Green Hell-New Guinea from Kokoda to Buna-Gona with Jon Parshall-Episode 204

This week Seth, Bill and Jon Parshall discuss the opening moves in the campaign for New Guinea. The trio breaks down the fighting along the Kokoda Track, the unbelievable human suffering in the Owen Stanleys and jungle and conclude with the fighting in Buna, Gona and Sanananda. @jonparshall
#wwii #worldwarii #ww2 #pacific #usa #usnavy #usmc #saipan #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #halsey #admirals #admiral #general #indianapolis #submarine #torpedo #destroyer #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

[@AaronStuartHall]

Aussie here. I have been watching this channel for a few months now and I really appreciate this episode. It's rare to have an American channel put Australian efforts into context. Australians loathed Macarthur and his ignorant hubris, but really appreciated US help. We also learned that Churchill was a snake. Thanks for this ... five stars.

[@michaelcoughlin8966]

In the States we view Australian Troops as tough as nails

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

Just want to apologize to all Aussies and the fine troops from New Zealand. MacArthur was a royal ass. His ego knew no bounds. He was loathed by American troops too.

[@jonparshall]

Thanks for the kind words, and you're welcome. One of the things I try to do in my forthcoming 1942 tome is take a more holistic and integrative approach to the year. Which means not only throwing more of a spotlight on the contributions of the Australians in the Pacific, but also giving more room to what was going on with the Chinese, the Italians and Romanians in Russia, and the Canadians in the North Atlantic as well. It was a big war, and a lot of people were involved.

[@Thumpalumpacus]

Any American who doesn't respect a Digger ain't worth much in my book. Y'all's some fightin' sonsabitches.

[@JamesSavik]

The Aussies weren't the only ones to think MacArthur was useless. My Dad had the misfortune of serving under him in Korea. Mac was one of those political generals who was brilliant in the media but not so much on the battlefield.

[@jimboblordofeskimos]

As an Australian, more bashing of doug please. He has it coming.

[@billk8817]

And Sutherland who denied the Chinese were in Korea.

[@laurencetilley9194]

Eisenhower referred to MacAurthur as a 'horses arse'. If you think MacAurthur cocked up at Kokoda, what he did to the Aus 9th AIF divisions at the Battle of Finschhafen part of the Huon Peninsula campaign, and the Aus 7th division AIF during the battles in the Markham and Ramu valley's (shaggy ridge) was almost a war crime. He was so focused on taking New Britain on his way to the Leyte gulf in the Philippines.

[@parrot849]

@@billk8817 Sutherland was simply an awful human being period

[@parrot849]

Douglas MacArthur from the time he was in charge of routing the Washington D.C. Bonus Army (combat veterans of WW1 asking for their promised allotted back pay) in direct violation of specific general and presidential order in the 1920’s; all the way until finally being fired by President Harry Truman in the early 50’s; was hands-down the worst, most dishonest, stupid/conniving, and dangerous senior American General the United States has ever allowed to hold supreme military command authority over a strategic combat theater of operations. As a political Military-Governor cum Caesar, he came into his own when he ruled with absolute sole authority and by order/proclamation; post-war Japan. He made one hell of a “benevolent dictator” and In relationship to the times and location, did a good job.

[@flparkermdpc]

Years, and years, more than half a lifetime ago I read William Manchester's "American Caesar" and bolted it like I chugged it like I did keg beer back then. I have since read some other accounts about "American Narcissus", and then revisited some of the accounts of MacArthur's mother's oversight of her son's life as a student at USMA. I have no idea how he managed to board the ship to France in 1917 by himself. The witnessed accounts of his almost foolhardy bravery during the fighting was almost theatrically choreographed. It wasn't, but you gotta wonder.😢 I know that my reading of Manchester's bio has taken on a new hue since. "Me and Mom at West Point." His mismanagement of the New Guinea campaign was criminal. But his career was littered with people he bamboozled. My Mother included. She was fooled to the end.

[@terryp3034]

This campaign broke my uncle and wrecked his life. He was a squad Sargeant, often lost for days on patrol, stumbling into Japanese patrols. The brutality of those combats scarred him for life. I once was awakened by his crying in the wee hours. He was telling my father about what he went through, what he did, and the drastic measures he felt he had to take. These soldiers were essentially on their own, immersed in a deadly sea of dense vegetation. He survived physically but, pursued by the demons of those experiences, became a serious alcoholic. Wrecked his marriage. Estranged his son. And he died in the midst of DT's. His burial was a surreal mix of a color guard, a relative or two, and some folks from skid row. New Guinea was beyond war. It was a portal to Hell.

[@stephenkayser3147]

My sincere sympathy. An Aussie whose family was in PNG and WW1.

[@johnrudy9404]

Salute to him and ALL Aussie soldiers, staff personnel, support staff who answered the call will raw guts. We in the states see the Aus soldier as tough, determined, resourceful and loyal. Attributes to aim for always. PS: Thank you for treating our Vietnam Soldiers so well.😊🇺🇸🇵🇳👌👍

[@stephenkayser3147]

Thankyou@@johnrudy9404

[@stephenkayser3147]

@stephenkayser3147 3 minutes ago (edited) Your uncle is not alone by far as I understand. The trauma and suicides of returning vets has out-passed the casualties of the wars in some cases I have heard of (and others for which such information does not exist etc). The trauma lives as long as the serviceman (and their family). One simple example , an Aussie Vietnam vet hears a car backfire or similar sound while sleeping at home. Next he knows he is in the front yard in a crouched position having jumped and rolled ready to fight through the bedroom window. It is hard for them to talk about such things on their return home. Unless you lived it you cannot understand it. Glad you have such respect for your father and tried to understand his war with his memories. I am sure that would have mattered more to him than any ribbon or medal.

