1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 3–4 FEBRUARY 1944 ]
SWPA—U.S. Sixth Army hq moves from Australia
to Cape Cretin, New Guinea.
CBI—Replying to President Roosevelt’s message
of 26 January, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek
reports that he has discussed the exchange rate,
Chinese offering 30 to 1, with the Minister of
Finance and reiterates offer to move Yunnan troops
to Burma when large-scale amphibious operation
can be undertaken.
ITALY—ACMF: Gen Clark, CG U.S. Fifth
Army, orders Gen Lucas, CG VI Corps, to consolidate
beachhead and prepare for defense. In Br
10 Corps area, 2d Special Service Brig fails in effort
to take M. Faito. In II Corps area, 135th Inf of 34th
Div presses southward toward Highway 6, 2d Bn
crossing Hill 445 and pushing on toward Hill 593
while 1st Bn clears Hill 324 to E. 3d Bn of 168th Inf
is committed because of counterattacks on 2d Bn. 1st
Bn of 142d Inf, 36th Div, takes responsibility for
M. Castellone. 133d Inf finishes clearing barracks
area N of Cassino and attacks S with tank support
to N end of Cassino but withdraws about 1,000
yards after nightfall.
USSR—In the Ukraine, Soviet forces attack
German 6th Army on 60-mile front W of the
Dnieper. First Estonian village falls to other Soviet
forces. Stalin agrees to provide 6 bases for U.S.
Planes in USSR.
3 February
KWAJALEIN ATOLL—Adm Hill arrives by plane
from Majuro to take part in formal planning for
invasion of Eniwetok with forces previously allocated
as reserves for Kwajalein. Planning continues
until the expeditionary force sails on 15th. In Southern
Landing Force campaign, 7th Div attacks to
clear rest of Kwajalein I., with Nathan Road (E–W
road opposite Nob Pier) as immediate objective;
assault forces encounter dense construction and must
destroy blockhouses and concrete positions in detail.
1st Bn of 184th Inf advances on lagoon side, 3d Bn
of 32d Inf attacks on ocean side. Beyond Nora Road;
frontal attacks prove so costly, particularly in 184th
Inf’s zone where Co B is virtually halted along
lagoon at W edge of built-up Admiralty area, that
plan of attack is changed. 1st Bn, 184th, swings left
to lagoon shore while 2d attacks through its right
flank toward Nathan Road, forcing exposed salient
into enemy positions. 3d Bn, 32d Inf, assisted by
1st Bn, continues toward Nathan Road, advance
elements getting to within 100 yards of it. Numerous
enemy pockets have been bypassed. Enemy counterattacks
are repulsed during night. After effective
naval gunfire, arty, and carrier aircraft bombardment
that eliminates enemy opposition, 1st Bn of
17th Inf, 7th Div, invades Burton, 2 cos going
ashore abreast (Co A on right; Co C on left) on
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S part of lagoon beach at 0935. After crossing S end
of island, 1st Bn drives N supported by amphibian
tractors and later by light and medium tanks. Opposition
develops about an hour after the landing,
particularly on left where Co B passes through Co C
shortly before 1700. By 1900, forward elements halt
for night on line that crosses island just S of Bailey
Pier, a concrete structure extending into lagoon
about midway up the island. 3d Bn, upon landing,
takes responsibility for rear area. Illumination
throughout night and fire of supporting arms help
prevent enemy counterattacks. Amphibious tank
detachments sent to Buster and Byron, islets (no
known native names) between Kwajalein and
Burton, take them without opposition.
ITALY—ACMF: Gen Alexander forms NZ 2d
Div and Ind 4th Div into NZ Corps under Lt Gen
Sir Bernard C. Freyberg and places the corps under
U.S. Fifth Army command. VI Corps issues verbal
orders to beachhead forces to prepare defensive positions
at once. In II Corps area, while 1st Bn of 135th
Inf, 34th Div, completes clearing Hill 324, 2d Bn,
135th, and 3d Bn, 168th, drive to within 1 1/2 miles
of Highway 6. 133d Inf attacks with tanks toward
Cassino but is driven back; renewing attack in afternoon,
gets forward elements to northern edge of
town, where they dig in. Enemy continues to counterattack
between Manna Farm and Hill 706, but
the hill is cleared by 3d Bn, 135th Inf.
USSR—Soviet forces converge S of Korosun
and surround 2 corps of German 8th Army. Germans
make desperate attempts to relieve the besieged
forces, curtailing offensive operations to do so.
4 February
KWAJALEIN ATOLL—RCT 184, in southern part
of atoll, continues difficult mop-up of enemy along
lagoon shore, completing this as far as Green Beach
4 by 1435. 1st Bn, 32d Inf, attacks through 2d Bn
of 184th and 3d Bn of 32d toward end of island,
arriving at Nate Road in a highly disorganized state.
Here 2d Bn, 32d, passes through 1st Bn to complete
capture of island. Advance elements reach Nero Pt,
at tip of island, by 1515, but organized resistance
continues until 1920. Gen Corlett announces capture
of Kwajalein I., to Adm Turner at 1610. A considerable
number of Japanese and Koreans surrender
during the day. 1st Bn, 17th Inf, continues northward
attack on Burton, this time meeting main
opposition on right, in zone of Co A. At 1130, 3d
Bn attacks through 1st Bn. Co K reaches NE corner
of island at 1210 and Burton is completely secured
by 1337. Troops of 2d Bn, 17th Inf, secure Burnet
(no known native name) and Blakenship (Loi),
N of Burton, capturing about 40 natives on Burnet