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Battle of Bougainville: 37th Infantry Division’s Battle for Hill 700World War II | 31 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post The American strategic plan was clear: Move up the Solomon Island chains to open a direct route to the Philippines, take the Philippines and then move out from there on to Tokyo. Subscribe Today
In 1942, the U.S. Marines drove the Japanese out of the first Solomon island, Guadalcanal; in 1943, painfully, bloodily, the 37th Infantry Division pushed through the equally impenetrable jungles of New Georgia, sweeping what was left of the 15,000 defending Japanese into the sea. The next and final Solomon island was Bougainville, and there the tactics were dramatically altered though the strategic concept remained the same.
In early November 1943, the 3rd Marine Division and the 37th Infantry Division invaded Bougainville with an offensive-defensive mission. There was no thought of pushing across this 250-square-mile island and eliminating the 25,000 Japanese in a brutal, costly, slow action. Instead, the plan was to take only a small piece of Bougainville, perhaps six square miles, including the deepest, best port at Empress Augusta Bay. Within those six square miles, a major airfield would be built, from which American planes could range over the South Pacific as far forward as the Philippines, assuring security from the air for the convoys and task forces that would invade the Philippines in October 1944.
By November 13, the Marine and Army units had reached their 2-mile-deep objective against relatively moderate enemy ground resistance and airstrikes. During the next four months, the position was consolidated, the airfield was built, and the springboard to the Philippines was set. Fighting had been limited; it was obvious that the Japanese had assumed–and hoped–that the American troops would go after them in the jungle terrain, where the Japanese could inflict heavy casualties on the Americans as they hacked their way, yard by yard, through those jungles. By March 1944, the Japanese realized that the Americans were going to sit this one out, manning defensive lines. If they wanted to kill their enemy and, most important, take out the vital airfield, the Japanese would have to attack head-on.
The American perimeter was dotted with a number of hills and valleys. The famed Hill 700 was right in the center of the perimeter, towering above the entire area with a clear view of the airfield. Hill 700 was the linchpin of the American defenses, the key to holding the perimeter positions to its right and left and eventually the airfield. The 3rd Marine and 37th Infantry divisions were spread thinly along this two-mile perimeter, with forces in reserve that could be sent forward wherever the Japanese might break through. Patrols were sent out to find and fix Japanese troop concentrations. A few prisoners were taken, and several quickly confessed that the Japanese command had finally understood the U.S. defensive concept and tactical plan with Hill 700 as its heart.
On March 8, the inevitable massive Japanese attack began, and it did not wane until March 13, when Hill 700, which had been partially overrun by the Japanese, was retaken by 37th Division forces, who annihilated thousands of Japanese in the recapture phase.
At 6 a.m. on the 8th, the first artillery shell from the attacking Japanese hit in the 145th Infantry Regiment’s sector. The enemy began to carry the fight to the Americans.
The American beachhead was on a coastal plain lying at the foot of the towering Crown Prince Range, volcanic mountains held by the Japanese. The enemy also occupied the rest of Bougainville–giving them a white elephant compared to the Americans’ potent mouse. The two American divisions could not spread their perimeter beyond the nearest foothills overlooking the beachhead. The best they could do was to hang on to the lesser heights that dominated the airfield and to deny those hills to enemy artillery.
Hostile fire was coming from Japanese positions on Blue Ridge, Hills 1001, 1111, 500 and 501 and the Saua River valley. Fire from only a few pieces could hit the airfield from those positions, but those meager rounds hinted at the Japanese destructive potential if they could place their cannon on the hills that the 37th Division defended, mainly Hill 700. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
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31 Comments to “Battle of Bougainville: 37th Infantry Division’s Battle for Hill 700”
Very good! I was there.