[@stephenkayser3147]

Thank you for your response. I can only guess (poorly) at how hard it must have been for everyone concerned, This KZbin site is an Aussie song about Vietnam (kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJqVZWB-h9F1ns0). It shows the pain and confusion of many young men put into traumatic situations they were never able to be prepared for. Kamikaze attacks are amongst the most frightening that can be imagined I believe. No wonder they leave deep scars. I am pleased he found some peace as he grew older with his grandchildren. At least he had that consolation to lift his spirits and possibly a hope for a better future. P.S. helicopters could have a similar affect on Vietnam veterans.

[@RogerSlade-ro9pt]

I eat up anything I can find about the fighting toward Buna My father was an Lt. in the Sunset Division. I have a "wonderful" letter he sent to my mother 16 weeks after he was left for dead in the jungle fighting of the last Japanese perimeter in the battle of the Sananda Road. He was shot in the head by a sniper, survived and then sent to an Australian hospital to recover. His letter describes the horrific conditions i.e. fighting for days or weeks in waist-deep water, most with fevers as you describe, malaria, and dysintery and fighting with the Japanese sometimes only 20 feet away but nonetheless, invisible. He crawled out of the jungle, blind, delirious but somehow following the phone wires from the phone on his dead sergeant's back only to run into his buddies coming out to bring his body back. The letter is classic 1942. He was awarded the Silver Star, sent back to the States, Fort Hood, and eventually medically discharged. Thank you.

[@TheCrapOnYourStrapOn]

Now we fly the 🏳️‍🌈 flag over the US flag. What did we fight for??

[@waterboy6087]

Hypohystericalhistory is a great channel which has a history of Kokoda, and the New Guinea battles, especially from an Australian perspective.

[@zotfotpiq]

I love all of hypohysterical history's content. Can't wait for his take on the aukus.

[@Thumpalumpacus]

That vid is great, it goes into tremendous detail.

[@chadrowe8452]

I liked that one too and the tarawa/makin

[@CFarnwide]

Agree! Hypohystericalhistory is top shelf for Papau New Guinea and Kokoda Track information. No better source in my opinion!

[@ericgrace9995]

Kokoda was predominantly an Australian battle.

[@robtsologtr]

After years of not allowing questions or discussion of his WWII service Paw started speaking of his experiences in the last years of his life. He was among the Michigan National Gaurd members drafted into service in the first peacetime draft in US history - becoming the Red Arrow division. They were trained in urban warfare, and were in transit to be shipped to Europe on Dec 7. They were redirected to San Francisco and shipped to Australia. When they landed at Port Moresby they didn’t even have uniforms - much less training in jungle warfare. It was to be on the job training. He endured the March across the Owen Stanley Mts. By the time he got to Buna, racked with malaria, dysentery, and starvation they were dressed down and insulted by the new general MaCarther had sent. When finally relieved, he weighed less than 100 lbs. When they cut his rotted cloths and boots off large chunks of skin pealed off. He suffered with malaria attacks for the rest of his life. Upon recovery in Australia he was redeployed. He was finally released while on the front in the Philippines in July 1945 upon accumulating enough points. He was offered a commission to stay, but “it was time to go home.” He never forgave the abusive general. “We should have shot that son of bitch in his tracks.” He absolutely loved and respected the Aussies, and felt the same for the “Fuzzy Wuzzies.”

[@ramozj6997]

Your dad is a legend mate .Australia has not forgotten . Thank you.

[@redinhawaii]

Awesome… ever heard of Sheridan or Ionia Michigan… that is where I and a few of those 32nd soldiers were from

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

It makes me understand why some US Army soldiers in Vietnam fragged some of the green Lt's that came over there and lead from the rear.

[@steel5791]

'Unauthorized History'' is absolutely without equal for a highly detailed, chronological history of the Second World War throughout the Asian Pacific areas. I have learned innumerable details that give both clarity and texture to the conflict in these, easily confusing, areas. Every episode delivers content I haven't found anywhere else. To my mind, it is like Ian Toll'talent applied to the entire larger theaters of operation. Simply Excellent, and Jon is a perfect fit with the excellence of Seth and Bill.

[@emerald640]

I have read many books on the pacific war and seen many documentary's and this is this is one of the few that I have not found wrong facts in. And yes I have an autographed copy of Shattered Sword. A real prize.

[@emerald640]

@@wayneandrewstubbs You are correct . Dates for W A Lee Willis Augustus "Ching" Lee Jr. (May 11, 1888 - August 25, 1945) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Lee commanded ....... Direct from google. If I oopsed it, sorry. I usually try to be correct on any information I publish.

[@user-gn7vx3cp9x]

Huge thanks to Seth, Bill and guest John for an extremely interesting, entertaining and educational series. This latest one on New Guinea, although missing the naval battles which are fascinating, has particular interest for me as I have spend many a month mapping in the New Guinea forests and working on other projects in New Guinea as a geologist/ geotechnical engineer. It's challenging enough when you are well rested, well fed, well medicated and have helicopter access, so I can only imagine the hell of being in this environment whilst being shot at, starved and deathly sick. That's fortitude for you.

[@juantanamo33]

I've heard of military misconduct when it comes to commanders failures before, but the idea of not needing artillery as an AMERICAN infantry division has got to be one of the worst injustices anyone has ever committed. Your ridicule of MacAurthur continues to be more substantiated each and every episode 😂. Thanks again for a fantastic episode!

[@justinwilliams2000]

Alexander the Great didn't need artillery 😉

[@johnf8064]

@@justinwilliams2000 Mac did!

[@bryanhoffman9255]

​@@justinwilliams2000 My Mom didn't need artillery

[@justinwilliams2000]

@@bryanhoffman9255 but did your dad?

[@bryanhoffman9255]

@@justinwilliams2000 he needed a flak jacket and ear muffs

[@kaylemoine1571]

When I was young, I couldn't understand why my parents didn’t think too highly of dugout Doug when everyone else thought him a great man. My uncle fought in that theater. This explains a lot. Thank you for another very interesting show.

[@davidhoward3970]

Love me some Jon Parshall. Can't wait for his 1942 book.

[@ericflagg80]

I will buy the First Edition

[@stuartdollar9912]

Shattered Sword was amazing. Can't wait for the 1942 book myself.

