 Dec.
’42 near Buna. He had entered active service as a SGT with the 45^TH
Inf. Div., Oklahoma National Guard, at Durant, OK on 16 Sep. ’40.

SGT Elmer C. Coon, from Black Creek, Wisconsin, and
assigned to 2^D Bn., 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star
for repeatedly crossing a field swept by heavy machine gun fire in order to
establish telephone communications with an isolated unit near Buna on 25 December. [updated 26 Apr. ‘13]

SGT Robert H. Simmons, from Ripon, Wisconsin, and
assigned to 2^D Battalion, 127^TH Infantry, earned the
Silver Star for his actions on 25 December at Government Gardens near Buna.
He was a PVT in HQ & HQ Det., 2^D Bn., 127^TH Inf.,
Wisconsin National Guard, at Ripon, WI, when 32^D Div. mobilized on
15 Oct. ’40. [added 27 Dec. ‘12]

PFC Rex N. Purk, from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and assigned
to the 32^D Div., earned the Silver Star as a medic for crawling
through Japanese sniper fire to provide medical treatment for a severely
wounded lieutenant and private near Buna Mission on Christmas Day. He also
earned the OLC to the Silver Star for his actions as a medic on 20 December
near Buna.

Capt. Edward H. Sandell,
Chem. Off., 32^D Div., was KIA on 25 December near Buna.  He
was killed by a sniper while attempting to employ an improvised explosive
device against a Japanese bunker.  He and
two men from his Chem. Section, T. Sgt. King and Sgt. Dasmann,
had been working to develop and manufacture improvised munitions for the
infantry, see 4 Dec. and 11 Dec. above. 
Capt. Sandell had earned the Silver Star while
leading a small reconnaissance patrol near Buna on 30 Nov., see above. [added 28 Aug. ’17, TPB]

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)”

Col. Bradley was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on 27
December; he was bestowed with the DSC for his actions on 28 December.  More information about him and his
medals can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients and the
roster of
Silver Star recipients.

Maj. (then Capt.) Schroeder was a Wisconsin National
Guard officer in command of Co. C, 127^TH Inf., in Oconto, Wisconsin,
when the 32^D Division was activated on 15 Oct. ‘40.  Unfortunately, as you will read below, his
DSC would be bestowed posthumously to his widow.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.

Capt. Gray, from Indiana, was bestowed with the DSC for
his actions 25 Dec. ‘42 to 1 Jan. ‘43.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.

First Lt. McCampbell, from
Nebraska, was bestowed with the DSC for his actions on 27 December.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.

First Lt. Paul Keene, Jr., from Kentucky, earned the
Silver Star for his actions on 27 December near Buna Mission.  He had entered active duty with
the Kentucky National Guard’s 113^TH Ord. Co., in Jan. ‘41 before
transferring to 32^D Div. after Pearl Harbor.  More information about him and his medal can
be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 23 Jan. ‘13]

Sgt. Leland
Laver Sharp, from Montgomery, Michigan, earned the Silver Star, posthumously,
for his actions on 27 December near Buna Mission.  He was KIA on 28 December.  The
obituary for Sgt. Bernard F. Clarke, 126^TH Inf., stated the he and
Sgt. Leland L. Sharp were both fatally wounded 2 Dec. ‘42 while attempting to
rescue a wounded officer behind enemy lines between Soputa and Sanananda.  Maybe there was more than one Sgt. Leland L.
Sharp assigned to the 32^D Div., maybe the obituary was erroneous. [added 1 Apr. ‘13]

Col.
Clarence M. Tomlinson, from Florida and commander of the 126^TH Inf.,
earned the Oak Leaf Cluster to his Silver Star for his actions on 26 December
near Soputa.  More information
about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 15 Feb. ‘13]

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 him 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, voluntarily and cautiously leading a
detachment from Co. E, 127^TH Inf. the evening of 28 December, discovered that The
Triangle had been abandoned by the Japanese. 
“Urbana Force had accomplished its missions[!] (Blakeley 107)”  It was evident the
Japanese had hurriedly departed; heavy weapons, ammunition, and unburied dead
were left behind.  Sgt. Wagner and Pfc. Greene
earned the Silver Star for their actions that day.