By Hans G Sporbeck on Jul 2, 2008 at 10:32 am
if anyone in the 145th knew George sweigert or jack shaffer from cleveland I would like to talk with them. I am George sweigert’s son. I remember my dad telling me about this battle. My email is georg.Webb@gmail.com. Thanks
By George sweigert on Aug 21, 2008 at 7:40 am
My mother lived in the Philippines and remembers fellows from this division. She is trying to get in touch with whomever was there like Lt Lloyd Wazscelesky (?)
By Veronica Steffen on Aug 23, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Just found out my grandfather was a marine involved in this fight. His name was Floyd Morgan, and he died before I was born. I’m trying to research his military involvement. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
joenshelly02@yahoo.com
Joseph
By Joseph Lanier on Aug 30, 2008 at 9:24 pm
My Dad,Pfc Robert Felix Jones 9th Marines,3rd Division was on Bougainville and Guam from Jan1943 to Sept1944,any information would be appreciated.
By William M. Jones on Sep 20, 2008 at 6:38 pm
My Dad was in the 145th and was in this battle.I have photos of members of his company. Dad was a company scout and his name was Daniel Cole Sullivan. Dad told me he was in Hand to Hand Combat and when he walked off that hill he was covered in blood.The 145th was one of the first unit in Manila when they re-took the city. Any information about the 145th ,that any one can share would be deeply
appreciated.Sean O Sullivan
By Sean O Sullivan on Sep 29, 2008 at 1:42 am
George, Sean, My cousin was part of H. Co. 145th IN the entire war. I just interviewed him in August and have his photo collection from Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and the Philippines. He won two Bronze stars during the war. His name is Bill Skelley. Does anyone know him? Anyone elses relatives in H. Co.?
v/r
Bill
By Bill Florig on Oct 1, 2008 at 12:53 am
I am looking for an old friend , Clayton Ham, who fought in the battle of Empress Augusta Bay, which is where i come from. Would very much like to contact him again. .
By Cobbie on Oct 7, 2008 at 1:50 am
My father, Robert J. Nichols, H Co. 145th was a 81mm mortar squad leader on Hill 700. The name Skelley I remember him talking about. He went back to the Solomons, Fiji, New Zealand about 20 years ago. He was presented a Bronze Star for Hill 700 when he came home, at Crosley Field in a war bond show by General Patch. Dad is now 88, in a nursing home, with vascular dementia. Some memories are vivid, other times not very much. Anyone wishing to contact me personally, feel free to do so.
Gary Nichols
Batavia, Ohio
By Gary Nichols on Oct 7, 2008 at 3:38 pm
My cousin Lewis H Vandergrift, was with the 1st Plt,5Bn
37thCav/Reconnaissance Troop. He was awarded a Purple Heart
at Bougainville, 3/11/1945 and was wounded again at Luzon,
6/22/1945. He died of this wound in Manila, 7/3/1945.
He is buried in his home town of Martins Creek, Pa.
By Kathleen M Smith on Oct 23, 2008 at 11:25 pm
During that night attack, a device cooked up by Staff Sgt. Otis Hawkins proved invaluable. As soon as the first Japanese started jimmying the barbed
wire on the perimeter, Hawkins ordered mortar flares fired and wires pulled, setting off gallon buckets of oil ignited by phosphorus grenades. With
help from this artificial lighting, Hawkins directed 600 rounds of 60mm mortar fire, and the riflemen picked off many Japanese who had counted on
darkness and confusion to help them achieve their goal.
Otis “Earl” Hawkins is my uncle. He went on to fight with the 6th army in Luzon where he teamed up with my father, Merrill Lester Moutoux, although
neither knew each other at the time, my dad would marry my uncle Hawkins’ sister, Pauline. Uncle Earl returned to Ohio to build a small chain of
grocery stores and strip malls in the late 40’s and early 50’s and could have had the first major grocery franchise, but didn’t want his name on a
store that he couldn’t manage. He is now 93 years old and still living in Wooster, OH.
By Dr. Steven M. Moutoux on Oct 31, 2008 at 5:37 am
My dad , Glen W. Mitchell fought in this battle. he was a corpl. in
3rd division, He is 86 now in bad health. Crys when he recalls
this battle. Has just now begun to talk about it. would like to here
from others!
