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THE ISLAND OF MALABASCAR

Monday, May 29, 2023

WWII OPERATION CHARADE


OPERATION CHARADE
A GENERAL PETTYGREE BATTLESTORY
ON THE NORTH COAST OF NEW GUINEA

3 JUNE 1943/2023

PRELUDE
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"Well they are finally coming here even in these high seas." Private Kenda.

Heavy Allied ships did not sail The Bismarck Sea north of New Guinea. Narrow channels, numerous Japanese airfields to the northeast and frequent mauling of Japanese shipping by US and Australian air assets meant the area was an Allied Sea. Besides Admiral Nimitz would not permit his larger ships to operate here.

"Lt. Kubacki, radio Rabaul, Allied landings possibly expected soon supporting Australian forces pressing us overland from the west and south. Situation untenable. Operation Sunrise will commence at daybreak on 3 June 1943."

"Hai, Colonel Takahashi."

"Hai, I repeat. Sunrise is at 5am on 3 June 1943."

"Operation Charade will gain another airfield to control The Bismarck Sea to further interdict the Japanese reinforcing and resupplying western New Guinea," remarked General MacArthur.

"Takahashi's trapped regiment at Muna-Boa is all that stands in our way, answered General Pettygree.

"The airstrip will need enlarging," said Pettygree.

"Muna-Boa west of the airstrip though enclosed and surrounded by tall grasses so prominent in these parts should fall once Charade is in full swing, eh Pettygree?" 

"My Sandhurst Debate Team defined should as, ought to but not necessarily can or will, Sir."

"True, but I have confidence the Australians will close the trap on Takahashi especially when Colonel Bearing arrives. However, we'll not tally a victory this soon. Poor form," remarked the American General.
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CLOSING REMARKS

1. Muna-Boa is an imagineered tabletop historical miniatures wargame scheduled for 3 June 1943/2023 for a small number of local pards. This short newsreel preps them for the game.

2. Inspiration came from James P. Duffy's 2016 book, WAR AT THE END OF THE WORLD. Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight for New Guinea 1942-1945. This many years after the end of WWII, he amassed an amazing amount of new material for our greater understanding of General MacArthur and his operations on New Guinea.

3. General Pettygree will be on hand arriving in a Dakota C-47 as soon as practicable, God willing, of course reporting in his usual style for you.

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Thursday, March 16, 2023

BOMBARDMENTS TODAY


Readers are most likely familiar with prodigious WWII naval bombardments and the destruction intended ashore. Numerous Pacific Theatre battles may come to mind as the Allies recovered lost islands and territories into August 1945.

However, D-Day's thunderous salvoes sent into Normandy on June 6, 1944 may come more easily to mind. I recently watched The Longest Day again thinking about terrible destruction, death, shock and deafness intended for coastal defenders. It consumed every fiber of their being. How could it not?

It got me to thinking about the minute by minute bombardment consuming us daily. What is it doing to us? Why do we allow it --- such as?

Overdoing texting, emailing, social media, screen time at and off of work, video games, addictions, pursuit of experiences, television, workaholic and/or newsaholic behaviors, too busy for interaction with family and friends, the disappearance of quiet time and more. How about allowing cell phones to disturb family chow time, sleep or precious unrecoverable time with our children/grandchildren? 

My Marketing Director, Michael,  tells a story about an ice skating practice. He sat in the stands watching his child skate. His cell phone was intentionally someplace else so he could be in the moment with his offspring. However,  a nearby mom was immersed constantly on a cell phone. Her daughter then had an issue with a skate. The mom did not hear multiple pleas for mom's help because screen time was more important. Michael soon got the mom's attention.

One more thing as Easter nears. The most important negative dynamic is....

There is insufficient silence for us to hear the voice of Jesus in many different ways. 

"And get to know me."

"Come and follow me."

It's Time To Go Home.

Every Blessing and Happy Easter Everyone!