Sgt. Wagner and Pfc. Greene were both from Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  The former was a Sgt. and the latter was a
Pvt. in Co. E, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Manitowoc,
WI, when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More information about them and their medals
can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 28 Dec. ‘12]

“In evacuating the Triangle the Japanese had
given up an immensely strong position that Urbana Force, despite many costly
attempts, had found it impossible to take. 
Going over the ground a day later, General Eichelberger reported to
General Sutherland: “I walked along there and found it terrifically strong.  It is a mass of bunkers and entrenchments
surrounded by swamp.  It is easy to see
how they held us off so long.” (Milner 302-3)”

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)”
 

“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 [Earl Mittleberger], 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. [Mittleberger] had
been killed while on the bridge.  He and
five men with him were all later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. (Blakeley 108)”

Tec. 5 Gray was from Petersham,
Massachusetts.  Tec. 5 McDonough was from
Reading, Massachusetts. [added 21 Dec. ‘12]  Pvt.
Hangartner was originally from Osseo, Wisconsin, but
entered service from Detroit, Michigan. [added 19 Dec. ‘12]  Pvt.
Melanson was from Lynn, Massachusetts, and was in the
National Guard. [added 22 Dec. ‘12]  Pvt. Squires was from Akron, Ohio. [added 23 Dec.
‘12]  Pfc. Mittleberger
was from Scott County, Iowa.  There is some discrepancy regarding his name,
Milner lists him as ‘Earl Mittelberger’ and Blakeley
lists him as ‘Karl Wittelberger’. [added 28 Dec. ‘12]  More
information about them and their medals can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.

Two men from Co. K were wounded
and fell into the water when the bridge collapsed.  Neither could swim, they were forced to hide
under the opposite bank with only their heads exposed above the water.  About 30 hours passed before they could be
rescued on 30 December by Lt. William W. (or H.) Bragg Jr., mortar platoon
leader from Company H, and four enlisted men from the company who were able to
swim across the creek after nightfall. 
The enlisted men were 1st Sgt. Andrew A. Kossel from Oshkosh, WI; Sgt.
Norman E. Marine from Winneconne, WI; Pvt. Thomas King from South Bend, WA; and
Cpl. William T. Connors from Chicago.

Sgt.
Marine was a Pvt. and 1st Sgt. Kossel was a Sgt. in Co. H, 127^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Oshkosh, WI, when the 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added 23 Dec. ‘12]

Cpl.
Connors was later MIA on 29 Jul. ‘44 near Aitape. [added 21 Jul. ‘13]

Lt. Bragg
was from West Virginia and his name may have been William Wilson Bragg, Jr. or
William Wilson Bragg, III.  He is listed
as William H. Bragg, Jr. in The 32D Infantry Division in World War II
and Victory in Papua, but his middle initial is ‘W’ in other references. [added 23 Dec. ‘12]

S. Sgt. Louis H.
Pollister, from Foxboro, Massachusetts, and assigned to the 114^TH
Engr. Bn., earned the Silver Star for leading a group of engineers who built an
expedient 50’ bridge across a creek near Buna under heavy enemy fire on 28
December.  Other
members of his team included Pvt. Earl Mittleberger,
Sgt. Bart McDonough, Cpl. James Clay, Pvt. Arthur Melanson, and Tec. 5 Charles
Gray (all but Cpl. Clay are listed above as DSC recipients).  S. Sgt. Pollister
was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard.  It is not clear if this was a successful
effort to repair the bridge described above, or if this was a new expedient
bridge built nearby after the unsuccessful attempt above.  More information about S. Sgt. Pollister and his medal can be found on the roster of Silver Star recipients. [added 21 Apr. ‘13]

“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. [Miljatovich]
Miljativich, the five assault boats missed direction
and landed on the point on the west side of Entrance Creek. Some were sunk. (Blakeley 108)”

S. Sgt. Miljatovich, from
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and assigned to Co. K, was bestowed with the
Distinguished Service Cross for his efforts to lead the assault boat crossing
on 28 December near Buna.  He
was a Pvt. in Co. K, 127^TH Inf. Wisconsin National Guard at
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when the Division mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More information about him and his medal can
be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.