[@jayshaw63]

THANK YOU from here in Wisconsin. From what I've read, the Wisconsin 32nd Infantry Division spent more days in combat during WWII than any other American division, Army or Marine. Wisconsin Memorial Highway 32 runs from the Illinois state line all the way to the Michigan Upper Peninsula. There is a 32nd Division memorial at each end of the Highway. Each and every Highway 32 sign is marked with RED ARROWS, the Division's nick name/shoulder patch. As I assume you know, the Wisconsin 32nd Division earned that nickname in WWI from a French general, being the first Allied division to penetrate the Hindenburg Line "like an arrow" in October 1918. BTW - Wisconsin sends an army of 400,000 riflemen into the field for 10 days every November. Most of them are pretty good shots. 🙂

[@paulobrien3241]

The 32 was actually part of the ANZAC ( Australian New Zealand Army Corp )corp in these WW1 battles . They were under the overall command of the Australian Sir John General Monash who was the last soldier to be knighted on the field of battle by the King . So there was history between these 2 Armies .

[@jacktattis]

No the first to break the Hindenburg line was the Australians on 18 Sep 1918 The US helped on the 29 Sep 1918 on the second attack with the Australians

[@tylerjerabek5204]

@@paulobrien3241it’s possible that it could have been included with Anzac but it’s definitely an American unit, originally from Wisconsin en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32nd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

[@johnhutley9706]

As an Australian, I found this an excellent coverage of the early phase of the New Guinea campaign . Small point of pronunciation “Milne” as in The Battle of Milne Bay (25 August - 7 September 1942) rhymes with “Film”. Also Milne Bay is a very long inlet, not an island.

[@jacktattis]

Mate if they are going to discuss New Guinea have a Australian Military Historian.

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

Yayyyy... So happy Johns back.... You guys are such a good team together

[@damianzaninovich4900]

I love your videos. When I was age 11-18(60 now) I worked with a man every summer who fought in New Guinea(Negros island). We made wood boxes for table grapes. He told my cousin and I who was even younger about one time he was with a scouting group and they got lost in the jungle with no food. When they finally got back the guys ate powered milk and donuts and got violently ill but he new better and didn’t eat that food so he was okay. His name was Russel C. Taylor but everyone called him Smiley. He smoked unfiltered Camels. My cousin and I loved him as a father figure and we still talk fondly about our childhood summers spent with this great man. He kinda looked like Abraham Lincoln, tall and thin. It’s hard not to think about him with a dry eye. We learned a lot from him.

[@robertgrey6101]

@damian Just a point: Negros Island is in the Phillipines. Unless you are using a word to disguise a certain thing.

[@gregorybrennan8539]

My father was a signalman on a cruiser in the South P. It was well known among officers that Gen. MacArthur did not prepare the troops in the Philippines properly. HOW DID HE GET AWAY WITH THIS?

[@fredferd965]

How did he get away with this? For one thing, MacArthur was related to both FDR and Churchill, though a distant relative. And FDR realized two things: The first was that MacArthur wanted to become President and that he had a good shot at it. He could be politically dangerous IF allowed into the Washington D.C. arena. So he was best kept at a distance, and the further away the better in FDR's eyes. Let him become king of the ant hill in the middle of nowhere. FDR was no fool, and under no conditions was he ever going to allow MacArthur into the European theater of operations. The second thing was that MacArthur, for all of his vane behavior, was a symbol, and the US needed symbols in an area where their military presence was lacking - posturing instead of sending in armies, you might say. MacArthur knew this. He was always complaining about his "treatment" from Washington. You will notice that later, during the Korean War, MacArthur was till trying to become president. Also, by this time MacArthur had made such a huge "symbol" out of himself that he was essentially "bullet proof." FDR could not relieve him without creating a riot.

[@matthewstephenson155]

Proud Australian which has read a lot about New Guinea Campaign .Thank you so much for acknowledging the Australian 1:33:44 contribution to this Hell on Earth in WW2.Overall love your analysis and being honest about Douglas MacArthur

[@mflashhist500]

Gent's, as an Australian passionate about our military history it impressed me to hear in this excellent review of the Kokoda Campaign an honest description of the good and bad contribution of Australian forces to this pivotal campaign. As many other reviews of Pacific Campaigns tend to gloss over Australian contributions (which compared to the incredible US effort they were very small) your acknowledgment is very much appreciated. As a late comer to the series I am devouring episodes and can say your research, presentation, guest speakers etc are first class, keep up the good work !

[@stuartdollar9912]

To be contrary, as an American, I've always had great respect for Australia because of their contributions to the war. Much smaller nation population wise (especially then), but fought brilliantly when called upon.

[@jacktattis]

The New Guinea campaign on the ground was 80% Australian 20% US Army The Australians were involved in 31 battles in New Guinea Source WW2 RESEACH CENTRE

[@patrickshanley4466]

Another solid episode. Especially liked the discussion about the faulty Japanese strategic thinking regarding the South Pacific 👍

[@sundiver137]

Their faulty strategic thinking in the South Pacific was just part of their flawed analysis of the kind of war they instigated with the US.

[@mickabikhair675]

The Japanese strategic thinking was essentially correct but tactically flawed. The battles fought in South East Pacific was the Japanese trying to cut Australia of to America by sea at Rabual and across the Torres Straights from British and Indian forces as well to Australia which also was the Japanese objective to push through Burma defeating the Allies there intern cutting there logistic support to Chinese forces the Japanese were fighting on that front. The reason for Japan pushing so far down in there conquest was the supply from massive oil fields and rubber plantations among other resources. Kokoda, Milne Bay, Buna, Coral sea, Bismarck sea battles were critical to the outcome. They would have denied the Allies staging grounds up to Japan if lost and victory in the Pacific to them.

