WANIGELA, NEW GUINEA. 1942-10-15. AMERICAN TROOPS OF 128TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 32ND UNITED STATES ...

WANIGELA, NEW GUINEA. 1942-10-15. AMERICAN TROOPS OF 128TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 32ND UNITED STATES DIVISION, ON THE FIRST STAGE OF THE DIVISION'S MOVE ON BUNA. IT WAS PLANNED THAT THE DIVISION AND THE 2/6TH AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT COMPANY WOULD MARCH TO PONGANI, A POINT ON THE WESTERN SHORE OF DYKE ACLAND BAY, ABOUT THIRTY MILES FROM BUNA, WHICH WAS KNOWN TO BE FREE OF JAPANESE. HOWEVER, THE HEAVILY LADEN AMERICAN TROOPS OF THE 3RD BATTALION, A DAY BEHIND THE AUSTRALIANS WHO WERE ACTING AS THE ADVANCE GUARD, WERE UNABLE TO GET THROUGH THE KNEE DEEP SWAMPS AND WERE EVENTUALLY MOVED BY SEA FROM GOBE. THE OTHER TWO BATTALIONS OF THE DIVISION WERE ALSO MOVED BY SEA, BUT ONLY THE 2/6TH INDEPENDENT COMPANY COMPLETED THE.