Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea: The Forgotten War of World War II

: The Forgotten Theater of War

In the annals of World War II, the brutal fighting in the Pacific theater often overshadows the equally harrowing conflict that raged in the jungles of New Guinea. This forgotten war, fought between the Allied forces and the Imperial Japanese Army, was a grueling and bloody campaign that tested the limits of human endurance.

The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea--The Forgotten War of the South Pacific

by James Campbell

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3297 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	410 pages

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The Epic March: Across the Owen Stanley Mountains

In July 1942, after the Japanese had captured Port Moresby, General Douglas MacArthur ordered the Allied forces to counterattack. General Edmund Herring's Australian 7th Division was tasked with crossing the rugged Owen Stanley Mountains to cut off the Japanese supply lines.

The march was an epic undertaking, with soldiers battling through dense jungle, torrential rain, and relentless enemy fire. They carried heavy packs and fought off malaria, dysentery, and leeches. The terrain was so treacherous that many soldiers fell into ravines and were never found.

The Battle for Buna: A Desperate Struggle

In November 1942, Allied forces finally reached Buna, on the northern coast of New Guinea. Here, they faced a determined Japanese force that was dug into well-fortified bunkers. The battle for Buna was one of the most brutal and costly of the entire war.

The fighting was intense and close-quarters, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The Japanese fought fanatically, using every available weapon, including hand grenades and bayonets. The Allies had to resort to flamethrowers and artillery to dislodge them from their positions.

The Turning Point at Gona

After weeks of bloody fighting, Allied forces finally managed to secure Buna on January 2, 1943. However, the battle for New Guinea was not over. The Japanese had still not been dislodged from nearby Gona.

The Battle for Gona was another bitter struggle, with both sides suffering heavy losses. But in the end, the Allies prevailed. On December 9, 1943, the last Japanese forces surrendered at Gona, marking the end of the New Guinea campaign.

The Aftermath: A Devastated Land

The war in New Guinea left a devastating legacy. The Japanese had destroyed much of the infrastructure and the local population had suffered greatly. Many villages had been burned and civilians had been forced into labor or killed.

The Allied forces also suffered heavy casualties. Over 15,000 Australian and American soldiers died in the New Guinea campaign. The Japanese lost an estimated 20,000 troops.

: A War Remembered

Today, the war in New Guinea is largely forgotten. However, it was a significant and bloody conflict that played a vital role in the Allied victory in the Pacific theater. The soldiers who fought in New Guinea deserve to be remembered for their courage and sacrifice.

Additional Information

* For more information about the war in New Guinea, visit [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Guinea_campaign) * To learn more about the epic march across the Owen Stanley Mountains, read [The Lost Battalion](https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Battalion-Incredible-Story-American/dp/0553382554) by John C. McManus * For an account of the Battle for Buna, see [Buna: The First Battle for New Guinea](https://www.amazon.com/Buna-First-Battle-Guinea-MacArthurs/dp/078670573X) by Samuel Milner

The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea--The Forgotten War of the South Pacific

by James Campbell

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3297 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	410 pages

FREE