|
Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
Location Wartime History Marine Landing From this location, the Marines conducted diversionary raids along the northwestern coast of Choiseul Island towards Nokiki (Nukiki) and Choiseul Bay to give the Japanese the impression they were a much larger force attempting to seize the island. To enhance the the battalion's firepower, I MAC attached a platoon of machine guns from the regimental weapons company and an experimental rocket platoon. Altogether the reinforced battalion numbered roughly 700 Marines. They also surveyed a site for a possible PT Boat base but the Navy opted not to build on Choiseul. On November 3, 1943 the Marines returned to the beach at Voza and established a perimeter and prepared to withdraw from Choiseul aboard three LCIs covered by an LCI gunboat. A demolition platoon placed hundreds of booby traps on the avenues of approach. Japanese forces were moving closer and enemy patrols began to reach the Voza area around midnight and triggering the traps. By November 4, 1943 at 1:30am, the three LCIs beached and the withdrawal was completed in less than 20 minutes. Afterwards, the LCIs departed for Villa Lavella arriving by 8:00am. The operation resulted in American losses of 11 dead and 14 wounded. The 2nd Battalion estimated it had killed a minimum of 143 Japanese and seriously disrupted the movement of enemy forces from Choiseul to Bougainville. That same morning, the coastwatchers reported the Japanese occupied the Voza area. Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
![]() Fallingrain |
Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|