Best Two Out of Three

[BBfanboy]

The JPEGS are definitely better! Thanks!

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: John B.

BBFanboy, The quality of the pictures goes down when I save them in the gif format on microsoft paint. Happy to save them elsewhere if you have any suggestions.

My personal favorite for manipulating graphic images is Irfanview, available for free at:
http://www.irfanview.com/

And I really wish Matrix would join the 21st century and allow .png images!

[Anachro]

I always use png as the format for my web images.

[John B.]

Thanks for all the tips! [:)]

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. II Burma Battles (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

We were continuing our pursuit of Japanese forces and inflicting heavy casualties on them as they pulled back. Those guys never quit, but they could die in large droves once we broke them. The road to Bangkok stank of blood, shit, and the detritus of war but we kept pushing them.

But, we did not actually want to take on Bangkok yet. Recon showed that it was an air fortress. Over 600+ fighters which could shred our boys unless we could time sweeps perfectly and that was tough to do. So, our plan was to head on down the coast to take out Port Blair and then hit Sumatra with its oil fields. We would also go around the plains north of Bagkok and basically isolate the city before we attempted to take it.

-- Author's interview of MGen Bernard Fitzsimmons Liaison to Allied Supreme Command Burma Theater.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. I: Chinese Quagmire (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

The Japs launched three assaults on us at Ansi with tanks, planes and artillery and they were unable to break through. Then, they actually retreated! We had been down to our last bullets with C-87s dropping supplies from Ledo which were barely enough. But, we held on which stopped the IJA's attempt to retake the oil wells of Urumchi. On the downside, our own thrust down the main road was stopped cold by the Japanese air force. There was no where to hide out in the flat desert and they were merciless. They would circle above our units just to dive down and strafe wounded men who were trying to crawl away. It was basically a stalemate up here.


LGen Tieh Chan commander 14th Chinese Corps. (Post War Memoirs)

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

It was a sight to see today. American carriers spread out over the glittering sea. I could count more than 10 of the big boys and a number of escort carriers. The intel guys had figured out that Anatahan was empty and it turns out for once that they were right. I guess the plan is to build up an air strip and port facility to help out with the invasion of the main islands in the Marianas. I'm surprised to not see the IJN anyplace. But hey, if I can go through the rest of the war and never be shot at again that's fine by me! We can't stay off shore forever so I hope the bulldozer jockeys going in over the surf do ok when we leave. But, they know that this time we'll be back with the main invasion force!



Jeffery Brighton Torpedo Pilot USN (diary provided by family)

[Capt. Harlock]

I'm surprised to not see the IJN anyplace. But hey, if I can go through the rest of the war and never be shot at again that's fine by me!

I think those red sihouettes at Guam means our correspondent is in for some excitement. . .

[John B.]

Capt. Harlock

I think that those are all subs. No hint of the IJN thus far. But, it's quiet out there. Almost too quiet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WAwuSK36Gw

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

Say what you will about the Japs but you have to give them credit. They just keep coming. My fighter pals are claiming nearly 100 planes shot down today when they sent in the dive bombers against us but still they did not turn back. I had just taken off for an ASW patrol and I saw five Judys push over on the Lexington (but I could be wrong about the ship, I was supposed to be looking for subs after all). I think that flak got one but there was some fancy dodging by the Captain of that ship. The bombs missed, but barely. I'd need a good stiff drink if that was heading for me! I wonder if they'll try again tomorrow.

Jeffery Brighton Torpedo Pilot USN (diary provided by family)

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. II Burma Battles (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

Q: What was the retreat from Moulmein like?

A: What was it like?

[At this point the interviewee paused for a long time before speaking]

A: Like Hell, that's what it was like. Remember we had been pounded at Moulmein for two months. At night by 6" shells from heavy cruisers and by day by hundreds of bombers. The Allies launched countless assaults. We held on and bled and held on and bled and finally we were pushed back. And then our troubles really began.

Q: What do you mean?

A: Every day the planes came as we pushed ourselves up and down the muddy tracks some people in Tokyo called a "secondary road". We had to hide, which slowed us down and more men and animals died. I don't know if I hear the screams of wounded horses or the whimpering of wounded men more in my nightmares. Our air force never came to slow down the allies so they would catch up, attack, kill and maim more of us until we slipped away on the muddy tracks eating bamboo, monkey, whatever we could get our hands on.

[another significant pause]

A: One day near the Thai border my best friend Saburo was wounded. We had been together in China, Singapore, and into India and back. I carried him as long as I could until my legs buckled underneath me. As I lay him down he looked in my eyes and we both knew I would have to leave him there, even though he had never left me. He said 'Akio, take this for my parents' and he cut off his little finger so that they would have something to remember him by. I took it and left. Some say that the Yasukuni harbors the spirits of war criminals. I don't care. That's where Saburo is and I go every day to apologize for failing him. . . I have to. . .I'm sorry, I can't go on any longer . . .

[At this point the interviewee got up and left the room]

Author's interview of Akio Manjuro LCpl 33rd Inf. Division (invalided home January 2, 1944)

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. II Burma Battles (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

100 million united will never be defeated! Here are scenes of Indian troops from the 17th Inf. Division and US troops from the 43 inf. division. Each enemy tried to fight their way into Rahaeng and each was defeated in turn by our troops assisted by our gallant Thai allies. These men were sent into Burma to prop up English Imperialism and they have come to this sad fate. Begging their conquerors for water and bread. Let this be a lesson for all those who oppose the Imperial Way.