By Daniel l. Mitchell on Nov 3, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I am trying to trace my father’s path through the South Pacific. If anyone has any information on Hubert Joseph Poskey from Texas let me know.
Also, I would like to know how a group from Texas was assigned to the Ohio National Guard.
My dad won a Bronze Star in the South Pacific but I am not sure where. My email is djposkey@yahoo.com.
Regards,
David Poskey
By David Poskey on Dec 3, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Looking at my Dad’s discharge paper. Antitank Co. 145th INF. Arrived Pacific Theater 6/12/42, left 4/18/45. He told me about being on Fiji, Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Bougianville, and Philippines. He was a machine gunner (.30 cal water cooled) first half of the war, scout the second half). He had a bronze star for Northern Solomons +1 for Luzon Campaign, +1 for Philippine Liberation. He never talked about a specific battle. Being in the 145th, I guess he was on hill 700.
I will start an email list with the email addresses here. I am Rich Comeau, sharplet@gmail.com .
By Richard Comeau on Dec 14, 2008 at 3:36 pm
An area of help is to contact the 37th Veterans Association in Columbus, Ohio. Talk to Mr. Cyril Sedlacko. There are meetings every few months as well in Cincinnati at a restaurant for lunch.
My Dad passed away on November 28. I have a number of photos from Fiji through Bougainville that I can e-mail. I just found photos of Joe Trimmaco, John Paluso, Steve Josky, and John Push in 1988. The names may mean something to others, but he had not seen them since 1944, went to visit I think in Youngstown.
Gary Nichols
nichols.surveying@fuse.net
By Gary Nichols on Dec 15, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Am planning to do some volunteer work in the south Pacific very soon, and would be grateful if anyone might recall a battalion surgeon in the 37th, Maj. (then Capt.) Darrell D. Althouse, my father. Although he served with the 37th, he was a physician in the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY State. With the 37th, I know he spent a good deal of time in Bougainville, and was with the men as they re-took Manila. I’m trying to figure out on which islands in the Mariana chain Dad might have served, and the time-frame involved. If I’m given the opportunity, I’ll physically hike some of the areas Dad did in ‘43, ‘44 and ‘45.
Any information, or just a good chat from any 37th Division afficiado, would be gratefully accepted.
kevin.thomas.althouse@gmail.com
By kevin thomas althouse on Dec 23, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Does anyone who served with 37th Infantry Division during battle for hill 700 remember my father Willis Dale Vandewater. He served as an Army Medic.
If anyone remembers him I would be interested in hearing via email or phone.
Thank for your help and service to our country.
Eric Vandewater
319-665-2166
By Eric Vandewater on Dec 31, 2008 at 10:04 pm
My father served with the 75th Seabees Construction Batallion. His name is Eldo Hilgeman. anyone that may have remembered him I would be very proud to talk to you.
Randall Hilgeman
727-393-7231
By Randall Hilgeman on Jan 20, 2009 at 2:40 pm
On March 13, 2009 we will be escorting the remains of Robert M Scudder PFC, Marine Corp who has a purple heart and appears to have fought on Bougainville. Our group consists of Missing In America Project, Patriot Guard Riders and Old Guard Riders. We have been requested by the family to provide escort to the cemetery and we will also provide a flag line as well as a protective flag line around the family. I am researching Bougainville to better understand the campaign in which Robert Scudder was involved.
It is our mission to give honor and respect to all who have served our nation.
Respectfully,
Mark Boehle
MIAP/OGR/PGR
By Mark Boehle on Mar 3, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I{ am trying to find out how to contact the author of an earlier post dated Oct. 7 2008 1:50 am and his name only says Cobbie he is looking for my father Clayton Ham any help would be greatful. I can be reached at cameronham@rocketmail.com thank you Cameron Ham
By Cameron Ham on Mar 29, 2009 at 6:17 am
My father, Noah F. Brown(Fred or Brownie) was also in Bougainville and won a Bronze Star. If anyone has any info , Please contact me.