Several other Soldiers earned the Silver Star for their gallantry on 28 December.  Some of them are listed here and more information
about them and their medals can be found on the roster of Silver Star recipients.

Capt. John L. Lehigh, from Indiana, earned the Silver
Star for his actions on 28 December near Government Gardens in the vicinity of
Buna, New Guinea. [added 24 Jan. ‘13]

S. Sgt. Victor S. Glenn, from Madison, Wisconsin, and
assigned to Co. G, 128^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star, posthumously,
for his actions on 18 December near Buna Mission.  He was
KIA that day.  He was a Cpl. in Co. G,
128^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Madison, WI, when 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added 8 Apr. ‘13]

Cpl. Alonzo H. Russell, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and
assigned to HQ Co., 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 28 December near Buna.  He was a Pvt. in HQ Co., 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin
National Guard, at Milwaukee, WI, when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct.
‘42.
[added 28 Apr. ‘13]

“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)”

On 29 December, the 2^D Bn., 126^TH
Inf. (minus the elements at Tarakena and Siwori Village) and 2^D Bn.,
128^TH Inf., returned to the front line.  Co. B, 127^TH Inf., after moving a
short distance, was able to establish a position on the beach.  That night a patrol from Co. H, 127^TH
Inf. (Lt. Allan W. Simms) discovered a fordable gap between two sand spits that
extended from the Village and the Mission (a.k.a. Government Station).  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.  Lt. Col. Herbert A. Smith was to
command the operation.

Pfc. Casimer (Casimier) Grych, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin,
and assigned to Med. Det., 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for
his actions as a medic on 29 December near Buna.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 8 Apr. ‘13]

On 29
December, four enlisted combat medics and one medical officer earned the Silver
Star for volunteering to attempt to breakthrough to a unit that was surrounded
by the Japanese.  The infantrymen were
attempting to establish a corridor to the beach in order to divide the enemy
forces.  They succeeded in reaching the
beach, but became temporarily cutoff from friendly forces.  They had suffered numerous casualties, were
subjected to repeated enemy counterattacks, and did not have sufficient medical
personnel to treat their wounded.  Five
medical personnel, unarmed, volunteered to try to reach them in order to treat
the wounded.  The medics made it through
and provided urgently needed medical care to the wounded under heavy enemy
fire.  Those men were Capt. Rafael R. Gamso, Pvt. Ray Jackson, Pfc. Gerald M. McCarthy, Pfc. Vernon H. (A.) Pyles and Pvt.
Samuel J. Scarfo, all of whom were bestowed with the Silver Star for their
heroism.  More information
about them and their medals can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 28 Apr. ’13,
TPB]

Note: There is some uncertainty as to the exact
date and location of this specific event. 
During the Battle of Buna/Sanananda/Gona there were several occasions
when Allied units attempted to break through to the beach in order to disrupt
the Japanese defenses.  The tale of these
five brave medics is listed in this section because it seems the most likely
time and location based on the unfortunately limited information
available.  Papuan Campaign lists
29 December as the date of action for the Silver Stars for all five men, but
one newspaper article states that Pvt. Scarfo’s
decoration was bestowed for his actions on Christmas Day.  Christmas Day is certainly feasible, but it
seems probable that the incident may have been in support of Co. B’s
breakthrough to the beach described above on 29 December.

S. Sgt.
Emil Raninen, from Detroit, Michigan, and assigned to
732^D (Ord.) Light Maint. Co., earned the Silver Star for his actions
on 30 December near the Government Gardens.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 24 Apr. ‘13]

At 0430 on 31 December, Co. E, 127^TH
Inf. (led by Lt. Bragg of Co. H) started to cross the shallows, followed by Co.
F, 128^TH 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. “At once the whole area broke into an
uproar, the beach lit up with flares, and the troops were assailed with hand
grenades, rifle grenades, and automatic weapons. (Milner 313)”
The Japanese response caused terror and confusion in the pre-dawn darkness,
which became even worse after Lt. Bragg was WIA. For a while, the wounded Lt.
Bragg was MIA. As a result of the panic, some men, including the lieutenant who
took charge after Lt. Bragg fell, and a sergeant ran toward the rear. COL Grose,
observing the attack, put the lieutenant in arrest after he refused to lead the
men forward. The sergeant was obviously wounded, so he was allowed to go to the
aid station. COL Grose then found another NCO to take control of the soldiers
who had fled and move them back to their positions at the front, which they all
did.

