09:00

"A native just came into the C.P. ten minutes ago and reported Japs in a bivouac 500 yards away.  A squad of "D" Co. under Lt. Vandervort moved out, and a heavy fire fight can be heard.  Results should be in shortly."

"Wire is broken between switchboard at Namber and end of drome -  Regt. requests 2Bn. repair it.  Communications in the Bn. have capably done a Herculean task."

10:45
No. 43 

"Patrol of Co "D" contacted 25 fully equipped with automatic weapons in gardens at (87.0-56.4) at 09:45 hr.  Killed at least six Japs.  We had two casualties, one stomach wound not believed to pull thru.  Two Japs were captured at Inasi.  The 25 Japs are believed to be the point of main body formerly at Hill 670.  "D" Co. is trying to regain contact."

Score:  41 Japs Killed.  4 Captured.

We have 3 casualties, 1 serious.

No. 40

"The 81mm Plat. is zeroed in on hill which Japs are defending, and "D" Co. is being pulled back while a small barrage is laid.  After that, "D" Co. will push in."

13:10

"D" Co. ran into enemy patrol of 6 at (86.0-57.0) and are moving forward."

"When notified of contact with 25 man Jap party, Regt. wired 100 men 3rd Bn. arrived at Namber, from Kamiri.  Remainder of 3rd Bn. mudbound on trail to Namber.  1st Bn. Co’s A,B,C, at  (70.1-64-0) as planned."

13:20
No. 41

"A “K” boat is due in at Broe Bay any minute, to take out our two casualties and 3 Jap Prisoners.  That was quick work, for we requested the boat at 11:30 hrs,  when “Doc” Bradford said Herndon of "D" Co. needed an operation within 12 hours to even have a chance of pulling thru.  His stomach was sliced by a machine gun burst across the front, and guts are falling out.  Cantrell, "D" Co., has compound fracture of lower leg from bullet."

Pfc Loren J. Herndon died of these wounds on 19th July at Inasi.

“A” Btry. at Namber Drome is at Namber Drome ready at anytime to zero in on Hill 200, where A.M’s action took place.  They had plan to adjust fire to area Japs are determined by D Co. to be.  Harassing fire can be put on the Nips at night.

At Inasi we now have Hq. Co. less 1 LMG Plat. at forward Supply Base, D Co. & E Co. all F is at forward Supply Base except 1st Sgt. Baldwin & 5 men who are going there tomorrow from Inasi.” 

There is an error in that Hq, "D", and "E" Companies are at Inasi.  Only "F" is at the Forward Supply Base.  The 1st platoon moved out early this date to join the company.  For some reason I do not remember the F Company Headquarters men are still at Inasi.

No. 43

"D" Co. came back  in with one Jap Prisoner.  They passed thru the area of hill 200 where skirmish took place this morning, and counted 7 Jap bodies, instead of 6 noted in A.M.  On its afternoon patrol "D" Co. also killed 2 Japs. 

The score so far:  Japs killed-44  Captured 5."

16:45
No. 44

"3 Jap Prisoners went to Regt. today by “K” boat.  We have one prisoner in Inasi."

21:25
No. 45

"From C.O. Regt.-  Password “Waltzing Matilda”, from 16th 09:00 hr to 17th, 09:00 hr.  "

There were no individual Company History entries recorded for 16 July, 1944.

 We moved out and joined F Company.  1st platoon was given the mission of defending Hill 395.  The remainder of the company defended Hill 390.  Usually we did have a light machine gun platoon attached to us.  The open slopes of the garden on our east side gave excellent fields of fire even though when the bottom of the valley was reached it became plunging fire.  At one time they even had a platoon of light machine guns from the 3rd Battalion supporting us.  This platoon was under the command of 1st Lt. Homer “Ike” Collins.