[@mpetersen6]

I whole heartedly recommend the "Ghost Mountain Boys". One thing that the book presents is that that the pre war National Guard units, at least in the case of the 32nd were more social clubs than anything else. One thing that would have lead to to low levels of training at the time was Depression era economics. Along with over the hill officers. The book primarily deals with the Michigan units of the 32nd. Before early 1942 the 32nd ID was composed of 4 infantry regiments with their supporting arms. In early '42 the division was converted to the new triangle structure. The units that were detached from square divisions went on to form the core of newly raised divisions or independent battalions. My father was in the 32nd in one of the artillery batteries. They were among the detached units. His unit became the 173rd Field Artillery Group serving in Italy.

[@philipford6183]

Absolutely fascinating history. This was indeed a forgotten war - I very much enjoyed this discussion, so thanks to all of you!

[@rickopich3727]

When I was in high school a good friend’s farther had been in 2nd MarDiv during WW II: Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Marianas. If I ever wanted to set him off I mentioned Dugout Doug. I learned some really colorful ‘Old Breed’ obscenities those times.

[@jacktattis]

Why would a marine worry about MacArthur? I do not think there was any great interaction between them .

[@thomasbernecky2078]

A friend from home, in his 20s and in perfect health athletically; "hiked" the Kokoda Track and almost didn't make it. without being shot at, he said he had no idea how they did it in ww2.

[@sonarmb]

Ex Royal Australian Navy Aussie here. A great Uncle Lance Sanderson was killed on Kakoda. But one thing I had heard about Bordello Blamey, that after he addressed 21 Brigade, the MPs had gone around and ensured that no soldier had any ammunition on them for his next address to troops, they were that concern that someone would neck him.

[@astraltraveler2725]

I always enjoy Mr. Parshall's insight and commentaries. Your podcasts are really well done.

[@Thumpalumpacus]

I always thought Milne Bay would have been the more sensible Japanese move instead of Moresby. Easier to hold, shores up the southern approach to Rabaul, airfields to interdict Allied strikes on the latter, and more able to support the cutting of Australia's communications with America using aerial recon and long range land-based navy bombers -- which was the main reason for the operations in the southern area to begin with. ETA: fantastic episode, and glad to see the Diggers get well-earned props. The battles in New Guinea show how willpower can adapt, improvise, and overcome.

[@charlesziel1997]

My father fought with the 32nd in New Guinea. It started my interest in WWII history which led to my interest, and a large library, of naval ships and naval combat in WWII. You make some good points on throwing the 32nd into jungle combat unprepared. One of the things they were prepared for was to fight off tanks. My father spoke of an attached independent tank destroyer battalion that had 3" guns mounted on half-tracks, if memory serves me correctly it was the 632nd TD battalion. Quite capable of dealing a mortal blow to a Panzer 4, but not really needed for the fight they actually were sent to. He always had great things to say about Harding but nothing good to say about MacArthur, or authors who wrote in books, "The GIs of the 32nd preferred the Japanese to banzai charge to kill them wholesale rather than root them out of their bunkers one by one". Apparently the authors had not experienced a real banzai charge, in my father's opinion.

[@klsc8510]

SALUTE to your father! from 2000-2009 I was in the MI Army National Guard. My company, Alpha Company 156 Signal Battalion traces its history to the 32nd. Our tour in Iraq in 2003-04 upheld the tradition of excellence your Father helped to carry on from WWI. Your Father and me were part of something amazing for excellence.

[@ramozj6997]

Thank you to your dad and your family from us in 🇦🇺.

[@kemarisite]

As I recall, there were a couple of half-track tank destroyers, the T48 gun motor carriage (GMC) with the 57mm anti tank gun we copied from the British, and the M3 GMC with the M1897 75mm gun we got in huge numbers from the French during WW1. There would be a tank destroyer with a 3" gun, the M10 GMC "Wolverine" with the 3" gun M7, but that was built on a fully tracked M4 tank chassis rather than a half track. The difference in guns was about 4 calibers of barrel length, 400 ft/sec of muzzle velocity (about 120 m/sec), and the utterly inconsequential 1.4 mm of shell diameter. Still gross overkill on anything the Japanese had outside the home islands.

[@Fulcrum205]

​@Frank DeMaris FYI the T48 never saw service anywhere but Russia. AGF was never a huge fan of the 57mm because of the small explosive charge. The 75mm/76mm/3" all used the same projectiles but with different amounts of propellants. The 3" was originally a Navy AA gun that was repurchased into a stopgap AT gun. The M1 76mm had the same performance but was redesigned to be lighter and work better when mounted on a tank. It shared the same mount as the 90mm. It was a good example of forward thinking by Ordnance as almost anything mounting the 76 could be easily upgraded to the 90mm if the need arose

[@michaelcoe9824]

listening to this episode again, on a long flu filled and restless night. Thank you for an even-handed coverage of this early part of the New Guinea campaign. As a note on Blamey: The RSL, where i volunteer has a museum named "The Running Rabbits"...

[@colinellis5243]

As always a brilliant analysis! As a former Australian Naval Officer whom unreservedly sees Nimitz as the man who won the Pacific and Macarthur as a lying, self aggrandiseing peodophile I fully support your summary. The Australian army did not get everything right during these desperate days but Macarthur's vilification of Tubby's men was totally inexcusable.....as was Blamey's conduct in support of him. To have erudite and excellent Americans openly cover the true contribution of the Aussies is very gratifying. Well done Seth, CAPT Toti and John!!!!!

[@bksfv6812]

Great job, again, fellas. The Aussies do deserve to have more stories told, especially considering they lost almost double the number of KIA/MIA that we (the U.S.) did in New Guinea overall.

[@paulobrien3241]

For most of the war MacARTHUR had 2 US Army divisions under his command . At that same time he had 12 Australian divisions plus an Australian armoured Division just in the SW Pacific .The US Marines only had 6 Divisions through out the whole war ! All the battles of attrition in New Guinea except for Buna were fought by Australians under Australian command. Even at Buna it was the Australian 18th Brigade who broke the Japanese defences .They were brought in because the 32nd were virtually combat ineffective . American troops provided support .Australians lost as manny men in 2 weeks at Buna as the 32nd US Div did in 2 months. This was all MacArthur's fault . The 32nd should never have been sent in with virtually no training in jungle warfare .