Lt. William W. Bragg, Jr., from West Virginia, earned the
Silver Star for his actions on 31 December. More information about
him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 23 Dec. ‘12]

Co. F of the 128^TH, 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)”

CPT Cronk, from Menomonie, Wisconsin, earned the Silver Star for his actions on 31
December. He was the 1SG in Co. A, 128^TH Inf., Wisconsin
National Guard, at Menomonie, WI, in 1936; he was a 2LT in Co. A when the 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40. More information about him and his medal can be
found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 24 Dec. ‘12]

PFC Bender, from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, was posthumously awarded the
DSC for his efforts to secure vital information for his commander on 31
December. He was a PVT in Co. M, 127^TH Inf. Wisconsin National Guard
at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, when the 32^D Div. was mobilized on 15
Oct. ’40. More information about him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added
15 Dec. ‘12]

PVT Johnson was born in Kentucky, but he lived in Montgomery County,
Ohio, when he entered the service on 13 Dec. ’41. His
DSC was posthumously bestowed for his actions between 23 December and 31
December. More information about him and his medal can
be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added
20 Dec. ‘12]

CPL George D. Rawson, from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and assigned to Co.
M, 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for engaging enemy soldiers
that were preventing the withdrawal of his squad on 31 December at Buna
Mission. The decoration was bestowed posthumously because he was KIA during the
event, but his squad was able to reach safety due to his actions. He was a PVT in
Co. M, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Fond du Lac, WI,
when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40. More information
about him and his medal can be found on the
roster of Silver
Star recipients. [added 25 Apr. ‘13]

1LT Fulmer, from South Carolina, was bestowed
with the DSC for his actions on 31 Dec. ‘42 and 11 Jan. ’43. More information about him and his DSC can be
found at: https://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2-4.html#Sanananda
as well as the roster
of DSC recipients.

SSG
Rayborn C. Blank, from Wisconsin and assigned to Company I, 127^TH
Infantry, earned the Silver Star for his actions on 18 and 31 December 1942 at
Buna. He was a SGT in Co. I, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin
National Guard, at Neenah, WI, when 32^D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct.
’40. More information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 26 Dec. ‘12]

PFC Edgar J. Fowler, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin
and assigned to Company E, 127^TH Infantry, earned the Silver Star
for his actions on 31 December 1942. He was a PVT in Co. E, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin
National Guard, at Manitowoc, WI, when the 32^D Div. mobilized on 15
Oct. ‘40. More information about him and his medal can be
found on the roster of Silver Star recipients. [added 26 Dec. ‘12]

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 32^D
Division detachments around Tarakena.

On New Year’s Day of 1943, URBANA Force was
able to link up with WARREN Force on the right. “During the day’s fighting, Private Robert H. Campbell,
Company [M],
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)”

PVT Campbell was from Iowa. More information about
him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients. [added 18 Dec. ‘12]

Several Soldiers earned the Silver Star for their gallantry on 1 January. Some of them are listed here
and more information about them and their medals can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients.

SGT Ernest R. Searfoss, from Detroit, Michigan, and
assigned to Co. M, 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions 1 January at the Government Gardens. [added 30 Apr. ‘13]

SGT Carl R. Traub, from Neenah, Wisconsin, and assigned
to Company I, 127^TH Infantry, earned the Silver Star for his actions
on 1 January near Buna Mission. He was a PVT in Co. I, 127^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Neenah, WI, when 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ’40. [added 27 Dec. ‘12]

CPL Merle G. Tasker, from Barry County, Michigan, and
assigned to the 32^D Div., earned the Silver Star, posthumously, for
his action on 1 January at the Government Gardens. He was an
infantryman, so it is possible that he was assigned to the 127^TH
Inf. [added
2 May ‘13]

Pfc. Victor
Allan Burt, from Lincoln, Michigan, and assigned to the 127^TH Inf.,
was KIA on 1 January or 31 December and was posthumously awarded the Silver
Star for his actions that day near Buna.  Pfc. Burt was “credited with delivering a message despite
mortal wounds.”  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of Silver Star recipients. [added 26 Mar. ’13, revised 20 Feb.
’17, TPB]

