The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-09-25

with our supplies piled 10 before
us as barricade while the Jsps
fred on our position"
This is the startling revelation OF
Cpl. Roland Collins OF Gultport.
Mss. The words 10 us mean only
one thing-our dusky soldiers were
the FIRST American ground troops
20 JOIN that mighty drive which
wiped the Japs out OF the Buns
area their last stronghold in Pa
Qua. New Guinea. one year ago
The story here can now be told
o, how Ave brave Negro soldiers
volunteered 10 90 on conquest OF
our most deadly enemies. Tojo's
Npponese fighters and they
succeeded with that one immacu-
.a-e result-VICTORY.
This is an old story tina. we all
have read about Daily newspa-
pers IN the States. our papers and
even have already written OF
the incident. but the real facts E.
the thunder OF the story has never
really been told in all its glory.
Five Soldiers. One Gun
Last December We learned Of FIVE
colored soldiers who took 81 MILL
meter gun along with a party Of
Australian soldiers into the Jap
populated Owen-S;anley mountain
range 20 knock out a Nipponese
mountain gun. The facts OF the
articles were somewhat confused
resulting in the main theme being
story Of lost gun crew Later
the group returned TO their home
unit. Following this their organi-
cation. which was an engineer out
A.. was dispersed into scattered
groups all over the island. For
months ! have been trying 10 And
me men who took this hazardous
mission into the Owen-Stanley.
Corporal Collins, who has just re-
turned of leave and much needed
rest TO Australia. reveals here an
adventure that makes US proud TO
write and print Before going into
the details here are the names OF
the other heroes OF the triumph:
Ptcs.eRoy Hicks, Troy. S. c.: Charlie.
Perry, Chattanooga. Tenn; Rober
Davis. Charleston, w. Va: anS
James Smith. Thomasville. Ga.
With no further suspense here
Corporal Collins. commander q
the gun crew. thrilling story:
zone night In the latter part I
August my company commando
! called me into the orderly ten
Corporal he said. how would 20
like TO 60 into combat service
Thinking that he was only jokin,
laughingly I said that would b
swell
Jsps mo Joke
This Is no joke he told me
The Japs are somewhere on III
Owen-Stanley with a mountain gul
which is somewhat like our Z
nillimeter. All OF the Aussie.
artillery is too large 20 get int.
close range OF the gun without
attracting attention. Wha, is reall,
needed is 81 millimeter like W,
have. You and your men with III,
help OF the Aussies could NOV,
into close enough range and fr,
upon the Nips position.
This is not an order 50 It's Il,
20 you al 20 volunteer for The
task. Are you interested Away:
having the desire 10 fight and de.
spite the fact that ! was somewha,
shaky shout the whole matter.
took the bold notion and said yes
He asked me about the other men
told him would ask and see
what they had 20 say.
Made Up q Party
Il asked Jimmie Smith frst
He took 10 the idea like a baby
takes 70 milk. asked Roy Hicks
Charley Perry and Bob Davis. They
all wanted the chance 20 take :
crack a: the Nips. returned e
the CO and told him everything
vas oksy.
We reported later TO an Aus.
trS,ian Lieutenant and corporal. 4
party OF th!r;y-seven men was mad.
Up. was given orders by IN.
Officer 10 break my gun down &
as many small parts as possible
With the help Of Roy. Charley. Der
and Jimmie we broke the CUR
down and made the parts up in:t
several packages. Native bearer,
took over the parts and carried
then, for us.
we liked for days through
tangled jungle, mounted steep hill
and wsded through water. neve,
w;lked SO much in my life. Ro,
became III with fever and much a.
we regretted we were forced 4
send HIM back 70 camp. We con
,iHued on Tor three more days.
was losing hope. dguring shat III,
laps had been taken care Of swhel
without warning our native bearer
dropped our supplies. asked m,
Auss.c corporal what the fools wer,
DONG. because couldn't see any
:a.ng. Duck ior cover he yelled
natives can scent the Japs mile
away
Party Machine Gunned
We had MI the ground only
few seconds before a volley Q
machine gun bullets started fanninI
the al above our heads, whel
darkness came the shooting ceased
Through the cover Of night ",
found ourselves more secure posi-
Sons. couldn't sleep at all tha
night Honestly was scared a
he'll A: dsyoresk through som
ts,l bushes tried 20 see the Jap.
They were so we'll camou,la &c,
that nowhere was their position
noticeable didn't think befor