FEBRUARY 1944

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FEBRUARY 1944

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So we were alerted to move to Hollandia.  All this time we had been talking about what a tough nut Wewak was going to be to crack, and Gen. MacArthur surprised everyone by bypassing this major base and going on directly to the huge Japanese supply base at Hollandia.  At least now we were moving up toward the fighting.  We had heard rumors that they were preparing to move WACS into the Oro Bay Base Camp, so in order to keep up with the saying at that time “one step behind the Japs and one step ahead of the WACS” it was time to move. 

      At this time the other company histories, battalion history, staff journals, periodic reports and other documents will be quoted at intervals as additions to The Chronological History of Company "F",  Calhoun’s diary and personal accounts will be combined into a  report.

   
   

 

 

 

1 FEB, 1944
 

Camp was broken at 1430 hours & the troops went aboard the SS Robert Walker at 1605 hr.  Hoisted anchor at 1700 hr & sailed for unknown destination.
 

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5 FEB, 1944
 

"Co left Camp Cable by truck and boarded Army Transport at Brisbane, Qld. Aust. Harbor for new station."
 

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11 FEB, 1944
 

Co. left Port Moresby for new station.

 

Company left Port Moresby, New Guinea on USS Robert J. Walker for a rest period in Australia.

   
 

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14 FEB, 1944
 

"Debarked at Dobodura, New Guinea.  Pitched bivouac at new station.”

 

Dobodura was inland about eighteen miles from Oro Bay.  The airfields were located here.
   
 

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17 FEB, 1944
 

Arrived in Brisbane, Qld. Aust. Harbor 0500 hr.  Moved by truck to new station, Camp Cable.

Company disembarked at Dalgity (Dalgetty's) Dock, Brisbane, Australia and moved to Camp Cable.

 The ship docked at Brisbane, Australia on 17th of February, traveling a distance of 1256 miles.  On the 28th of February, 1944, First Lt. McRoberts assumed command of the company.  The troops arrived at Camp Cable on the 29th of February & there joined First Sergeant Baldwin.”  

The date is obviously wrong since the troops arrived at Camp Cable 17 February 1944. 

"The first batch of replacements of Brisbane arrived two weeks earlier & had the camp ready for the old soldiers."

"The month of March brought more hard training & preparations for a change of stations.  Twelve men from Company “B” underwent stiff training at the Australian Commando School.” 

The writer is having trouble with the company designation change.  The school is the Queensland Jungle Warfare School described in Lt. Calhoun’s diary. 

“The men made the best of the short four weeks at Cable by visiting such places as Logan’s Village, Savoy’s Queens St. & Beaudesert & beer call formations."

"Once again the troops embarked on the U.S.S. Sea-Cat, left Brisbane 5 April, 1944.  On April 13 they disembarked at Dobodura (Oro Bay), New Guinea.”

   
 

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“The regiment was given limited intelligence details on Hollandia and Aitape in preparation for a possible jump there, but the Jap resistance afforded the ground troops cancelled this mission."

"April and May were occupied by training and on May 26th the Regiment moved to Dobodura to the air strips.” 

This is incorrect.  The Regiment had moved from Cape Sudest, Oro Bay, after about a month to Dobodura to an old cantonment area across from the 31st Infantry Division.  It then moved from there on 26 May to a newly cleared area and set up its cantonment area. 

 “Work on the new camp was begun, but again the unit was alerted, and enplaned at Dobodura from Cyclops Drome, Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea.  Camp was established at Ebli’s Plantation 15 miles inland from Humbolt Bay.  June 15th the Regiment moved to Holakang across Humbolt Bay by truck and LCM, for purpose of patrolling the area.  Co. “D” was established as Lt. General’s 6th Army Hq. guard, and the other 3 companies moved 4 miles to Cape Kassoe where a camp was established and patrols dispatched.” 

 

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