[@tacitdionysus3220]

Excellent discussion (though not surprising given the participants). Of particular interest as my father was a company commander in New Guinea, and I was born in Port Moresby when he was back there in the 50s. A couple of points that might be of interest: - Australian history tends to emphasise the role of the AIF (crack expeditionary forces - mainly in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9 divisions), but says less about the militia units (except 39 battalion in Kokoda). - Australia was not as defenceless in 1942 as sometimes implied. At the outbreak of the Pacific War it had 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Inf Divs, 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divs and 1st (AIF) Armoured Div in Australia, plus lots of static garrison units. By a bit after mid 42 it peaked at 8 infantry and 3 armoured divisions in Australia - while having minimal overseas expeditionary capability they were a significant deterrent to any incursion. Several of these are later demobilised to facilitate more labour for production of munitions and other supplies, while some were converted into other units more suited to jungle warfare (e.g. 'Cavalry commando' units repurposed from some of the armoured units. - My father's military history started as a regular NCO in the Australian Instructional Corps pre-ww2. He probably survived because he was training troops until mid-42. He was then commissioned as an officer and assigned to the 30 Battalion (8 Brigade) - a militia unit originally defending Sydney's northern beaches, then sent to Western Australia in case of Japanese incursions there - they were sent to New Guinea and replaced AIF units in several operations, notably Sio/Saidor, the capture of Madang and other actions along the northern New Guinea coast. - You hear even less about Papuan forces, yet they were the first to engage with the Japanese in New Guinea and participated in many subsequent battles - Dad's battalion had about 100 of them attached, and he regarded them as awesome troops, utterly at home in jungle warfare and great as scouts - An example is Sgt Bengali who won the Military Medal (second only to the VC) and killed between 104 to 108 Japanese in various actions. - My recollection of my dad's opinions: He thought "Doug" was strategically competent but tactically inept (but redeemed by an enlightened occupation of Japan) - Eichelberger he regarded as solid and competent - 32 Div well regarded after a shaky start (amused at how one of their RCTs at Saidor had an ice cream making machine) - thought the world of the US Navy (their PT boats were used for coastal transport and support on occasions) - when I was about 5 y/o I met my first Americans, on a destroyer-escort in Brisbane during Coral Sea Week, the skipper being an officer he knew in WW2.

[@emilrydstrm3944]

49:35 mark made me laugh out loud!:-) Thanks again Seth, Bill and Jon for another suberb episode! This show has become my favorite on youtube and Im always looking forward to a new episode. Jon is really an excellent suplement to you guys Seth and Bill, and Im thinking about all the exciting stuff that happens in 1943, 1944 which I would love you to discuss in great detail! Kind Regards Emil from Norway.

[@Hillhouse1956]

Since I am now addicted to this series, and since there are a few more days before the next installment, I have been looking at various you tube channels for WWII pacific podcasts. There are many choices out there, ranging from 90 minutes of monologue to animated series, and none hold my attention for more than 10 minutes at best. So, the good news is that you two are the best! The bad news is that you only do one a week ;). Seriously, I am not a WWII junkie, nor an historian, and have found your presentation style and topics really intriguing. I enjoy the behind the scenes looks at personalities, the descriptions of the naval battles etc. it brings the stories to life. Your episode of the night of the giants was the best. I watched a different you tube video version of that battle last night and it was really dry and boring. What a shame. But it showed me how good your story telling is. Keep up the videos! And thank you both (and your guest invitees).

[@parrot849]

You guys are tremendous, absolutely flawless how you shifted the show this week from the sea to the ground. Seamless. Anyway, my only other comment was the brief nightmare thought if wheels of history had spun differently and plunked General MacArthur down not in the Southwest Pacific, but into the ETO; with Army Group, or heaven help us, overall Theater command authority. I think the maniac, if not stopped by perhaps the JCS or the president himself, would’ve possibly have lost us the war in Europe.

[@SirLurkALot]

Another outstanding podcast that is much appreciated. I can't tell you adequately how much I'm enjoying all of these installments. I did want to mention (and I hope I'm not repeating something that may already have been posted) that the Kings & Generals site is currently presenting a history of the Pacific War week-by-week. It doesn't offer the great depth of detail found here, but the active maps alone are very helpful in following the information presented by Seth, Bill, Jon and others.

[@carrabellefl]

As a "trash hauler" I enjoyed this episode so much that I had to search out some historical data on the airlift provided during this period. As a former pilot of the 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron of the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing indulge me as follows: 1. 374th Troop Carrier Group: Activated in Australia in November 1942 as the parent unit for the 6th, 21st and 22nd Troop Carrier Squadrons, which had been operating in the area since April with a menagerie of aircraft, including C-47s, C-53s, C-60s, LB-300/B-24s and B-17s. The group received three Distinguished Unit Citations and other decorations in World War II and was the most decorated Army Air Forces unit of the war. The C-53 was a variant of the C-47 with a passenger door rather than a cargo door. The C-60 was essentially a C-47 with a twin vertical tail made by Lockheed. The LB-300/B-24 was a passenger version of the bomber. 2. The 374th Troop Carrier Group, taking part in the Papuan campaign, New Guinea, from 19 September 1942 until 22 December 1942, flew an average of 100 tons of supplies daily to troops in forward areas and daily evacuated casualties. Using various types of unarmed aircraft, the 374th successfully accomplished its assigned mission in the face of attack by Japanese warplanes, including the transport to battle areas of several thousand troops. 3. The one 105 artillery gun airdroped most likely was delivered by the 374th. 4. The 374th currently stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan is the only USAF flying unit that has never been stationed in any of the 50 Stats. 😊

[@petersmith-prolifeministri6969]

Excellent talk, so refreshing to hear Americans give the Aussies a bit of credit. We sure appreciated your help in WW2

[@keithrosenberg5486]

To this day there is almost no middle ground regarding MacArthur.

[@stevewhite3424]

Not too hard to revile a pedophile. The thought of saluting him nauseates me.

