War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight For New Guinea, 1942-1945 Book by James P Duffy - 2016 - p 488

Rampage MacArthur, Yamashita and The Battle of Manila by James M. Scott - 2018, 640 Pages  

Last December in consultation with Max u, it was decided that there should be an annual post in observation of our Father's December 2, 1914 birthday.

Our Father served four years in the United States Army during World War Two.  He was a junior officer serving under General Douglas MacArthur.  He was stationed in New Guinea and shortly after the war in the Philippines.  For the initial observation last year I posted on a wonderful book, Rampage MacArthur, Yamashita and The Battle of Manila by James M. Scott .  Shortly after I posted, the author, a great speaker, did a book tour in Manila.  My wife and I attended one of his talks. Afterwards we had a lovely conversation with Mr. Scott.

The talk was held at Ateneo University and the many students there seemed very interested.  

This year I came upon a perfect book for the second annual birthday observation, War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight For New Guinea, 1942-1945 Book by James P Duffy.  

Background and Time Table for World War Two in New Guinea. Based on War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight For New Guinea, 1942-1945 Book by James P Duffy

December 7, 1941 - Japan attacks USA naval base at Pearl Harbor -President Franklin Roosevelt declares War on Japan

New Guinea was a prime target for The Japanese High Command.
The island could be used as a base to bomb and eventually Invade poorly defended at start of war Australia.  Japan also very badly needed the natural resources of the Dutch East Indies and with control of New Guinea they would have badly needed oil and rubber.

USA Military Operations in New Guinea
January 23, 1942 to August 1945 when Japanese forces largely surrendered.

Administration of New Guinea was divided into three zones

Dates of Japanese Invasions

Australian Zone Invaded January 23, 1942

Papua New Guinea- March 8, 1942

Western New Guinea - Part of Dutch East Indies -March 29, 1942

June 3 to June 7, 1942. Japanese Navy suffers crippling defeat at the Battle of Midway.  This made it much harder for them to defend, supply and reinforce their bases in New Guinea.  The Americans were both lucky and brilliant.  The Japanese lost four aircraft carriers. Airpower was vital in the campaign for New Guinea.  The American forces soon had total air superiority, launching massive bombing raids on Japanese positions.  

The dominant goal of MacArthur was to retake the 
Philippines from the Japanese.  In a very interesting segment Duffy explained that MacArthur originally planned to say not "I have returned" but "We have".  It was felt that the people of the Philippines had more personal faith in him than in the US Army which many felt had abandoned them to the cruel Japanese.

MacArthur landed on Letye Island on October 24, 1944, on January 3, 1945 the USA military launches a major invasion in Luzon.  

By this point the remaining Japanese in New Guinea were starving and dying in large numbers from disease.  MacArthur knew the Japanese in New Guinea had no chance so he felt secure in leaving a smaller force of Australians, Americans and native troop to wipe them out. Duffy detailed how the Japanese used natives as slave labor.  When the time came, The Papua Home Guard played a significant role in the near total extermination of the Japanese, whom they totally hated.

Combat in New Guinea  continued until August 1945. Duffy lists the Japanese companies and their commanders as they surrendered to the allied forces.

Duffy says around 200,000 Japanese died in New Guinea, many more from disease than through combat.  He estimates about 7000 Australians as well as 7000 Americans died.  I was disappointed he provided no estimate on losses of New Guinea Combat Forces  and natives.  He does strongly salute their courage and loyalty.

War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight For New Guinea, 1942-1945 Book by James P Duffy provides us with detailed very interesting portraits of the major leaders among the Americans, Australians and Japanese.

Of course General Douglas MacArthur is center stage.  He emerged as a brilliant strategist, a keen judge of character,  capable of great charm when he wished, completely committed to retaking the Philippines.  Duffy lets us see his interactions with other high ranking officers.

Duffy vividly describes the terrible conditions on New Guinea.
Moonson rains kept the ground wet and produced what soldiers called a "green bell on earth". There were rugged mountains, torrential rivers, mosquitoes and flies every where combined with a steam bath heat to produce an environment as dangerous as the enemy, for both sides.  Forty percent of Americans there caught malaria, as did our Father.

New Guinea was Japan's first defeat.  At the time Americans thought Japan could be defeated only by an invasion of the country. New Guinea was seen as the first step.

Even though of course I knew the allied powers would win, Duffy turned the story into an exciting narrative.

About James P. Duffy
James P. Duffy is the author of over a dozen previous books, most on military history. His World War II titles include The Sinking of the Laconia and the U-Boat War, Target America, and Hitler's Secret Pirate Fleet. He has also written on the American Civil War and the rulers of Imperial Russia. He resides with his family in New Jersey..from Amazon

Anyone interested in World War Two will enjoy and learn from this book.

Mel u