The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-03
NEGRO TROOPS
IN A Y G 0 I 0
o. C. SCHOOL
A ctivities Helped To
Make Campaign A
Success

OF zen. LOU dS MIC arthur sAilSE- q
lean forces activities in the New
Guinea campaign, the pages OF
world history should blaze with
epochal data The month OF April
marks year of activity for Am,ri-
can ground forces here. The nrst
to arrive were Negro troops. April
%. 1912, during a heavy downpour
OF tropical rain at Port Mo- 'sby. 4
At that time the JapS were at the
Owen Stanley range only 46 miles
away.
From the period Of April 10 the
present. colored troops along with
other American and allied forces
have learned how 10 take Il" where
a, raids are concerned. having been
in better than so OF them. II is be-
lie"ed that among Negro troops dur
ing this per d. the casualty rate was
extremely low
these troops began their task
here under difficult odds, but the
job was done despite these odds. In
the following paragraphs some Of
the highlights are portrayed along
with a few other events that help
to add color to their first year of
service in the New Guinea cam
paign.
April, 1942-While preparing to
hIild defenses for American and
allied forces they received their
first dose Of Nipponese illustrating
and bombing.
May. l942-They were alerted for
a possible enemy invasion Strategic
preparations were made and the
khaki lads were ready for battle
with the Nips The possible" In
vasion never took place, because
American naval forces and Gen.
MasArthur's land-based planes met
Tojo's convoy and defeated il.
June. l942-Wkile the battle Of
Midway was ensuing. forces here
were constantly harassed by the
NipS fror, the air. Also during this
month, three Negro soldiers were
lauded for rescuing a pilot from
wrecked plane They were Cpl.
Harvey Crandall and Plea James
Scott and Julius Franklin.
July, l942-Word came that Japs
were again headed to New Guinea.
Official confirmation later came tina,
Japs had landed in Buna after their
convoy OF ships had been dealt Z
considerable blow by allied all
forces.
i August 1s42-Nipponesa, marine
made an sttempk invasion ut Min
: Bay. American am allied forcs
: retaliated. Herofca1ly among thel
= were colored quartermaster troop
{ This was American ground force
first engagement with the Japs !
L New Guinea. They were victoriou
5, During this same month an officis
! announcement was made Of tn
o three soldiers rescue Of the nj
r corps pilot in June. They wer
J. awarded medals by Gen. Mac
e Arthur.
September. 1942-Plucky Cpl 70
lard Collins, Bay St Louis. Miss
along with four other Negro sol
diers and Australians moved on
for the Owen-Stanley range vicinit,
with a 81 nm. gun TO knock out ;
japanese position. Those that mad,
up lis party along with the Austria
ians were Pics. James Smith
Townsville. Ga: Charles Percy
Chattanooga. Tenn and Pvts Ro,
Hicks. Eastley, S. c.. and Rober
Davis. Charleston, W. Va. Durini
this same month q colored enginee
= company moved out in the direction
OF the Owen-Stanley range to bull,
what they later. unofficially. termet
y their Burma Road"
October, 1942-The engineer com
pany broke road building record
E in establishing connections between
several vital points. They receive,
excellent concentrations from Ger
MacArthur's headquarters.
s November, l942-Chaplain Charlie
e H. Dubra. Gulfport Miss. (wh
d was the first American chaplai
t here and incidentally the hrst Ne
e 60 officer) after eight months q
h exceptional work in Nav. Guine
: was elevated from the rank OF hrs
s Lieutenant 10 captain. During tn
: month Cpl. Collins returned wit
4 his expeditionsry crew from tn
d Owen-Stanley range s~cticn-
December, l942-Ttirty Negro so
e diers left on an undisclosed missio
Il itno the Buna area, where Amer
IT car and allied forces were repellh,
e japanese troops.
Is January, l943-Several colors
s. soldiers were among the frst Of e
y listed personnel to be sent to N
l. stralia for officers candidate scho
d from New Guinea. Another Neg
Is officer and an American Red Gro
: field director were assigned to IN
base. First 1t Edward II. Low
Muskogee. Okla. and Field Directs
Sylvester l. Reeder. Washingto
= D c. The latter's rank Is assimilats
, with that OF captain in u. S. arm
giving this base total OF fo'
4. colored officers. Chaplain Dub
and Chaplain T. r. Frierson. Sur
ter, s. c., were already here.
y February. l943-Second 1t. Jam
4 ". Bradford. St. Paul, MINI. becan
the ifth officer to be assigned lei
STAFF Sgt. d. w. Anders, Carbonda'
c. H.. member Of an ordnance
4, here. was decorated with the Purp
s. Heart award by Brig. Ben. Dwig
e. Johns, for wounds received duril
a.. enemy bombing action.
n March. le43-Negro troops aga
" face possibility OF being sent
OF officers candidate school.
a., This summary is only brief u
~ partial report OF q years sctivitl
ne Of Negro soldiers in New Cuint
IL Countless stories could be told
day By day incidents that are cole
ne full and tremendously interests