14-014 Garand Picture of the Day - Cape Gloucester

[Mark in Rochester]

Dec. 26, 1943: U.S. Marines march ashore as they arrive in six landing crafts at Cape Gloucester on the northwestern coast of New Britain Island, New Guinea. The Allied forces made a second big invasion operation of the Japanese occupied island in an attempt to capture the big air base of Rabual, on the southwestern coast of the island. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard)

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Actually looks like a nice day there. I guess it was to change.

[maxim]

Bless them boys, they were as far from home one could get on the planet. That photo sure exhibits the size of the operation and how orderly they were disembarking. The ability to move a few yards off the beach just turned horrible, I can not imagine the heat and humidity alone.

[AZPhil]

Are you sure that is the Cape Gloucester landing????
In the December 2013 issue of Leatherneck magazine they did an article on this battle and I qoute" At Cape Gloucester there was no beach;where the water ended,a solid green wall of jungle began. " If a tall man were to stretch out on his back with his head under the trees his feet would be in the water," was one marines impression of Beach yellow.

Semper Fi
Phil

[Mark in Rochester]

Are you sure that is the Cape Gloucester landing????
In the December 2013 issue of Leatherneck magazine they did an article on this battle and I qoute" At Cape Gloucester there was no beach;where the water ended,a solid green wall of jungle began. " If a tall man were to stretch out on his back with his head under the trees his feet would be in the water," was one marines impression of Beach yellow.

Semper Fi
Phil

Phill

Fairly certain caption is correct - LST 18 , which is in the picture , was at the Cape Gloucester landing.

Additionally,the U.S. naval institute indicates it is Cape Gloucester Slideshow: Cape Gloucester | U.S. Naval Institute

History:
U.S.LST-18 LST Flotilla 7, Group 21, Division 41
The USS LST-18 was built in Pittsburgh by the Dravo Corporation and was sponsored by Miss Ruth Watt. The LST-18 was then floated down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers from 19 to 25 April, 1943, arriving at New Orleans on the latter date. She entered commissioned service under the command of LT John Lence, USCG, on 26 April 1943. There were only 7 officers and 67 enlisted men in the original crew. After tests and maneuvers at St. Andrews, Florida, she returned to New Orleans on 14 May 1943 for post-shakedown availability. She was then assigned to LST Flotilla 7, Group 21, Division 41.
On 1 June 1943, she got underway for the Canal Zone. Arriving at Coca Sola, Canal Zone, on 14 June 1943, CDR Clarence H. Peterson, USCG, with two officers and 13 enlisted men reported aboard for duty to the staff of Group 21, LST Flotilla 7 and the LST-18 was designated flagship for the group . Peterson was relieved on 12 March 1944 by CDR F. D. Higbee, USCG, who in turn yielded to CDR N. M. Nelson on 4 October 1944. She then proceeded to Milne Bay, New Guinea, arriving on 2 September 1944, for ten days of beaching operations and loading for the first trip in the forward areas.
During the time that the ship was in the forward areas she participated in fourteen invasions, six of which were initial invasions.
Initial Invasions:
Finschaven: 22 September 1943
Cape Gloucester: 26 December 1943
Wakde Island: 17 May 1944
Cape Sansapor: 30 July 1944



January 1944: U.S. Marines come ashore from the mouth of a Coast Guard manned LST, during the invasion of New Britain Island, at Cape Gloucester. (AP Photo)

LST 202 - Bismarck-Archipelago operations
Cape Gloucester, New Britain, 26 to 30 December 1943, 3 to 7, 11 to 14, 23 to 27 January, 15 to 10, 21 to 25 February 1944
Admiralty Islands landings, 29February to 4 March and 7 to 11 March 1944