We found out quickly that we were not the only ones getting water from the stagnant water hole and using the Japanese hand filter to get the moss out of the water.  The filter operated by a handle which when moved up and down pumped water squeaked loudly when operated.  At night we could hear it squeaking away.  We tried to devise a method of catching the Japs there but every attempt failed.  At one time we thought about zeroing in a 60mm mortar on the place, and when we heard the squeaking firing a barrage.  Then we thought about the formation of the water hole.  The island was porous coral.  Dirt lined some pockets in the coral.  The water hole was a large depression or pocket in the coral lined by inches of dirt.  The water was not deep.  A penetration of the clay lining could be like opening the drain on a bath tub.  Even though this was a poor quality of water,  it was water.  As poorly as the boon train operated bringing in supplies, what if we had to depend upon them for water?  It was preferable to share the water with the Japs.

The view from Hill 395 east over the garden was rather spectacular.  At Namber we entered the heavy rain forest and travelled up and down the steep coral hills until we reached a higher hill, Hill 390.  A saddle descended probably one hundred feet and then ascended rapidly to the peak of Hill 395.  Then as stated before the forest ended about halfway down the slope of the eastern side of the hill.  One could sit on top of Hill 390 and see through the hugh hardwood trees out across the garden.  After reaching the bottom of the garden there was a rapid rise up another hill which was probably one hundred feet lower than 395.  The crest of this hill was probably half a mile from 395.  The trail descended sharply down the eastern slope of the hill to a valley and the garden ended on the steep upslope of the next hill.

Later on "I" Company of the 3rd Battalion relieved us and laid down a mortar barrage one night on the water hole.  Thereafter their water was brought in by the boon train in five gallon cans.  They barely got enough to drink.  We could shave.  This helped to prevent sores and lesions on his face. These, as well as lesions on any parts of the body, easily became infected which quickly caused high temperatures, and absolute necessity for medical evacuation.  This was called jungle rot.  Another source of infection  was cuts and scratches.  We were filthy.  A fall usually meant a cut or scratch on the jagged coral.  In two days this could be a serious infection.

We had our positions between the roots of tall hardwood trees.  The tops of these trees meshed to form a canopy through which the sun never shone.  It was impossible to dig in the flint-like coral.  It was impossible to signal to aircraft flying overhead, because the smoke would float under the canopy and not go through.  A tree would have to be blown down to open the canopy for the smoke to escape through.  This was not practical, because we did not ordinarily carry explosives.  We had all we could manage with our weapon, ammunition, and field gear.  To cut down one of these large trees took a great deal of Composition C or whatever explosive was available.  Usually if there was a need to signal an airplane the need was right then.  On one occasion while we were on Hill 395 a plane was to check our position.  When he flew over we were to activate a yellow smoke canister for them to spot.  We did as planned.  The smoke rose to the underside of the canopy, then spread out and floated under it.  The small liaison plane flying above the tree tops and knowing our position was unable to spot the smoke.  I think the plane was an artillery observation plane, L-4, with the artillery battalion of the 158th Infantry Regimental Combat Team.

In "F" Company we never heard artillery support mentioned, and I think it was because we were buried in the heavy forest.  Actually visibility was pretty good at ground level in most places.  The undergrowth in the permanent shade was not real heavy, mainly because the undergrowth grew out of pockets of dirt in the coral.  Jagged coral was everywhere.

The night came alive with noises which is typical in the jungles.  Wild hogs could soon convince the inexperienced that they were Japs moving about in the brush.  rats, mice, birds, and other living creatures joined together to create a crescendo.  Oh lets not forget the iguana moving their 4-6’ about.  These noises could overwork one’s imagination.  Even the experienced had to exercise self-control.

È

07:45

"It rained almost all nite again.  The sky is either overcast? raining 75% of the time we have been on this mission.  The artillery laid down harassing fire on the area the Japs had been in yesterday - about 800 yards from our defenses.  The whistle and explosion sounded bad enough from our position.  A barrage was laid every 1/2 hr. during the night."

18:15
No.45

"Radio situation report as of 18:00 hr., 16th July.-  Same as July 16 noted above for day.

