Re: HOLLANDIA (JAYAPURA) in 1944
Hi Jack,
I just joined this website and just read this thread through. You should write a book about your war years. You have great recollection.
My dad, Phil Thornton, was also in the 186th infantry of the 41st division. The same as Lefty’s dad. He was born in 1924 and didn’t get overseas until towards the end of 1943. I believe Hollandia was his first action and he was there for the Philippine battles. He was a heavy machine gunner. He was a sergeant when he left the army.
He was from Boston.
I was his youngest child of 5 and he seemed to have mellowed by the time I was growing up. He was 40 years old when I was born and no longer hated everything made in Japan. He told me a lot about the war. I don’t think he really talked about it much to other people. He was never the type to hang out at the VFW or boast about his exploits. He told me that he never wished his experience on anyone else but that experience was by far the most influential event in his life. He loved to watch documentaries about the war and that is when i would ask him most about his experiences. I think I was closer to him than my other siblings and I was always interested in what life was like back then.
My father died in 1990 and I wish the internet was around during his life so he could have caught up with some of his war buddies. Since we lived in Boston he never was able to make it out to the Northwest for reunions.
But your stories ring a bell with me. Especially the Bonsai attacks. My dad told me that the Americans were so superior in battle tactics. And the japanese were fanatical but he also thought they were kind of dumb in tactics.
My dad told me that the natives of New Guinea were paid for dead japs as well but he told me that they would collect ears. I think he said it was the right ear that they would need for verification. He also said the natives would try to get sneaky and try to get paid for the left ear as well. My dad concurred that the Aussies were tough bunch of guys and great allies.
I could probably write a book about my dad and his stories so; I’ll just leave you with a couple of more tidbits.
My dad was terrified of snakes after the war. Any harmless kind of snake. My mother told me that he would have nightmares about snakes.
Remember the song “Oh, the Monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga” – My dad used to sing it sometimes. I guess it’s an old song from the war.
My dad ended up occupying Hiroshima after the war. He got his only trinkets there. A ceremonial sword and a Japanese flag that he had some buddies sign. I think my brother still has the sword and flag. I have a couple of photos in bad shape that I will scan and post. I have a few other papers and a copy of a division newspaper published during the war.
I look forward to hearing more of your memories.
Best Regards,
Tom
|