[@keithrosenberg5486]

@@stevewhite3424 Unfortunately not many people back then knew about that. And it was also more tolerated, though society was slowly changing in that regard. Many more knew about, and turned a blind eye to, his disastrous campaign in the Philippines starting the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. One speculation might be that they pulled him out because he knew about high level code breaking and wainwright did not. I have long felt that the political reasons for getting him out were just a bit too contrived. Other high level officers were relieved for lesser reasons.

[@pokipua]

This was a very intense episode. Thank you for the immense research. Thanks to John for his immense knowledge and contribution. You both create a great podcast!

[@rcwagon]

Thank you for another fine video. I wish you had covered more of Milne Bay and what Mac did to the Austrailian commander WHO WON THAT BATTLE. It is hard to show the horror of the experiences in a broadcast like this seeh all along the Kokoda trail and Buna and he others.

[@JosephKano]

I love the way you guys are humanising the ordinary soldiers and sailors in your podcasts on both sides and the suffering they went through often at the hands of their own higher command. Malaria was a terrible disease, my stepfather served in New Guinea as a machine gunner and got Malaria there and he basically got it again every 10 years or so. He didn't serve in the Kokoda campaign he was down on the coast for his parts, however his stories were still horrifying in many ways.

[@taipan1959]

My Uncle Frank was wounded and died from scrub typhus at Buna

[@g24thinf]

It should be added that this was only the beginning of the New Guinea campaign. Also General Eichelberger was called upon to do the same thing in June 1944 on Biak Island after MacArthur's staff claimed there was only a couple thousand Japanese service troops on the island. Turns out there were over ten thousand Japanese combat troops waiting.

[@jacktattis]

Only the start not for Australians we started before Guadalcanal and fought in 31 battles up the coast, to Aitape from there the US Army took over

[@michaelcoughlin8966]

My dad was at Guadacanal New Georgia and Bougainville and New Guinea , his Army unit was attached to the Old Ohio National Guard, this helps me appreciate what went on. 3/22/23

[@mitchellsmith5384]

Love your WW2 War stories in the pacific! Can't wait for your next Podcast. Keep up your good work.

[@LA_Viking]

I was one of those people who always thought that Japan’s goal, eventually anyway, was to invade Australia. Furthermore, I always questioned the “tactical and strategic sanity” of such a goal/plan. Now that I have the true facts, everything is much clearer. My mother grew up on an island in extreme southern Louisiana. The school board actually operated a “school boat” to transport the children who lived “down the bayou” to school. The very first Tarzan movie was filmed in the immediate area. My point is that having grown up there myself, I know very well how tough it is to transit the jungle-like terrain there. And it’s level and doesn’t freeze at night, at least not during the eleven months of summer! I have the utmost respect, regardless of nationality, for the soldiers who had to fight there. [edited to correct some spelling and grammar errors I should have caught prior to my original submission]

[@tomneises6178]

Just wanted to say how much I enjoy this channel

[@jamesharper7661]

Fastest hour and a half on KZbin! Thanks for what you guys do!

[@mitch8226]

Another great reflection on our fathers struggles

[@russfranck3491]

I so look forward to your next show. The best class on ww2 pacific war. Please keep them coming. Really enjoy Jon an bill and of course you Seth.

[@gravitypronepart2201]

I feel so much smarter for having tuned in to this channel. 👨‍🎓

[@coryheckler2354]

Bill, Seth, John, it's always great to watch this history accounts. Love your pod casts. Keep them up for all of us WWII Pacif war war buffs. Its cool to learn abput the heros of these battles. Thank you.

[@sukotto2579]

This is amazing. I'm a huge Jon Parshall fan and my grandfather served in multiple Australian army units in that campaign. Really enjoyed seeing both come together in such a well put together video.

[@rtqii]

Seth's Intros just keep getting better. I loved his intro about the Wahoo, aka barracuda. The USS Tang has to be coming up!

[@Fulcrum205]

a Wahoo is not a barracuda. Wahoo are bigger, faster, and tougher than Barracuda. They also have teeth like serrated mechanical shears that will take your finger straight off. They also taste amazing on the grill with a little butter and soy sauce

[@rtqii]

@@Fulcrum205 Thank You!

[@Fulcrum205]

@Richard Quick II You are welcome. Barracuda make decent fish tacos but watch out for ciguaterra toxin.

[@jeffconley6366]

As you mentioned New Guinea is rarely mentioned. Even more so is New Guinea in 44. My Dad was in the 6th Army and fought in Northern New Guinea at the battle of Lone Tree Hill.

[@williamharvey8895]

I always love it when John Parashall is back.

[@allanrudge3704]

Great stuff. I walked Kokoda in 1967 as a 17 year old in the wet season. Hardest thing i have done. Climbing up the track by the roots of trees and down the other side the same way inmpouring cotinuous rain. 5 days of hell...mud mud and mud

[@hurch1915]

Your podcasts are insightful, informative, educational, and entertaining. I always look forward to your discussions. 👍

[@dancolley4208]

Once again, the addition of Jon Parshall to this group is, to me, akin to the icing on a cake. Jon is so thoroughly well versed on his subject that I always find ikt hard to assimilate how well-rounded his knowledge base truly is. This trio is so well informed that it is difficult to imagine anyone any better, but I know that there are other historians who can stand to to toe with anyone. I only wish that I had a history professor of the quality of these guys teaching my history classes. You guys are terrific !!! Thank you so much for your attention to your craft.

[@msimons4580]

2 excellent books on Kokoda and Buna-Gona by Lex McAulay : - "Blood and Iron", "To the Bitter End". My dad served there and like most, was scathing of Macarthur and Blamey.

[@timothybrady2749]

Thank you for another absolutely outstanding presentation. Your research, analysis, and discussions you present are superb. I have learned so much from your programs and had to reconsider many of the opinions and positions I have held. You are the best!!