Excerpt from the Propaganda film "Hakko Ichiu" released January 15, 1944 depicting lines of Indian and American prisoners being herded to the rear area.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. IV: So Pac Chessboard (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

We were certainly the red headed stepchild of the US navy at the end of 1943. We loaded up our invasion force headed for Namatanai on any rust bucket we could lay our hands on as all the shiny new APAs and AKAs were destined for other battles in the Marianas. It was a good plan, land at Namatanai and then march up to Kaeving rather than take on any forts at that base. But, we would be right next door to Rabaul. Our fighters boys had been locked in continuous combat for weeks over that base, we just had to hope we could keep them down long enough to unload and get away. Our makeshift navy made me worried that we could not get that done in time.

Capt. F.D. Merrill Commander TF 43 (post-war interview)

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

Let me tell you it was tough when most of the US navy would show up with empty fuel tanks on the same day and need to be turned around quickly. At the time it would take us about 4 days to refuel and re victual everyone and that was with the boys working round the clock to exhaustion. The CVs and BBs would show up like chipping birds demanding to be fed first. Then, when they left, the AOs, LSTs, and xAKs would pull up to dump their cargoes on us. I'm glad I did not face bullets, but it was back breaking never ending work. At the same time, we knew we had to be at the top of our game, now that we had a base in the Marianas, everyone knew that the next target would be Saipan!

Vice Admiral Henry Catts (Ret.) (former harbormaster of at Eniwetok interview with author February 1964).

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. V: Duds and Depth Charges (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

One of my jobs sitting in Pearl was to compile a spread sheet for the brass on how the sub war was doing. By all accounts, we had pretty much solved the torpedo problem. Reported explosions on IJN ships were way up. Hell, we hit 48 TKs in 43 as opposed to just 8 for all of 1942-1943. And 169 AKs vs. just 69 in 42/43. But, sub losses were starting to climb. We lost three in the first two weeks of 1944, more than all of 1942. The Japs had some new ASW mortar and seemed to have designated hunter killer groups. This did not bode well for us!

Chief Petty Officer Marigold USN Ret. (Interview with author).

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

This was it! Saipan. It seemed like up until now were were just taking back what Tojo took from us. But, not we were taking some of his territory. We had visited two weeks before and the Japs had some nasty shore guns that put one of our BBs into the shop. But we had clearly hit some supply dumps as they risked a resupply run into the island and lost 20 AKLs. But, that was the past. We were now lined up for two days of shore bombardments and air strikes and then the doughboys would go in. The armada we had gathered left me breathless.

Capt. Frankens USS Yorktown II (Speech to Annapolis Cadets January 1, 1955).

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. II Burma Battles (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)


Dearest Mabel,

I don't mean to gloat, but I think my boys are some of the best in the business. They know their business and could go toe to toe with one of Jerry's SS divisions or Hirohito's Imperial Guard. We've chased the Japs to the edge of the jungle and now we're resting a bit to get our morale back while the action goes on to the north. Then, we may head for Bangkok or Singapore. Whichever way we go, you know we'll give a good bash to the Japs. Kisses!

January 16, 1944 Letter home to his wife from MGen Glover, Commander 2nd British Division.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. II Burma Battles (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)


Now that we had secured Raheng we were going to cross the river and head for Bangkok. The IJA knew they could not hold in the clear terrain with our tank and air superiority and we got word they were fleeing northern Thailand. We were happy to occupy real estate for free and it opened up options for us to head into French Indo China. We had heard chatter, however, about some "special weapon" that Japan would employ if we got a base on the Gulf of Siam so we were treading a bit carefully. Looking back, I don't think anyone would have guessed what that special weapon would turn out to be.

MGen Fitzsimmons, special Liaison to SEAC (Post-War Memoirs "With the Empire in South East Asia" Penguin Books 1960)

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. IV: So Pac Chessboard (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

It's just as well that Japan had its attention fixed on problems closer to home as we had very few resources to push our offensive. Basically, we had to juggle our two (yes two) APAs plus other shipping to just get troops ashore. For example, when we pushed out strategy to outflank Rabaul the 2nd Marine Division moved towards Kavieng with only 4 105mm artillery pieces since we did not have enough shipping to land the rest. But, the Japs only had light units there as well so it looked like the ring around Rabaul would grow tighter. We knew that sooner or later they would shut down our theater, but we were proud that we could accomplish so much with so little.

David Pincus, Lt. Col. 2nd US Marines (Ret.) 1963 interview with author

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

In retrospect, one of our greatest mistakes was not providing enough of a garrison in the Marshalls. When your Navy and Army invaded Siapan we only had the naval fortress, an infantry regiment, and part of one division plus some support troops. The fact that it took your forces just a week to clear the island is proof that you bought that key real estate too cheaply from our point of view.

Misumaso Yonai Member Supreme War Council (post-war interview with United States Navy).

If you've never been in an amphibious invasion I'm not sure I can describe it for you. We were primed for the second wave at Saipan but then the big brass noted the easy time of it we were having there and recon/intel showed only a small garrison on Tinian. We landed on the fly, salt water spraying in our faces, mortar rounds crumping in the sea next to us and the smell of diesel, vomit, and shit filling the landing craft. With no real planning for Tinian we were pretty disorganized when we landed but this time the brass was right. There was not much there and we took the island quickly. But, I was ok and so were the men in my platoon and that's what really counts!

Staff Sargent Martin post-war letter to his brother.