Japanese forces on Bougainville were still strong and organized in the first months of 1944. In March, they launched a massive counterattack against the American perimeter. The battle began with a massive artillery bombardment of the entire American sector on the morning of 8 March.Their objective was to drive the American forces back into the sea, and retake the airfields. But despite the heaviest concentration of artillery support that the Japanese would mount during the entire Solomons campaign, the offensive was doomed. Japanese intelligence estimates greatly underestimated the size of American forces on the island. Allied artillery and airpower struck back to essentially silence the Japanese artillery barrage. The battle began in earnest the following day, and over the course of the next week, three separate Japanese assault groups threw themselves against the semicircular defensive line.
During the Japanese attack, alongside the forces of the 182nd Army infantry, there were Seabeas fighting as well. One Seabee, E.C. Scarborough searched his foxhole for more ammo. He found and opened a package of gun clips that contained a slip of paper upon which was printed "Inspected by Mrs. Bernice Scarborough" - his wife.
There is a fascinating back story to all the action there.
You'll find it here.
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Granted, it's only pennies, but every penny helps, right?
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