07:45
No.47

"The following is a resume of 2 Bn. evacuated as of 09:00 hr July 17 today, 16 July.

Battle Casualties:

"F" Co. :  Hobbs – wounded in leg at Biak

"D" Co.:  Cantrell- Compound fracture, leg, GSW

"D" Co.:  Herndon-  Serious abdominal wound

"D" Co.: Hans-  lacerated knee, coral cut, infected

"Hq" Co.:  Norris-  GSW arm, light, evacuated from Inasi to 263 Stat. Hosp.

"D" Co. S/Sgt. Bitu- FUO

"D" Co. Schroeder- FUO

"D" Co. DeLane- infected left foot

"F" Co. Tolson- FUO

"D" Co. Flynn-  infected lt. foot

"Hq" Co. 1st Poole, abscessed gum"

10:30

"A Jap was found dead this morning, 30 ft. outside our position - dead about 10 hours.  No marks or evidence of what caused death.  A few grenades were tossed last night, and concussion may have got him."

11:20

Score is now, captured - 5, killed- 45.

Phone from Richie -  Strength of E.M. & O’s will be sent by code each morning to Regt., along with casualty reports.

11:30

"Patrols sent out by 2 Bn. today consist of the following:  1) "E" Co, in toto, moved out on patrol to vicinity of hill 176, to contact 1st Bn. or enemy.  It will return about 17:00 hr. tomorrow.  "E" Co. is less Lt. Whitson’s Platoon and reinforced by 1 LMG Plat. of Hq Co.

2)  "F" Co. went out from advanced Supply Base with same mission as "E" Co.- 2 day patrol.

3)  1 plat. of "E" Co. went on half day patrol to reconnoiter water hole 1000 yards South of Bawa, where Lt. Calhoun’s contacted 15-20 japs day before yesterday.

11:30 
No. 48

List of all medical men submitted to Regiment.

12:35
No. 49

All information sent by telephone pertaining to troop or of value to enemy will be encoded.

13:50
No. 50

"E" Co. at (82.0-57.0) at 12:15 hr no other change - "F" Company patrol at (83.4-55.5) at 12:00 hr: no other change.  A chow train went to "F" Company this morning with one days food.  On way back, the train guard killed 4 of 6 Japs at (86.3-55.0)."

13:30
No. 51

"We have received signal of enemy in sight at (83.2-56.5) and are investigating it now:  patrol is continuing to hill 670- C.O. of "F" Company, at C.P. of Company F-  Lt. La Vanchure has patrol."

14:15

"Sergeant Hiniozosa and Lee of communications caught six armed Japs, with machine gun, about a half mile east of "F" Company C.P.  The Japs had an ambush set perpendicular to trail.  Each of our men had only two clips, and took off after firing at them.  They hit the Jap machine gunner and weapon never went into action:  killed at least two."

No. 52  16:30

"Red Dog hit enemy outpost armed with heavy machine gun in vicinity of (82.5-57.6).  Outposts of about 50 Japs:  they have plenty of chow and ammo-  Red Dog in position at (82.2-58.2).” 

"Red Dog" is 1st Lt. William E. LaVanchure, 3rd platoon, F Company.

16:35
No. 53

“Password Silly-Sally from 17th, 09:00hr to 18th, 09:00 hr."

18:05
No.54

"Red Dog hit Jap outpost of 8 men, covering unit reported before.  Killed 3, wounded 1, captured and destroyed 1 LMG, 1 HMG, 7 rifles.  One man injured (S/Sgt. Jackson) not serious."

18:05
No.55

"Lt. Calhoun’s Platoon out to investigate ambush Sgt. Hiniozosa reported saw three Japs at water hole and killed one.  Proceeded to ambush (85.0-54.6) killed 2 Japs, wounded one, captured LMG which is now in F Company’s perimeter.

The Jap who was at "F" Company’s position, captured four days ago, attempted to escape and was killed.

