Colonel Merle H. Howe
32nd Infantry Division

15 September 1942 - Company E, 126th Infantry Regiment is flown to Port Moresby, New Guinea
18  to 25 September 1942 - 128th Infantry Regiment flown to Port Moresby
28 September 1942 - Remainder of the 126th arrives by sea
29 September 1942 - 32nd HQ arrives at Port Moresby, the 127th and most mortars and all artillery were left in Australia
12 October 1942 - 2nd Battalion, 126th sets out on Kapa Kapa Trail across the Owen Stanley Mountains, starting a nightmare
 

The following is a fragment of a report on planning of the movement of the 32nd Infantry Division from Port Moresby on the south coast of Papua, New Guinea, to Buna, on the north coast. The original is undated and was written in pencil. NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE BUNA CAMPAIGN Col. M.H. Howe Movement to combat area In planning the movement of the 126th Inf. and the 128th Inf. from Port Morsby (sic) to the combat area in the vicinity of Buna the chief consideration was given to dispatching battalions in the proper order and at such time that they would arrive at aproximately (sic) the same time in their respective positions from which to launch a coordinated attack. The plan of attack in brief was to place the two regiments abreast with the Girua River as a boundary between regiments, the 126th Inf. on the left. Within the 126th Inf. sector one battalion was to advance along the Soputa-Sanananda Track and seize the later (sic) place. Another battalion was to advance abreast of the first along the Jumbora-Gona Track, which roughly paralled (sic) the Soputa-Sanananda Track. The other battalion initially to be in reserve in the vicinity of Soputa ready to move to the assistance of either assault battalion and to protect the rear of the attacking elements from Japanese units which were reported to be still moving down the Kokoda Track through Wairopi, Popondetta, Soputa to the coast. At the time these plans were being made the Australian elements moving over the mountains along the Kokoda Track were having grave difficulties with their supply and had stopped at Kokoda air strip with the intention of remaining there until sufficient supplies were built up to complete the movement to the coast. Contact with the retreating enemy had been completely lost for some time. There was no assurance that the Australians would move in time to be in on the attack. Continuing reports of enemy reinforcements arriving in the Buna area made time an important factor so the decision had been made to move the American elements into position with all possible speed and launch the attack alone if the Australians did not arrive in time. The plan for the 128th Inf. was to commit one battalion on the costal (sic) track toward Cape Endaiadere, one battalion along the Dobodura-Ango-Buna Track and to hold one battalion in regimental reserve in the vicinity [of] Warisota Plantation ready to move to the assistance of either assault battalion or to fill a gap in the line by moving along the Dobodura-Simemi-Buna Track. The planning was based upon a study of existing maps (which proved to be so inaccurate as to be almost useless), upon very sketchy reconaissance (sic) by our own troops and upon information furnished by a PIB (Papuan Infantry Battalion) unit in the area and by natives. All information was meager and eroneous (sic) . As an illustration what appeared to be an easy four day march over flat terrain from Pongani to Inonda turned out to be a grueling ten day move over the rugged Hydrographers Range. The map maker had placed this range about fifty miles south of its true location and had its axis nearly ninety degrees wrong. Immediately after the 2nd Bn 126th Inf. had started its march to the north coast on October 12th the movement of the 128th Infantry to Wanigela by air was started. The landing strip at that place was short and consisted of a cleared strip in an unusually low Kunai grass area. It was smooth and at first appeared satisfactory however after the first day's operations it developed that the surface was made firm only by the grass roots. The one day was sufficient to cut through the roots and that strip had to be abandoned and a parallel strip cleared. Due to excessive rain and poor visibility the movement was interrupted several times and the Regiment did not close . . . . . .  And there Merle Howe's note ends. We do not know if there were more pages completed and we do not know where they might be. There is nothing else among his papers in the family's possession.

14 to 18 October 1942 - 128th flown to Wanigela Mission
3 November 1942 - Battle for Buna begins as Australians drive Japanese closer to the coast
19 November 1942 - 32nd launches first American attacks which quickly stall under withering Japanese fire
5 December 1942 - On the Urbana front, when a new attack showed signs of stalling Merle Howe (and other senior staff members) moved to the front and personally directed the action. He received one of 11 DSCs awarded.
 