Pfc. Raymond W. Collins, from Marshalltown, Iowa, and
assigned to Co. M, 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 1 January near Buna, he assisted in rescue of a wounded comrade in
front of an enemy pillbox.  He later DOW
at Luzon in ‘45. [added 2 Apr. ‘13]

PVT Jack M. Williams, from Montgomery, Alabama, and
assigned to Co. I, 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star, posthumously,
for his actions on 1 January near Buna Mission. He was KIA that day. [added 2 May
‘13]

Toward the end of the day on 1 January, an outpost had reported seeing Japanese swimming from
the Mission (a.k.a. Government Station), a strong indication that the end was
near.

During the pitch-black, pre-dawn hours of 2 January, Pfc. Austin William Beasley,
a Wisconsin National Guard Soldier from Rhinelander, WI, assigned to Co. B, 127^TH
Inf., had an excruciating, horrifying encounter with a Japanese saber.  If not for a fortuitous glance off of his
helmet, he probably would not have survived to tell the tale in the Rhinelander Daily News on 30 October
1944, shortly after he returned to the U.S. [added 27 Oct. ‘18, TPB]

“There were three
of us in a hole, and I was watching, while the other two slept.  There hadn’t been any trouble – it was about
3 a. m. – but I was keeping a sharp eye on the jungle because we expected the
Japs to counter-attack during the night. 
I don’t remember hearing a sound behind me, but something told me to
look around.  That Jap was standing right
on the edge of the hole with his long saber held in both hands over his
head.  My automatic rifle was set up on
the opposite side of the hole from him, and I grabbed for it – but I didn’t
have time to get out of the way of the saber. He brought it down full
force.  It hit my helmet and glanced off,
cutting my back across the shoulders.  He
leaped across the hole as he swung the saber, though, right into my line of
fire.  He got only a few steps before he
was full of lead.  Those other two guys
woke up and wanted to know what was going on. 
They had plenty to do for a while taking care of me because it was two
hours before dawn and we couldn’t leave the foxhole until daylight.  They put sulfa powder on my wounds and
stopped the blood.  The medics got me
bandaged up a couple of hours later and carried me out to the field hospital.” [added 27 Oct. ‘18, TPB]

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, directing
operations from a forward position, was struck in the head by a Japanese sniper
at about 1000 hours.  Even though
severely wounded and blinded by the bullet, he maintained consciousness long
enough to personally turn over his command of 1^ST Bn., 127^TH
Inf., to one of his staff officers, Capt. Donald F. Runnoe, before being
evacuated for treatment.  Doctors
operated on him right away, but were unable to save him.  Capt. Runnoe, from Marinette,
Wisconsin, was bestowed with the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on
2 January.  He was 2d Lt. in
Co. A, 127^TH Inf., Wisconsin National Guard at Marinette when the
Division mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster
of DSC recipients.
[added 15 Dec. ‘12]

Capt. William H. Dames, Jr., from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin,
and commander of Co. G, 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
role in the capture of Buna Mission on 2 January.  He was 2d Lt. in Co. G, 127^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Oconomowoc when the Division mobilized on 15
Oct. ‘40.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 26 Dec. ‘13]

First Lt. Robert L. Hughes, from Madison, Wisconsin, and
assigned to 1^ST Bn., 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star
for his efforts to direct operations from an advanced outpost at Buna on 2
January.  He was 2d Lt. in HQ
Co., 107^TH QM Regt., Wisconsin National Guard, at Madison when the
Division mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 15 Dec. ‘12]

Sgt. Frank G. Freiberg, from Pardeeville, Wisconsin, and
assigned to Co. F, 128^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his
actions on 2 January during the capture of Buna Mission.  He was a Pvt. in Co. F, 128^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Portage, WI, when 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added
3 Jan. ‘13]

Pfc. Peter Geelhoed, from Byron
Center, Michigan, earned the Silver Star, posthumously, for attacking fortified
enemy positions with grenades on 2 January during the capture of Buna
Mission.  More information
about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added
13 May ’17, TPB]

“By early evening [of 2
January] 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)”

Several
Soldiers earned the Silver Star for their gallantry in the effort to find and
eliminate Japanese stragglers on 3 January.  Some of them are listed here and more
information about them and their medals can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients.