Score to date:  Japs killed- 57, Captured- 1 (1 killed of 5 original).  Herndon of D Company is our only serious casualty.  No word from E Company since 13:30 today.  Under Red Dog, F Co. is digging in for the night at site of encounter.”

"Co. “E” less first Platoon plus one M.G. section from Hq. Co.  contacted enemy outpost of six Japs and Juki machine in vicinity of Hill 440. 

Enemy killed:  4 

Our casualties: 

Pvt. Anker (Hq Co.)  KIA;

Lt. Abbott, Pvt. Munoz, Pvt. Kelly, WIA.”

Lt. Red Dog LaVanchure moved out with the 3rd platoon on a two day patrol.  About 16:00 hour they encountered a Japanese force in a defensive position.  This force had a .30 Caliber heavy machine gun, Juki (Woodpecker); a .30 calibre light machine gun, Nambu; 4 mines; a good supply of ammunition; and a large quantity of hand grenades.  The force was too large, heavily armed and emplaced for an unsupported rifle platoon to overcome.

È

08:30

“E" Company patrol dispatched to patrol between Inasi and "F" Company, and set ambush -  A plat. patrol.  Hq. Co. Patrols going up to (88.0-56.4) (86.6-56.8) (87.5-54.8). 

Joe Whitson’s 1st platoon, "E" Company,  is the first patrol mentioned above. Two patrols were sent out by Headquarters Company."

“08:35

"Lt. Gifford reports killing one Jap at 07:30 hr. out at listening post 400 yards outside perimeter at Inasi.  Jap committed Jara-Kiri by grenades, after being wounded in side.

Score:  Japs killed- 58  Prisoners- 4 (excluding "E" Company, not contacted in thirty hours).

We are beginning to hurt for chow now.  For nine meals ending at breakfast tomorrow, each  O & EM had 2 C rations, 2 K rations, and 5 oz. of rice.  It spreads the rice over 5 meals, and many strange meals are visible.  The yams in native gardens help a lot."

11:00

"Weather continues.-  Been raining heavily all morning.  Shoes, coveralls, and weapons are taking a terrific beating from the terrain and weather.  A few days out patrolling just tears shoes apart.  Resupply of clothing and cleaning preserving material are badly needed.  So far haven’t been able to get enough chow."

12:20
No. 56

"Password -  Better living, from 18th, 09:00 hr to 19th, 09:00 hr."

12:30
NO. 57

"From C.O., "F" Co. to C.O., 2 Bn. -  Flash contacted LMG position located on trail at (84.2-54.9) killed 1 Jap, captured LMG, now in possession.  Then moved to Red Dog position.  Last Jap ambush seen 500 yards to north:  3 Japs escaped, Red Dog on way in.

By 17:00 hr tonight all 2 Battalion will be in Inasi bivouac or immediate,  By order of C.O., Regiment.

"E" Co. returned to F Co. bivouac area, and here are the results of 48 hour patrol.  Left Inasi to go vicinity of hill 670.  At hill 445 saw shacks where 8 or 10 Japs had slept night before.  Moved toward 670, an azimuth of 320, cutting its way.  Trails east and west well traveled by Japs, from appearances.  Scouts saw six Japs in hut about (79.59-.5)”  I assume (79.0-59.5).  “5 Japs were killed and Lt. Abbott & Munoz wounded later quite seriously.  This action was at 17:00 hr.  In bivouac perimeter for night.  Corporal Anker was seriously wounded and died the next morning.  Co. took 3 prisoners armed with grenades only."

"At 16:00 hr today Lt. Cole killed one Jap in ambush (86.9-56.2)."

18:00

"Word from Regiment says a barge will arrive at Inasi with 2 days C rations, 3 days K, coffee, jam, sugar.  Also 500 pairs of coveralls, 250 pairs of Jungle Shoes, cleaning & preserving.  It sure is welcome, for the Battalion is out of chow.”

  “18 July 1944  Co. moved to Inasi trail because Private Munoz was badly in need of blood plasma.  On the way, three  Japs were taken prisoner.”