[@msmagnum3006]

I really enjoy watching Seth, Bill, John Parshall and Drach. You guys make Pacific war history fun. In your episodes you point out that many of these battles were forgotten and not popular. Also, the USA was following a defeat Germany first strategy priority. General McArthur, Gen Kenny and Admiral Halsey were secondary on the supply chain. They had much less to fight with. Still McArthur supreme Allied commander and staff brought forth an offensive strategy that defeated the elite army and navy of Imperial Japan in the South Pacific. That is one heck of an achievement is it not? Who was the supreme Allied commander of the South Pacific?

[@jacktattis]

No if the show was really on the ball when discussing Papua and New Guinea they would have historians from the Australian War Museum Research Centre on here. No organisation knows more about Australias' contribution to the war than these people .Easy enough to arrange just ring them.

[@jeffreymartin8448]

Another very enjoyable afternoon with Seth, Bill and Jon.

[@ceejayathome]

the Australian 39th militia battalion was arguable the worst trained unit we ever sent against an enemy by comparison the 32 Inf Div were seasoned veterans. Untrained teenagers with WW1 senior NCOs and Officers. All things considered their performance was amazing.

[@edwardsteinmetz-gl3zl]

Gave the episode a thumbs up. To think some of these soldiers will join Merrill's Maruders.

[@jameshannagan4256]

Another great episode about an important but somewhat forgotten theatre.

[@benjaminfrazier5419]

Another fabulous session, gentlemen! SUPERB attention to detail - your recounting of the “lost to history” information is legendary!! I look forward to each of your productions!! 🦅🌎⚓️

[@dinkydi172]

Should be more of it. My father fought along the kokoda trail as he used to call it.suffered all his life because of it.

[@troystaunton254]

As an Australian I want to say thank you for this!! Also McArthur is an incompetent overrated hack who disrespected my countrymen and completely didn’t not understand the issues on the ground or that Australian military isn’t American military and therefore have different ways of doing things. I have no other words for his treatment of the American 32nd division than he murdered them. Those men were not trained for the job and the shame is that their heroism and frankly incredible deeds were but a mere glimpse of what they could have been if they’d been adequately trained and had been respected by their command. Thanks to them and all their deeds. They deserved better than McArthur.

[@Guide1089]

Well said. American who feels as you do.

[@daviddoherty2841]

Thank you for the best audio equipment, careful quality speech, you men don't talk over each other, Excellent team. No bombs explode, screaming diving planes, PBS loves that crap while narrating. Still on top of all that they add opera totally drowned narration, unbelievable

[@rajaoui4life292]

Great podcast as usual. May God bless&safeguard you and your family (amen) for your effort and time. I'd recommend the book "Kokoda" by Paul Ham.

[@jackburkhart873]

Excellent show gentleman! As a native Oregonian, I do hope you cover,at least, some of the Sunset Division exploits there on New Guinea!

[@TheBruceGday]

Hypohysterical History, a fine Australian channel has an amazing series, so far on the New Guinea campaign. He also shares a less than stellar opinion of Dugout.

[@southwerk]

Really excellent presentation. A lot of stuff I had wondered about. Keep hammering MacArthur!

[@RonaldReaganRocks1]

Wow! The Chinese propaganda is running strong! MacArthur was a top tier commander. You're a Chinese bot.

[@TomSmith-lf8tr]

Even though some Australians may have doubts about some recent American military adventures, we older blokes understand what you Yanks did to secure the Pacific. It is a shared experience, we owe you our freedom. The Poms left us undefended after Singapore, the USA protected their interests and our future. Should we have followed you into Vietnam and Iraq ? It’s still a tough question. But together we’re still a powerful force for security in the region.

[@sundiver137]

Always thought the Australian contribution to the PTO was never fully appreciated in the US, both regular forces and the Coast Watchers.

[@joebollig2689]

We stood together. We owe each other our mutually shared freedom. Crucially, in terms of logistics and material, Australia and New Zealand were indispensable. Australia has always punched above its weight.

[@jeffburrell7648]

I believe that the self aggrandizing character of Admiral B.T. Broderick in Preminger's "In Harm's Way" was a comment on MacArthur.

[@Hillhouse1956]

Thank you so much for adding the maps! Just the right length of time so I can find the place you are talking about and put it in context. Today I finally got to Google maps and found Tulagi and Cape Esperance! I will now go look at earlier episodes again. These maps really help me, and I hope others.

[@jmullner76]

Great discussion. Jon Parshall once mentioned with Drach the Japanese obsession with Port Moresby was utterly foolish. I wondered what he meant by that at the time, and this discussion gave a opportunity for it to be brought up. It now makes complete sense. Thanks.

[@sundiver137]

I think they're gonna get Drach on for an episode.

[@benq2713]

My father was in the 127th Infantry, Company F. He was wounded on 1/8/43 when they arrived at Tarakena. He never spoke about the fighting only said the conditions were horrible. He spent 14 months in various (Australia and US) hospitals with numerous surgeries. He was honorably discharged in 3/43.

[@georgegeller1902]

My mother built Douglas A-20s, and my father was an Army infantryman in the PTO.

[@aussiedonaldduck2854]

My Mum built aircraft in Melbourne till she turned 18 in 43 and then served in the WAF quartermasters office Brisbane. Dad was in signal corp in New Guinea & Indonesia. Uncle Norm was in Nth Africa (Rats of Tobruk) & PNG.

[@doejoe7686]

A Bastard of a Place By Peter Brune is a good book on this subject

[@jonparshall]

Great book, I agree!

[@nharris8287]

I've just discovered this channel, wonderfully detailed history. Thank you for all your hard work guys!

[@TogetherinParis]

Great job of storytelling!

[@thomasgarrison3949]

Thanks for another great video. I just finished watching all your videos to this point, I fell asleep watching video 203 this morning @ about 3AM, after binge watching several of your videos.

[@daffodildude1143]

Bill: "Nimitz went to Guadalcanal"...😅

[@davidmowry8951]

Wow, Jon parshall is on point. Excellent analysis combined with easy to understand factors behind said analysis. A real pro.

