The other D-Day hardly anyone knows about – Part 2

The following article is from Chapter 7 of my book “Dad’s War Photos: Adventures in the South Pacific.”

If you want an autographed SOFTCOVER copy, and you live in the United States. I can mail you a copy. Click the “Buy Now” button to buy from Paypal.

Click the “Buy Now” to buy from Paypal

The book is also available from Amazon.com in Softcover, Hardcover, and Kindle ebook.

CHAPTER 7
The Battle for Biak Island and
the Capture of Mokmer Airdrome

The Japanese had taken the Pacific islands in giant strides and would not relinquish even the smallest of these without a bloody conflict. The Americans fought dot by dot on the ocean’s map to drive back the invaders. The 863rd Engineer Aviation Battalion was ordered to move to continue the strategy of island hopping planned by General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Southwest Pacific Area.

New Guinea & Biak
A map of New Guinea shown in relation to the northernmost tip of Australia. My father’s battalion was stationed at the Oro Bay/Dobodura area first, then they later moved on to Saidor. From there, they would go to Biak.

This move was to a seemingly insignificant island called Biak. It was a part of the Schouten Island chain in the Netherland East Indies, previously held by the Dutch but under Japanese control for the past three years.

Biak Island
The island of Biak, showing the area where they landed on the southern coast.

Given its size, Biak seemed irrelevant, but the Japanese built three airdromes there that MacArthur desperately needed. Those airdromes had to be captured leaving the airstrip, control tower and operations buildings intact. My father’s battalion was responsible for capturing and keeping operational control of the airdrome near the native village of Mokmer.

Biak-Airdromes
This map shows the three airdromes in the area. Other battalions were in charge of the Sorido and Borokoe airdromes. The area named “Plateau” is a high ridge with several pillboxes on top and caves from which the enemy was firing.
The operations building and control tower at Mokmer Drome on Biak.
The operations building and control tower at Mokmer Drome on Biak.

There, the Japanese spent over a year building significant defensives, including large cannons and pillboxes of various sizes. These fortifications provided cover for the Japanese to post sentinels and shoot any approaching invader. Pillboxes were usually constructed using reinforced concrete. When proper construction materials were in short supply, they were solidly constructed using coconut logs and covered with a thick dirt roof and camouflaged with tree branches to disguise their location from distant American cannons and approaching soldiers.

Ben Jones, a fellow soldier from Louisiana poses in front of a Japanese Type 10 120-mm dual purpose gun that has been disabled by U.S. infantry. This is one of the enemy guns that was firing on my father’s battalion from on top of the ridge.
Ben Jones, a fellow soldier from Louisiana poses in front of a Japanese Type 10 120-mm dual purpose gun that has been disabled by U.S. infantry. This is one of the enemy guns that was firing on my father’s battalion from on top of the ridge.

The U.S. Army Infantry staged a full-scale assault on southern Biak, including a gunnery duel and air attack, with mixed results. As my father’s battalion approached by LST, they were hammered by deadly fire from Japanese coastal cannons on top of the ridge overlooking their landing zone.

Captured Japanese bomb dump.
Captured Japanese bomb dump.

For many young Americans, the shallows before the beach became a killing field. Coral reefs grounded LSTs a full five hundred yards from shore, forcing the soldiers to wade through cannon and machine gun fire in chest-high surf to the beach.

While the battalion was approaching Biak, the Japanese defenders were shooting their large cannons at them trying to sink their ships. One of the cannon shells landed in the shallow water near the ship and exploded, sending shrapnel flying everywhere. Two men in the battalion were wounded by this shrapnel as they were climbing down the landing net over the side of the ship. They later received the Purple Heart medal for their injuries.

Some of the caves the enemy was shooting from.
Some of the caves the enemy was shooting from.

Those who survived to the beach faced a terrain that sloped upward and changed elevation 50 to 200 hundred feet. The slope was pocked with caves where the Japanese had placed mortars and artillery. They had a bird’s-eye view for miles around, enabling them to shoot at the U.S. troops and their machinery. The Japanese defenders steadfastly held their positions, and on June 8, 1944, the American infantry had yet to dislodge the defenders. That was the day the LST carrying my father found its way onto the beachfront battlefield.

It took two months to clear the Island of all Japanese defenders. A lot of them were killed. The remainder escaped to the northern part of the Island where Japanese ships would help them evacuate.

Now that the enemy threat was gone from the Island, the troops had a little time to relax. Bob Hope and his USO Show came to Biak and entertained the troops.

Bob Hope entertaining the troops at a USO show at Mokmer Drome, Biak. August 25, 1944.
Bob Hope entertaining the troops at a USO show at Mokmer Drome, Biak. August 25, 1944.
Feeding the little pet wallaby.
Feeding the little pet wallaby.

When their job was completed on Biak, they made preparations to break down their camp and load up all equipment onto the large “Landing-Ship, Tank” boats, or LSTs. They hoisted anchor on December 10, 1944.

Loading equipment and troops onto LST #170. Leaving Biak to go to the next adventure.
Loading equipment and troops onto LST #170. Leaving Biak to go to the next adventure.

The previous article is from Chapter 7 of my book “Dad’s War Photos: Adventures in the South Pacific.”

