Catcher in the Kunai PTO (id:#59226)

Coastal Fortress (Forward Observer #2 - Fall 2001 ID: FO 4)   [next]   [previous]

Government Gardens, near Buna, New Guinea 1942-12-24 (5 others)

Overview:

More than a month after General MacArthur had ordered his commanders to "take Buna Today", the bloody struggle was still dragging on. After Buna village was evacuated and given to the Allies, the push on through the Triangle, the Government Gardens and on to the beach was becoming a meatgrinder. After a daring flanking maneuver aided by Australian assault boats on Musita Island to the west, troops were sent in to punch past a coconut plantation on the way to capture the Buna Government House. Advancing behind massed mortar fire, elements of the Urbana Group closed in on the enemy hiding amongst the tall grass. Amongst the men destined to be stopped by the withering fire that the Japanese poured forth from their dugouts and pillboxes was Wisconsin National Guardsman Sgt. Kenneth Gruennert who had an amazing throwing arm. Sgt. Gruennert was second in command of a platoon with a mission to drive through the enemy lines to the beach 600 yards ahead. Within 150 yards of the objective, the platoon encountered 2 hostile pillboxes. Sgt. Gruennert advanced alone on the first and put it out of action with hand grenades and rifle fire, killing 3 of the enemy. Seriously wounded in the shoulder, he bandaged his wound under cover of the pillbox, refusing to withdraw to the aid station and leave his men. He then, with undiminished daring, and under extremely heavy fire, attacked the second pillbox. As he neared it he threw grenades which forced the enemy out where they were easy targets for his platoon. Before the leading elements of his platoon could reach him he was shot by enemy snipers. His inspiring valor cleared the way for his platoon which was the first to attain the beach in this successful effort to split the enemy position.

Defender: Japanese (Elements of the Yasuda Detachment)  

Errata (source)