[@michaelwolf564]

From an Australian's perspective a particularly accurate and balanced discussion. Your honesty about Doug is exactly as I see him. Documents on the Australian War Memorial support our collective view. Blamey was as bad and after the 39Bn's remarkable defence and fighting withdrawal from Kokoda to Isurava Blamey did not even know the 39 Bn Co Lt Col Ralph Honner's name when he met him later in Moresby. Honnor's own description of that meeting are priceless and are on You Tube video's. The book the Ghost Mountain Boys is excellent and matches Books written in the 1950's (not the later ones) on Kokoda about these experiences.

[@bruce70403]

Love John! Just got Shattered Sword finally!

[@georgehughes8698]

I got it shortly after the Midway episode. Fantastic read!

[@jonparshall]

Thank you, both, and I'm glad you enjoyed it, George!

[@georgehughes8698]

@@jonparshall I am reading it again in the wonderful weather we had in MN last night.

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

My dad fought in the Pacific. He hated MacArthur with a venom. He told me about a tremendous blow up that happened around Doughout Doug. There was something about using the Army Corps of Engineers to build a fancy new headquarters for MacArthur. It killed morale and got so bad many line troops stopped buying bonds.

[@briankeech]

I worked in PNG from 1963 to 1973 with the Government as a Hydrographer travelling exclusively where the WW 11 was fought. Mostly travelled by light plane and helicopter. Walked from Kokoda to Uberi in 1966 and year later walked walked from Myola to Kokoda after the chopper broke down. My experiences on these walks only highlighted my feelings towards the soldiers who fought there during the War.

[@ericgrace9995]

With reference to the comments on artillery support : Experience led the Australians to transform the standard Infantry Division into "Jungle Divisions" by striping away elements, such as motor transport, that were of little use in New Guinea. They reduced the number of divisional artillery pieces as there was no way to move the guns or their ammunition along the jungle trails where the fighting was taking place. To compensate for the loss of their artillery, the number of 3-inch mortars and heavy/ light machine guns increased, giving smaller units greatly increased firepower.

[@MrKen-mc4bu]

Excellent presentation. This report was filled with many interesting facts and unique details about serious goings on in a combat theater that not much is generally known about in regards to basic WW II scholars. Thank you all - for your outstanding effort.

[@mfallen6894]

Great podcast. For anyone interested in even more in-depth info on each of the battles (and more) there's a wonderful channel called "hypohystericalhistory" on YT. He has separate vids of Finschhafan, Buna-Gona, Kokoda Track, one on Tarawa/Gilbert/Makin, and a few more I'm forgetting. They're like 2hr+ each episode and well worth the watch.

[@124marsh]

Looking forward to listening on the way home from work this afternoon Thanks for posting.

[@asmodeus0454]

The good old Owen Stanley Range really sorts them out. That mountain range is as hard as hell just to cross in peacetime let alone to engage in battle on and over the Owen Stanleys.

[@scottsherman6889]

Owen Stanley must have been a hard nut!

[@johnpearson5616]

So many that do not live or vacation in mountains do not understand altitude sickness. Even at eight thousand feet these people were getting altitude sickness which just made trying to carry a big heavy 100 lb pack almost impossible if you're throwing up all the time heaving dry heaving just a mess.

[@sundiver137]

With a couple of friends I went up King's Peak, about 13,600 feet. Last campsite before summiting was about 11,000 feet. We were pretty good shape but the altitude had an effect on us, and that was a walk in the park compared to what those guys endured.

[@patrickmcelhone1446]

You guys are classy and highly informative. Thank you

[@alganhar1]

Air supply. Just to point out, a huge proportion of 14th Armies supplies when they went on the offensive after Kohima and Imphal were supplied by air. It was a mix between air drops and the fact they got really, really good at cutting out temporary landing strips out of the jungle, and the pilots and crews of those aircraft got really, really good at landing on the things! My Great Uncle was a Chindit in the second Chindit operation, and while he hated Stillwell at least as much as you guys loathe McArthur, he had nothing but good things to say about those pilots and aircrews, a very large proportion of whom, possibly even a majority (I do not have the figures to hand) were American. I have spoken to many 14th Army veterans, most of whom are unfortunately no longer with us, but they all loved those pilots and crews. Saying that, this was late 44 and into 45, when not only had the allies started working out the intricacies of air supply, but also had the sheer number of aircraft able to actually pull it off. People forget that the pilots who shuttled the Berlin Airlift, were mostly WWII trained transport plane pilots, and they literally kept an entire modern (for the time) city supplied for months.... I am hoping you guys actually cover 14th Army at some point. While the Burma/China campaign is not often thought of as part of the Pacific campaign I personally think it is intrinsically linked. EDIT: Also 14th Army is fascinating. 38 different languages. Troops following every major (and many minor) religions. Cultural and religiously defined dietary requirements that HAD to be met. All of this in an area of the world that terrain wise was damned near as bad as Papua New Guinea. The challenges to turn that disparate, multinational force into a cohesive Army were, frankly, huge.

[@Coffeeguyzz]

General Bill Slim may have been the most skillful commander in the entire war encompassing all the combatant countries.

[@dannyclarke1398]

Great reading,a must,those ragged bloody heroes,cheers mate

[@kenkan6837]

My uncle joined the US Navy at the age of 17 in 1940 to help feed his siblings (thanks Progressives), he spent the war years piloting landing craft in several of the most contested campaigns ; he absolutely hated the Higgins Boats, said they broke down at the 'worst times'.

[@billechols7136]

Great show gentlemen.

[@gw2058]

Enjoyed this US perspective on the Papua Campaign, rightly underplayed the US efforts in the Beachheads Campaign, but downplayed the role of the Australians in the campaign who with the lesser numbers had to carry the out the majority of the offensive actions. Gen Kenny's Air Campaign was also largely ineffective at this time and the damage to Japanese shipping and infrastructure misreported. One important aspect of the campaign was the positive working relationship between the GOC Gen Herring (Aust) and Gen Eichelberger (USA) and also with Gen Vasey (Aust) who commanded on the ground, not from Brisbane.

[@mikelamberth9975]

Good to start the episode pointing out how obtuse the Imperial staff was regarding any strategic planning.