If you want an autographed SOFTCOVER copy, and you live in the United States. I can mail you a copy. Click the “Buy Now” button to buy from Paypal.

Click the “Buy Now” to buy from Paypal

The book is also available from Amazon.com in Softcover, Hardcover, and Kindle ebook.

The war is over! Curtis Bertrand on the boat coming back home from Australia.

Taking Pictures During World War II

Did you ever have a relative or know of someone who fought in World War Two? Perhaps you envisioned what it was like for them to go to boot camp and get on a ship and sail off to war in the South Pacific.

Dad’s War Photos Flyer

WWII Trench Art From 40mm Artillery Shell 

WWII Trench Art From 40mm Artillery Shell

Here is a piece of what is called trench art from WWII. I suspect this is from a Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft round. My dad brought this back from the South Pacific after the war was over in 1945. Can someone please confirm what artillery shot this?

While on the ship on the way back to the U.S. it was made into an ash tray. It had three Filipino centavos coins bent into shape and soldered into the indentions on the rim to hold the cigarette. Two of the coins went missing. Read more

Events for October 2017 & November 2017

Local Author Book Signing Events

Here are three events that we will be attending during October 2017.

Sat. October 7 from 10-2.  “Books For The Bayou” This Event was canceled

Location: Terrebonne Parish Library (in Houma)
151 Library Drive
Houma LA 70360
Phone: (985) 876-5861

Saturday October 14, 2017

Tangipahoa Parish Library, Hammond Branch

Location: Tangipahoa Parish Library – Hammond Branch (Hammond)
314 E. Thomas St.
Free Book Festival: Autumn Adventure
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Meet your favorite authors! Decorate a pumpkin! Wear your Halloween costume.

October 28, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m,

2017 Louisiana Book Festival

Location: Baton Rouge
in downtown Baton Rouge at the State Library of Louisiana, the State Capitol, the Capitol Park Museum and nearby locations. The Louisiana Book Festival will be jam-packed with outstanding literary events. Whatever book genre is your favorite, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy!

http://www.louisianabookfestival.org/exhibitors_list2017.html

Cypress Authors Collective
Exhibitor Tent B
Book signings by Louisiana authors Neal Bertrand, Marina Landry, and Carrie Simon

Events for November 2017.

Sat Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. til 4 p.m.

Sat Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. til 4 p.m. Grand Coteau Festival of Words
On the grounds in front of the Thensted Center on Church Street

Thurs Nov 9th, D.A.R Meeting

Thurs Nov 9th, D.A.R Meeting 2 pm
Crowley, LA
Veterans Day event
Neal gives a talk about his Dad’s War Photos book and displays his father’s souvenirs from WWII.
Location to be announced

Sat. Nov 11

Sat. Nov 11 at 9 am
Veterans Day event
Fountain Memorial
On Pandora Drive
Neal will give a 10-minute talk on his father’s adventures during WWII.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Author Book signing: Rice Cooker & Slow Cooker Demonstration. Giving out free samples of meals PLUS chocolate made in a slow cooker (crockpot). Cooking “Blackeye Pea & Sausage Jambalaya” in a Rice Cooker. Cooking “Chicken Fajita Stuffed Potato” cooked in a slow cooker.
Barnes & Noble, Lafayette, La.
Black Friday, Friday Nov 24, 2017 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sample Ebook on Amazon

“When I was age 10, my daddy started showing me his 600 war pictures and telling me his experiences. Later in life, he bought a video camera so he could relate his wartime experiences for history sake, but he got sick and died before he could do that. My new book, “Dad’s War Photos: Adventures in the South Pacific” is to honor his experiences, and to honor the vow I made to him to hold his most valuable war souvenir in high honor – his Japanese war rifle he found in the Philippines.”

Using 400 pictures his father brought back from the South Pacific in WWII, author Neal Bertrand created a timeline and traced his father’s steps from home to boot camp to war and back. Portions of the battalion’s daily journal are included, adding adventure and drama to the story. There are nearly 80 photos of WWII airplanes, some with erotic artwork.

This WWII pictorial is in paperback, hardcover and multimedia ebook format.

The ebook has:

  • over 200 links to vintage Army videos of action in the South Pacific.
  • 21 color maps to help trace his steps from home to war and back on a monthly basis
  • and much more…

See the free 40-page sample at

www.amazon.com/Dads-War-Photos-Adventures-Pacific-ebook/dp/B011WDS8RA/

 

Directions to the Monthly Author Book Expo

Directions to the Monthly Author Book Expo: Driving along Interstate 49, take the Grand Coteau exit, which is exit 11. Drive East into Grand Coteau. g-maps-directions(If you drive West, you will be in Sunset). Follow Martin Luther King Drive, turn left at the only traffic light. The Thensted Outreach Center will be on the right, next to a red brick church. See map

Monthly Book Expo!

New Multimedia Kindle ebook

Dad’s War Photos is now available in three formats: hardcover, softcover, and multimedia Kindle ebook.

 

I just made this Youtube video to introduce you to my new multimedia Kindle ebook. Amazon is giving you a huge amount of free content, including 40 original WWII videos, so take a look.

If you know any history buffs, they will love this. Plus it makes a great gift.

Watch the video below.