April 18, 1944 - Letter from Cape Gloucester

Dear Mother & All,

April 2, 1944 - Cape Gloucester

Daddy arrives at Cape Gloucester, New Britain as part of the 41st Replacement Battalion on April 2, 1944.  He could not recall, when asked in the interview my sister conducted with him, his exact duties when he first arrived on the islands as part of the replacement battalion.

December 1943 to May 1944 : 12th Defense Battalion on Cape Gloucester

The light antiaircraft artillery of the 12th Defense Battalion on the deck of an LST approaching Cape Gloucester, New Britain, is poised to fire on Japanese aircraft. Department of Defense photo (USMC) 71623

By late March 1944, Daddy was still considered as part of the 41st Replacement Battalion, but was on his way to Cape Gloucester (arrived April 2, 1944.)  The 12th Defense Battalion, as part of the 1st Marine Division, had been there since the invasion on December 26, 1943.

In His Own Words - March 1944 : Guadalcanal and Malaria

Upon arriving in the Pacific Theater, Daddy was greeted with Malaria.  This was very common for troops on this side of the war, and he makes it sound like it was just part of life in the Pacific.

February 21, 1944 : Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal 1944 - A U.S. Coast Guardsman directs traffic at Guadalcanal as landing craft bring in supplies to American bases there.

Daddy arrived at Guadalcanal, which had been secure for a little more than a year.  Guadalcanal was desired by both Japan and the United States for the air strip, and the U.S. quickly turned the island into a forward operating base.

February 12, 1944 - New Caledonia

After sailing for 3 weeks from San Diego, Daddy and the S.S. Tyler made it to port in New Caledonia.

In His Own Words - January 23, 1944 to February 12, 1944 arriving at New Caledonia

Port at New Caledonia