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Distinguished Service Cross for “extraordinary heroism in action near Buna, New Guinea on December 5, 1942.”  CITATION: MERLE H. HOWE, Lieutenant Colonel, General Staff Corps, Headquarters 32d Division, United States Army.  For extraordinary heroism in action near Buna, New Guinea on December 5, 1942.  During an attack on Buna Village, when men of a rifle company short of Company officers were checked by heavy small arms and mortar fire at close range, Lieutenant Colonel Howe personally exposed himself to the enemy fire, moving among the advanced groups and encouraging the men to resume the attack.  He led them in an attack, gaining ground which, held and consolidated, assisted materially in an advance on the succeeding day.  (Source: General Orders No. 64, December 28, 1942; Maj. Gen. R.K. Sutherland, Chief of Staff.)

He also received his first wound of the Second World War; but, not his first Purple Heart.
 

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Unawarded Purple Heart for "wounds received in action in the Buna Sector on December 5, 1942." "The wounds were inflicted by a sniper hidden high in a tree in the jungle.  The sniper's bullet creased his neck — terribly close.  He grabbed a submachine gun and sprayed the tree and got the sniper. This incident found its way into a novel, Once an Eagle, by Anton Myrer. His file shows an order signed by a Captain, the regimental adjutant, awarding a Purple Heart to him, and the next day, he ordered the Captain to rescind the award.  Therefore, he did not receive it."  For more on this Purple Heart, see the "Back to OZ" page. (Source: Merle Howe's Service Record File, the Howe Family)

14 January 1943 - Given command of 127th Infantry Regiment in combat at Giruwa, New Guinea

16 January 1943 - While fighting in a swamp that Merle said "stinks like hell", he went forward to size up the terrain.  He was awarded a Silver Star.
 

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Silver Star for “gallantry in action near Tarakena, New Guinea on January 16, 1943.”  CITATION: MERLE H. HOWE, Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry, Commanding Officer, 127th Infantry, Army of the United States.  For gallantry in action near Tarakena, New Guinea, January 16, 1943.  On that date Lieutenant Colonel HOWE made a personal reconnaissance of the front line area across the Konombi River.  With utter disregard for his personal safety, he continually exposed himself for heavy enemy sniper fire from enemy positions fifty yards away, and secured valuable information for future operations.  Lieutenant Colonel HOWE’S actions were over and above the ordinary call of duty and inspired his men to greater efforts. (Source: Headquarters, U.S. Forces, Buna Area, General Orders No. 17, 22 January 1943, Lt. Gen. R.L. Eichelberger, Commanding.)

19 January 1943 - Three days later, he did it again and received another Silver Star.
 

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Silver Star (Oak Leaf Cluster) for “gallantry in action near Giruwa, New Guinea on January 19, 1943.”  CITATION: MERLE H. HOWE, Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry, Commanding Officer, 127th Infantry, Army of the United States. For gallantry in action near Giruwa, New Guinea, January 19, 1943. During an attack on Giruwa, Company E, 127th Infantry was being held up by heavy enemy machine gun fire.  With utter disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Colonel HOWE went to the foremost elements of the company and while under constant heavy enemy machine gun and sniper fire, directed the destruction of the enemy resistance which resulted in the continuance of the advance on Giruwa. Lieutenant Colonel HOWE’S courage, coolness, and exceptional leadership was an inspiration to all the troops. (Source: Headquarters U.S. Forces, Buna Area, General Order No. 18, 24 January 1943, Lt. Gen. R.L. Eichelberger, Commanding.)

22 January 1943 - Final mopping up completed, the fighting for Buna ends
February 1943 - Elements of the 32nd begin to be flown back to Australia. Planes were in short supply so the transport dragged on.
4 February 1943 - Promoted to Colonel, U.S. Army commanding 127th Infantry Regiment
March 1943 - During a military review in the Buna area staged by the 32nd Infantry Division, Lt. Gen. Eichelberger presented Merle with his Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Stars. According to a note in his file, written by Virginia Howe (his wife), Eichelberger did not have an Oak Leaf Cluster to present for the second Silver Star so he pinned on a second ribbon.

126th Infantry Regiment

127th Infantry Regiment

128th Infantry Regiment