By Jerold Brown on May 5, 2009 at 10:45 am
My Uncle Walter (Babe) Collins from Philadelphia PA served with the 37th throughout the war, he told of being in a pillbox on Bounganville and surrounded by Japanese who would fire into the boxes , He stayed with the unit through the Phillipines and received 2 purple harts and a silver star. He passesd several years ago and we never found out why he received the silver star. We do know onew of the purple hearts were for wounds in the Phillipines, He was a Sargent and at times a scout. Sny info would be appreciated
By JimMcMonagle on Jun 19, 2009 at 6:35 pm
If anyone knew my dad who was in the 37th division, 2nd batallion, 145th infantry I’d apprciate hearing from you. His name was benjamn Pat Brann and I think he was some sort of seargent technician and maybe a cook . thanks you
Bill Brann
bbrann58@comcast.net
By Bill Brann on Jul 13, 2009 at 9:05 am
PFC John (Jack) Bussard served and was killed in action @ Bougainville. If anyone has pictures or information on the battle at Hill 700 please respond.
Thank you
By Robin Silverstein on Jul 14, 2009 at 12:26 am
Does anyone recall serving with Rulon (RA) Harris, my uncle, her served with the third marines in Bougainville, and also at Guam and Iwo Jima.
By larry harris on Jul 22, 2009 at 9:41 am
Amazing article… My Dad, Leo (K-mert) Kalinowski was awarded the Bronze Star during this battle. He is now 88 and showing his age. There is a long medal list in the “Field Artillery Journal” from that time period. I found his entry in the Dec 1944 edition.
PDFs are available online… http://www.army.mil/famag
By Leo Kalinowski on Oct 9, 2009 at 10:19 pm
My father served with the 37th Division/Co. G , Pvt. John McCurley. He was a rifleman and carried a BAR. He served with the 37th until he was wounded during the Battle for Manila. While serving, he was a Silver and Bronze star recipient. He never talked about the war until just before his death in 1985. He gave me a book titled “The 37th Infantry Division In WW II’ . He showed me the inside of the cover where there is a large photo, taking up both cover and 1st page. Its a photo of 4 infantry rifleman, during combat on Bouganville. He pointed to the 3rd man from the left and said “Thats me.” The photo is of 4 rifleman cautiously advancing thru the jungle, and my Dad is carrying his trusty BAR. I have many photos of the 37th from Bouganville thru the battle for Manila, and Co. G documents marked ‘SECRET’ at the top about a fight for a hill refered to as ‘THE TOP OF THE WORLD’, where he earned the Silver Star. I was never more proud of him than that day he finally bopened up to me about his combat experiences. He jioned the Army at 16 , lieing about his age, And was only 17 when he earned his Silver Star. he served proudly thru WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, for 30 years, I miss him dearly.
By John McCurley Jr. on Nov 10, 2009 at 1:54 am
SId Goodkin, a lieutenant mentioned in the article, is in good health and sharp as a tack. He might have info that some of you are looking for. According to a web page set up for a band he plays in, he can be reached by e-mail at sgoodkin@bright.net .
By Bob on Nov 11, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I am looking for friends of Joe Whelan.I believe he was in the 145th or 37th.I know he was in the Army and was at Bougainville and Guadalcanal.He just past away on October 25th and the memorial service was today at Ft.Rosecrans San Diego.I am his son Paul.
By paul on Nov 12, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I have real photos from Bougainville/WWII showing beach attack from the air and more. Would like to know more about them, who took them, etc.
By M. Nelson on Nov 17, 2009 at 11:20 pm
My grandfather Edgar E Zombro fought with the 37th DIV, Kco 148th Inf. I have a Japanese flag he captured and a field interogation report from the battle of Luzon.
Does anyone know him or have any information about the 148th or Kco?
By Chad MacDonald on Nov 18, 2009 at 1:58 am