Tec. 3 William C. Featherstone, from Pontiac, Michigan, and assigned to
the 732^D Ord. Light Maint. Co., earned the Silver Star for his
actions from 16 November 1942 to 3 January 1943 in the Buna area.  During that time span he repeatedly and
voluntarily braved heavy enemy fire to recover weapons (lost by U.S. dead and
wounded) to keep them from falling into enemy hands and to allow their reuse by
friendly forces.  He was a Pvt. in l07^TH
Ord. Co., Michigan National Guard, at Pontiac, MI, when 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40. [added 5 Apr. ‘13]

Pfc. Joe H. Rainwater, from Concho County, Texas, and assigned to Co.
D, 127^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his actions on 3 January
near Buna Mission.  The medal was awarded
posthumously because he was KIA that day. 
He was KIA during the same patrol as Pfc. Aaron A. Schabo. [added 22 Apr. ’13, TPB]

Pfc. Aaron A. Schabo, from Appleton, Wisconsin, and assigned to Company
D, 127^TH Infantry, earned the Silver Star for his actions on 3
January in the Buna area.  The medal was
awarded posthumously because he was KIA that day.  He was a Pvt. in Co. D, 127^TH
Inf., Wisconsin National Guard, at Appleton, WI, when 32^D Div.
mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  He was KIA
during the same patrol as Pfc. Joe H. Rainwater.  [added 27 Dec. ’12, TPB]

The Japanese relief attack, west of Tarakena, was
just beginning when the 32^D Division captured Buna Mission (a.k.a.
Buna Government Station).  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 (a.k.a. Government Station).  On 4 January, the day of the attack,
Lt. Chagnon had received twenty-one reinforcements
from Co. E, 126^TH Inf., 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 127^TH Infantry across Siwori Creek and moving toward
Tarakena; the rest of the regiment was soon following.

Lt. James
J. Angus, from Illinois, earned the Silver Star for his actions on 4-5 January
near Tarakena.  More information about him and his
medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 10 Jan. ‘13]

Second
Lt. Alfred Ellsworth Kirchenbauer, from Muskegon, Michigan, and assigned to 2^D
Bn., 126^TH Inf., earned the Silver Star for his actions on 4-5
January near Siwori Village.  He was a Cpl. in HQ, 2^D
Bn., 126^TH Inf., Michigan National Guard, at Muskegon, MI, when 32^D
Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. ‘40.  More
information about him and his medal can be found on the roster of
Silver Star recipients. [added 23 Jan. ‘13]

Bibliography (primary sources for historical
information regarding the 32^D ‘The Red Arrow’ Infantry Division’s
exploits during World War II):

Blakeley, H. W., Major General, Retired.  The
32^D 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.
Carlisle, John M.  Red Arrow Men: Stories About
the 32^nd Division on the Villa Verde.  Detroit: Arnold-Powers, Inc., 1945.

Drea,
Edward J.  Defending the
Driniumor: Covering Force Operations in New Guinea, 1944.  Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies
Institute, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 1984.

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.
Kleber,
Brooks E. and Birdsell, Dale.  The Chemical
Warfare Service: Chemicals in Combat.  U. S. Army Center of Military History, 1966.

Mayo, Lida.  Bloody Buna.  Canberra, Australia: Australian National
University Press, 1975.

Miller, John, Jr.  Cartwheel:
The Reduction of Rabaul.  U. S. Army Center of Military History, 1959.

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 32^D Division, Wisconsin National Guard. 
n.p., 1955.
Smith, Herbert M.,
Lieutenant Colonel, Retired. Four Score and Ten: Happenings in the Life of
Herbert M. Smith.  Eau Claire, WI: Heins
Publications, 1995.

Smith, Herbert M., Lieutenant Colonel, Retired. Hannibal
Had Elephants II.  Eau Claire, WI: Rev. William A. Heins,
1995.

Smith, Robert Ross.  The Approach
to the Philippines. 
U. S. Army Center of Military History, 1953.
Smith, Robert Ross.  Triumph in
the Philippines. 
U. S. Army Center of Military History, 1963.