Sergeant Johnson, our 3rd squad leader took a patrol east on the trail across the garden.  His patrol killed four Japs, two riflemen and two machine gunners.  They had set up an ambush on the trail to Inasi Village.  Moving in rapidly Johnson and his men destroyed the Jap position before they could hurt them.  The Japs had chosen an extremely poor position in heavy underbrush of the garden.  They had cut a trail into the bush perpendicular to the main trail.  This trail was only about eight to ten feet in length.  They enlarged the opening here so there was enough room for the machine gun and a man on each side.  They could only see anyone who walked directly in front of them.  Johnson saw the opening in the brush as he approached.  The patrol opened fire into the brush and hit the Japs in position there.  Apparently all were killed.

Hearing the firing which included a few bursts of the Nambu (which was easily recognized because of its rapid rate of fire)  I took several men at hand and rushed to the relief of Johnson’s small recon patrol.  We passed the water hole and saw movement in the surrounding brush.  About that time Johnson and his men joined us and our combined force fanned out and killed two more Japs near the hole.  As we circled the hole a Jap on the other side raised up and pointed his rifle at Corporal Todd and men.  In that instant Pfc James Bradley on Todd’s right fired his M1 and knocked him down.  Todd finished him off.  We went back to the ambush site.  One of the dead machine gunners had not been dead.  Before we got back he activated a hand grenade and rolled over on it.  He was dead now.  His mid-section was a mess.  We picked up the Nambu LMG and destroyed the rifles.  The Nambu was in perfect condition.

We are still on about half rations.  This kept us foraging in the garden.  This was an abandoned garden and the sweet potatoes were voluntary.  This made for a poor quality, stringy root-like potato which I believe were called camote-cans instead of the good quality, planted potatoes called camotes.   Beside the sweet potatoes we found some papayas and plenty of bananas.  The latter were plentiful, but they had to be cut and stored for several days in order to ripen.  We would bring in a stalk, put it in the angle formed by the roots of a tree and cover it with palm leaves.  They ripen nicely.  There also fat, cooking bananas that were good only when they were cooked.  These were called cooking bananas.  They were much like sweets potatoes when they were sliced and fried.  Our problem was that we had no oil to fry them in, and it didn’t work frying them dry.

"E" Company had quite a fire fight near Hill 670.  They ran into a Jap force with a Juki (Woodpecker) heavy machine gun entrenched on the hill.  One of the men in the light machine gun section attached to them, Anker, was killed.  They covered his body with leaves and brush and withdrew.  Several were wounded.  They were 1st Lt. Donald, Pvt. Munoz and Pvt. Kelly.

È

07:15

"D" Co., killed one Jap immediately outside its perimeter.  Report for July 19.  “Stowes “Tommy Gun” got him.  He was banging grenades on the ground but none detonated.”

08:00

"Native Headmen from Sandow reports 3 Japs were near his village, and killed one.  Lt. Goodman & Hq. Co. Patrol will investigate."

09:00

"Lookouts are at Inasi Village waiting for barge with Rations and Supplies.  We hope the supply failures of the past won’t be duplicated."

13:00

"Lt. Goodman’s patrol returned:  Reports contact with 4 Japs at 12:00 hr at (88.4-58.6)- killed one Jap.- 1st Sgt. Ownby was wounded in the thigh, slightly.  Patrol continued on and ran head on into at least 14 Japs on trail.  Japs had 2 LMG’s.  One Jap definitely killed, and our 8 man patrol withdrew under cover of Smoke Grenade.” 

Score:  Japs killed- 62   Prisoner 8

The S-1 Journal here is being formal here - according to Army wound classifications,  any wound less than life threatening or critical, was classified as slight. The outcome was the loss of two men - Herndon of "D" Co., died of wounds in Kamiri at 01:00 hr, 17 July. Anker died of abdominal wounds in the field.

14:45

Barge has not yet arrived at Inasi.  One meal came overland, so we now have lunch, but no evening meal.  In 7 days since we left Namber Drome, the Bn. has been short 3 days rations.

