_Behind a revetment of sandbags and coconut logs, this 9th Defense
Battalion crew manning a 90mm antiaircraft gun keeps vigilant watch
against Japanese air attacks on positions at the beach at Rendova._]
Earning special credit during this period were the battalion’s attached
Navy corpsmen and doctors, who performed their work in the midst of
enemy raids and under the most trying conditions. Besides caring for
the 9th’s casualties at the battalion aid station set up on the exposed
East Beach of Rendova, battalion surgeon Lieutenant Commander Miles C.
Krepelas treated many Navy wounded, and Army troops returning from New
Georgia who could not locate their own medical detachments.
[Illustration: _Casualties were treated at the 9th Defense Battalion
and 43d Infantry Division medical clearing stations. More than 200
Americans were killed or injured during the 2 July raid._
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 56829
]
Battalion S-4 Major Albert F. Lucas was faced with the extremely
difficult task of supplying the widely dispersed elements of the
battalion. Captain Lynn D. Ervin, Battery G commander, remembered that
after he landed, working parties from headquarters brought around
water and rations to the dispersed firing batteries until they had
established their own field kitchens. The preparation and delivery
of food required a major effort throughout the campaign because the
battalion elements were widely spread out in the target area and
the battalion had to feed all other units which did not have their
own messing facilities. Hot meals were provided once a day and the
artillery group’s pastry cook raised morale by providing doughnuts and
other baked goods during some of the more difficult periods.
At this same time, XIV Corps began its Munda drive by moving from
Rendova to New Georgia, supported by the Army 136th Field Artillery
Battalion and the 9th Defense Battalion. Zanana Beach had been selected
for the 43d Infantry Division’s landing. The division order stated
that the 43d, less the 103d Regimental Combat Team, would “land on New
Georgia Island, capture or destroy all enemy encountered, and secure
the Munda Airfield.” On 3 July, the 172d Infantry moved by landing
craft to New Georgia, followed the next day by the 169th Infantry. The
Munda drive had begun.
The 9th’s communications and radar personnel carried on vital
installation work and respliced telephone lines as soon as they were
damaged in the air raids. The air control and reporting system of the
defense battalion and Commander Aircraft New Georgia was installed on
4 July when Condition Red was sounded again. At 1430, the Japanese
attempted a repetition of the 2 July raid as 16 Betty bombers and
their fighter escort broke through the Allied combat air patrol
overhead and penetrated the area on the same course followed before.
Zeke fighters roared in at tree-top level strafing defenses. As the
enemy planes came in, several light antiaircraft guns opened fire and
a few seconds later Captain Tracy’s E Battery on Kokorana Island began
firing. Tracy recalled “bursts were right on target, requiring no
correction ... the flight entered a large cloud. Pieces of planes were
noted falling out of the cloud.” This fire caught the enemy by surprise
and of the 16 bombers only four got their bombs away. Battery E had
expended 88 rounds of ammunition and a world’s record was established.
Twelve bombers and a fighter were destroyed by the 9th’s fire, the
bombers and the Zeke chalked up to Battery E and Special Weapons Group
respectively. That day cheers were heard all over Rendova “like a Babe
Ruth homer in Yankee Stadium.” Credit was given the operators of the
range section, though Frank LaMountain said if he had not kept the
generator going this would not have been the case. The battalion had
one officer killed and three enlisted Marines wounded; a heavy machine
gun and the remote control system of one 40mm gun were destroyed.
[Illustration: