Sgt Herman J. Bottcher

German born, Bottcher immigrated to the United States before WWII.

Prewar Experience In Spain
Fought with the International Brigade against Franco in Spanish Civil War in 1936. He hated the axis powers.

Battle of Buna
Bottcher walked across the Kapa Kapa Trail from Port Moresby to the north coast of New Guinea. In 1942, he was 37 year old: black-bearded and a professional soldier. After a disastrous December 5th assault by Americans, he volunteer to lead group to drive a wedge into Japanese flank towards the beach at Buna. With a dozen men, thru swamp after hours of fighting with tommy guns and throwing grenades made it to the beach and dug in.

They killed 40 Japanese on the beach, wounded a dozen. They fought off attacks for 7 days, dragged back abandoned enemy machine gun to use and ammo. Bottcher was wounded twice. Before being relieved, his party killed 120 Japanese, the rest of the division was able to advance to the beach, putting a wedge between japanese forces. A memorial plaque at Buna today is dedicated to his role in the battle.

Wounded twice in the battle, his first wound put an arm in a sling. His second wound saw him relieved from combat.

Field Promotion
Eichelburger crawled out to his position to congratulate him and awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross, and a field promotion to Captain. Later promoted to Major.

Killed In Action
Later, he was killed in combat in the Philippines. The US State Department had refused him US citizenship because of his role in Spanish Civil War. Eichelberger later wrote of him: "He was the best Americans I have ever known." He is buried at the Manila American Cemetery. Grave photo by Bert Caloud.

Hermann J. F. Bottcher
Captain, U.S. Army
Service # 0-888451
32nd Reconnaissance Troop, 32nd Infantry Division
Entered the Service from: California
Died: 31-Dec-44
Buried at: Plot L Row 4 Grave 134
Manila American Cemetery
Manila, Philippines
Awards: Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

References
Biographical notes about Bottcher at Buna are from the book:
Jungle Fighters: A G.I. War Correspondent's Experiences In The New Guinea Campaign
by Jules Archer, Copyright 1985, ISBN 0-671-46058-7 Publisher Jullian Messner
Our Jungle Road to Tokyo by Robert L. Eichelberger