The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-05-06
93RD and oath
PUSH JAPANESE
NEAR T0R0KINA
BY FLETCHER p. MARTIN

WITH AMERICAN FORCES ON
BOUGAINVILLE-(By Courier)-
In move to extend the beachhead,
giving more water frontage and
stabbing enemy supply routes, the
base command pulled the oath In
fantry from its position and swung
ii around TO meet Japanese oppo-
sition near the mouth OF the Toro-
kina facing the Coral Sea. Fire
fighting was heatedly progressing
when the Negro infantry took its
position.
Before the last OF the motor We
hicles moved off the hill. elements
Of the 93rd division had taken pos
session OF the old oath emplace-
ment. and digging in. Also the
93rd had sent combat patrol to
scour the region. Armed with
automatic rifles and two light ma
chine guns. the patrol moved Oft in
the direction where two smoke
srenadeS had sent up clouds OF
white smoke-possibly signifyina
that the enemy was near.
1t. Gil Lloyd chaplain OF Chi
ca9o) and your correspondent were
among the last TO pull off. The
jeep was loaded down with sup
plies, including rations, shelter
halves. grenades, and rifles. Storm
CLOUDS had changed the beautiful
Easter morning TO dull grey. Rain
followed. Artillery reared, so did
the thunder.
The path led between towerina
jungle foliage. Winding in and
out between craters and stencil, the
Jeep finally entered the perimeter.
Along many emplacements wa
drove finally coming out on the
beach. We arrived just in time
10 swing aboard a duck" (floating
GMC) and went southwark. Rain
lashed the Coral and the duck
rolled with each foamy wave.
On shore pill boxes had been
smashed by our naval guns. In the
background trees showed she'll
marks. Along the beach ran barbed
wire, dividing the perimeter from
no mans land" We were well
outside OF the safety zone. Small
humps in the grey sand on shore
lndlcated that dead were buried
there. Carton birds scoring lazily
overhead strengthened the belief.
The new" beachhead seethed
with Negro troops. Supplies were
BENG moved inland. Our sector
ran Tor several thousand yard.
down the beach. In the same di.
rection thanking us as il rushed
into the sea was the Sava river
thought to be one OF the main enc
my supply routes.
The first-and most importan
,, task was TO set up gun position,
Our small perimeter had 70 b. -
cured before chow-rest--eyen 81
Zee. The jungle dark was apnrosch
ing. We had burned Our 49,,
behind US A frothing Coral -
was 10 the rear. In front lie acres
OF black shell blistered jungles
To the left flank machine nun
spouting continued. Shovels scooped
Our temporary command nos,
was bomb crater. S-Sgt. Rob
ert Mitchell New Orleans) WA,
IN the middle making the hole
deeper. His Office was on his back
dispatch case. Several feet from
sergeant Mitchell, M-Sgt. Frank
Ferguson OF New York City. was
dlssing. sweating. and abusing the
language.
Mortars were hurriedly placed In
positions. Rocket projectiles were
soon enroute down the beach. We
could hear the dull thud of ex.
plosion. AS this went on one uni,
moved into the jungles stringina
communication wire. Back of the
command post what was left of ar
enemy soldier was lying sprawled
out in a crater. Also was found
the remains OF q heavy Jap ma.
chine gun.