0805 hr |
Capt. Lamar called 2/4 field ambu and reports that Lt. Millikin died of
wounds. (According to Army tradition Lt. Fishburn will probably be tried
for manslaughter). |
1045 hr |
Lt. Millikin buried. |
1050 hr |
Word over telephone: (Telephone to Lt. Powell near BK). Pvt. Salmon of
Lt. Bosserts platoon reports that a patrol of 27 and Lt. Bossert hit an
enemy patrol about a (6 hours) days march above Camp Diddy and a Sgt. was
killed and an Aust on way to evac. This on a trail to Boana, ambushed by
Jap patrol, the Aust w/ patrol was wounded and died later. Bossert dug in
and is holding his position and requests reinforcements. He has a route of
w/d. Est enemy: 24, well dug in and have auto weapons. Bossert is armed
only w/ TSMG’s, carbines, M-1, no auto weapons. Pvt. Salmon left there at
0630 this AM. |
1130 hr |
Pvt. Salmon arrived to be interviewed by Capt. Padgett, S-3. |
1155 hr |
Capt. McLay of G-2, arrived at Gabsonkek, is told of Bossert’s patrol and
talks to Pvt. Salmon. |
1155 hr |
CO 2nd to CO Regt. Sgt. Wodjewdzic, Co B, killed in action about 1700
hr.13 Sept 43:, on patrol above Camp Diddy 5 hrs reported by Pvt. salmon, Co
B.
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(This platoon of Bossert's was attached to 2nd Bn at
last moment. Sgt. Wodjewdzic was the 1st man of the 2nd Bn to be killed by
the enemy. Lt. Bossert buried him in the jungles that night with a few
words to the disposition of his soul. His is a lonely grave, but it is on
allied soil.)
|
1200 hr |
Last units of 1st Bn enplane for Port Morsby. |
1230 hr |
Patrol is being organized by Capt. Padgett to take to relieve Bossert. |
1300 hr |
Sgt. Eubanks, Pvt. McDonald Co D, evac to Regt. |
1300 hr |
Pvt. Kelly Co F, member of original test platoon, evac to 2/4 fioeld amb (menengitis)
presumably contacted from a native carrier. |
1430 hr |
Capt. Padgett lvs out w/ 8 men and rations to go to Lt. Bossert - it has
taken three hours to get permission from 7th Division for the patrol to
leave.
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(Let the reader decide from the information at hand
whether or not the CO 2nd Bn should have taken independent action. Both Lt.
Col. Jones and Capt. Greco were gone when info received.)
|
1630 hr |
Sgt. Creveling and one intel. man Regtl. and five Boongs move out to
go pick up the remains of Sgt. Wodjewdzic.
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(They returned next day, empty handed.)
|
1900 hr |
Capt. Lamar showed up with a story that two Jap Divisions were moving down
from Madang on a forced march. This was regarded as very interesting in as
much as our intelligence tells us that less than a division is garrisoned at
Madang, that it would take them 18 days, that our aircorps could spot them
at least 14 days ahead. Capt. Lamar seems to have a better than aerial
photo on the 12th it is rumored went out to bury an armo). |
2000 hr |
Intercepted a telephone message from G-3 to some Major. “The main effort
has reached Edwards.” "What about Bumbu?” “Forget about the Bumbu, we’ve
got some interesting captured documents and among them a field order.” |
2030 hr |
Capt. Greco and 1st Sgt. Hostinsky return from self appointed 36 hr
mission to the front. The mission: To kill some Japs. Mission was
accomplished. Near Heaths they went to HHQ 25th Bn 25 Brigade and said they
were just looking around. They were assigned to Co A, commanded by a Major
Robertson (13 September 43). On the 13th the entire Bn was only able to
advance two or three hundred yards. (From Jenyn’s down to Whitakers Creek)
Co A, was astraddle of the Markam Valley Rd. The Company CP w/ Major
Robertson proceeded down the trail- the company front was sometimes 50
yards sometime 25 moving through Whitakers Coffee Plantation- the coffee
bushes are twenty to twenty five feet high. Contact between platoons was by
536 radio with perfect control. Remarkable also was control between men.
The Australians move with full field pack and billikins just a rattling.
Artillery laison was maintained by laison officer- a scared Lt. whom had to
be placed in position by the Major. On night of 13-14, the artillery gave
the Japs at Whitaker Creek and Heaths hell. The Jap did not reply with
artillery. Early in the morning of 14 Sept 43, Co A, moved across
Whitakers Creek and proceeded forward to Heaths. (Late in the PM of 13th
Co A patrol had moved to contact the 2/2 Engineers who had moved NW from the
Markam River. At the moment the Co A patrol entered the clearing around the
crater that was Heaths house before our aircraft dropped a bomb smack down
the chimney, a patrol from the 2/2 emerged on the other side. Each sighted
the other and both fired. No one was shot.) Beating the bush, encountering
machine gun fire over their heads, stopping to fill their pipes, “It’s
getting bloody F-----g hot mate”, and sustaining a few wounds, Co A, moved
forward to Lane’s bridge. Here an Aust Lt. walked within 15 yards of a Jap
machine gun. One burst blew his head off and left a helmet full of brains
on the ground. Major Robertson to a young soldier who had stopped to hug
the ground “get up lad, it’s only a couple of bloody Japs” To four soldiers
and Capt. Greco and 1st Sgt Hostinsky, “Go around on the left.” They went
around on the left crossed the creek mounting some high ground overlooking
the creek. Finally they saw movement under a tree down below on the creek
bank, they opened fire. One Jap got out of his hole to run, kneeled on the
parapet. He was tumbled back by Capt. Greco’s carbine. Covered by the four
Aussies, the two Yanks, went forward to see what was in the hole. Four
Jap-sons-of-heaven went home, a mass of dirty rags and blood. Co A, crossed
Lanes Bridge, the Japs fell back to the next creek (at Edwards) and Co A,
stopped for tea. About 1400 hr the wandering children started for home. Co
A’s casualties: 18 wounded 2 killed. Capt. Greco and Hostinsky picked up a
few trophies off their dead Japs. A large silk flag with red circle and
covered with Jap writing. A watch each and numerous trinkets. Lt. Col
Jones was very unhappy but relieved at their return. Capt. Greco knew that
his last 36 hrs. had taught him more than his last 36 months. |
2030 hr |
Capt. Greco, always interested in people, had a little human interest
story: I call it “The Coward.” This one private in Co A (he said) was in
action in the near east. Just a year ago yesterday he was sentenced to a
year and a day and a dishonorable discharge by a courts martial for
cowardice in the face of the enemy. Yesterday we held up near Lanes by a
machine gun nest. This soldier went wild. He walked straight into the
machine gun nest firing an Owens gun from the hip. Every Jap in the nest
was killed. The private was wounded twice but refused to be evacuated. He
is being recommended for the Military Cross. |
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