15:00
No.58

Strength submitted to Regiment for rations.-

*The Advanced Supply Base is now called the Intermediate Base.  The 30 headquarters men there are the attached machine gun platoon.

14:30

“A reinforced Platoon of "D" Co. went to area where Lt. Goodman had contact, with native guide."

15:20
No.59 

"D" Co. position is (87.7-58.4) no change."

15:45
No.60

"D" Co. patrol made contact:  killed four so far."

15:50

"F" Co. reports Lt. Calhoum, on patrol contacted 5 Japs very well equipt.  300 yards east of (82.5-57.6) killed 3 at 09:30 hr., no casualties.

16:23
No.61 

"D" Co. reports killing total of seven Japs:  6 enlisted men, 1 officer, Lt. Inf.  No auto weapons -  No "D" Co. casualties.

Score :  Japs killed 78    Captured  8

Don Abbott,  the 1st platoon leader in "E" Co. in this action recalls:

"The time I was wounded is fairly clear in my memory.  It all had to do with Hill 670 which, somehow, we all knew was where the Japs had withdrawn to.  The first battalion which was up on the Northeast corner of Noemfoor had tried, unsuccessfully, to reach it from that side so they called on Sam Smith and “E” Co. to make a try starting from the track.  While Hill 670 is almost due north from Namber, for some reason we went about two thirds of the way across toward Inasi before heading in a North-easterly direction toward 670.  It would involve about four miles, as the crow flies, to get from the trail at that point to the Hill, but because of the terrain and having to detour around big chunks of coral it was a lot further than that.  You will remember that the island was mainly coral outcroppings, heavily covered with trees and brush that was very difficult to traverse.  Sam Smith was the Company Commander, McCaffery was the Exec., John Lindgren had the mortar platoon, and Doc Bradford was along but I can’t remember who had the other platoons.  Sgt. Peterson was my platoon sergeant.

Again, my platoon had the point most  of the time and we were trying to keep silent so the Japs would not know we were coming.  That was pretty difficult since Doc Bradford with his thick glasses fogged up couldn’t see where he was going and was always knocking down some of the jungle.  Jon "The Jungle Fox" Lindgren, who followed Doc, was clumsy and fell over what Doc had knocked over.  It was nothing but “bang, wham, damn” most of the way and our attempt at keeping quiet was not very successful.  For some reason or the other we had a machine gun detachment from Battalion assigned to us.

Finally, when we were probably about a mile or less from Hill 670, one of the scouts signalled back that there was an outpost with a heavy machine gun about ten yards in front of him.  At that close a range one figured the best thing was to get in the first licks, so I indicated that he should sweep them with his Tommy gun and then duck out of the way.  I had deployed to a crouch behind a banyan tree with high, thin roots.  I turned to tell Sgt. Peterson to send a squad around our left flank to hit the machine gun from that side.  That is when the machine gun opened up.  The Japs also started throwing a bunch of grenades.  The machine gun got one of the machine gun detachment in the spleen and he died during the night after having been in excruciating pain for hours.  It also got another machine gunner, I believe it was Pvt. Munos, in the left shoulder.  Several of my men were hit by grenade fragments but I don’t believe anyone else, other than me, was hit by the Jap machine gun.

I was hit hard enough in the right chest to knock me on my duff.  I looked down and saw all kinds of blood and a small pile of metal.  I thought it was a link from my dog tag chain.  In trying to flick it out of the wound,  it turned out to be a complete round of what looked like 30 caliber ammunition.  It was not until some time later that I found  that at least another round had hit the top of the root and shattered with one piece plastering up against my jaw and another going through the skin of my neck on the left side.

It was getting fairly close to dark by the time the squad I had sent to the left got to the machine gun site.  They found that the Japs had pulled back with their  machine gun and they could see where they had drug off several of their numbers who had been hit, probably by the firing of my scout.  Sam decided we should spend the night there and take care of the wounded.  I remember that John and I were sacke