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CLOSING REMARKS WHICH MAY APPLY FOR YOU

It’s Time To Come Home Whether You

·         Retired from the Catholic or your Faith tradition (Understandable)

·         Have remained home since Covid (You aren’t alone)

·         Want to learn about Catholicism (Founded 2,000 years ago in the year 33)

·         Hear an almost silent voice inviting you (Saying come)

·         Aren’t sure, distrustful, hurt, don't believe or too busy (Come anyway)

·         Think Catholicism is unbiblical (It is scripturally biblical)

Don’t think you are welcome (You Are Welcome!)  

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Friday, December 23, 2022

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Joseph and Mary Welcome Jesus Into Our World

He Is The Reason For Christmas

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Gen. Pettygree's Kokoda Track Battle Story


A GENERAL PETTYGREE BATTLE STORY

Location: Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
Date: July 1942 (2022)
Situation: Japanese Overland Attack on Kokoda Village
Rules: Home Rules
 
Played Solo 16-18 July 1942-2022
Miniatures: We Use What We Have --- Geography Is Imagineered
By The Way: The table covering simulates tall grass providing cover

Click on photos to enlarge them

39th Infantry Battalion, Kokoda Village
0630 Hours

"That's all Miti Buka reports Colonel."

"Very well Sparks. Stand by."

"I'm now reporting from Kokoda, Papua, New Guinea. You just saw Colonel Shears, the Australian commander in these parts. He has received news radioed by Sergeant Miti Buka commanding the Papuan Advance Guard Screen to the north. He is falling back before advancing Japanese forces on the Kokoda Track." 

"Let's listen and observe developments."

"Battalion! --- Stand --- at Ease."

"Well men, the enemy is finally waltzing up the Kokoda Track. They'll be here on our plateau this afternoon. They mean to use Kokoda Village and its airfield as a base to attack Port Moresby behind us to the south and then Australia."

"She'll be right, Colonel! We'll cut 'em up!" (Laughter and approval from the ranks.)

"That's the spirit Duncan. --- Now men, everyone fill your tucker bags with three days rations. Officers, in thirty minutes, march your platoons to pre-designated positions, take cover and keep your heads down. --- Questions?"

"None. Then that is all. --- Good luck. --- Dismissed."

Colonel Tsukamoto's 1/144 Infantry Regiment
1400 Hours

Near 1400 hours dense jungle vegetation began to open in the distance as Colonel Tsukamoto's column neared Kokoda Village. The thinning canopy meant they might be close. He therefore ordered a temporary halt to rest the men and receive reports from scouts up the track before attacking.

Imperial Japanese soldier Hiroto Tanaka was thankful for the respite. He was hungry, exhausted, soaked in perspiration, feeling symptoms of malaria and possibly a little delirious. He longed to return home. While staring vacantly into the forest, his eyes blinked several times and finally focused on something instantly terrifying.

"Alarm! An ancient Kaiju has raised its long neck and is peering at us. Run!"

"Private, what terrorized your idiot friend?"

"After believing he saw a Kaiju, Hiroto fled back down the trail. Then he tripped over a vine, hit his head on something and was rendered unconscious for a time."

"Show me where this apparition occurred."

"Here Lieutenant. It resembles a dragon and..."

"A tree? Enough! Get back to your squad. We're leaving in ten minutes."

Soon two enemy squads supported with medium machine gun and mortar sections moved out arriving three hundred yards short of the village.

More infantry hurriedly (per doctrine) arrived as three reinforced squads deployed to the right (west). Surely they wondered where the enemy was.

"Men, the village, our objective, is just ahead. Rush on."  

"A --- haaaa!"

"Two Australians have raised their heads for us. We'll attack forward on my order when..." 

"The other squad comes up on our left. Here they are now."

Japanese Far Right Flank

Three Japanese Squads move forward.
We shall concentrate on the rightmost group.

Opposed by Sergeant Miti Buka 's Papuans. "Fire brothers!"
 
With creditable effect.

"Retreat my friends. The infernals are going to charge. We'll draw them in."

"Banzai!"

Japanese Right Flank Nearest the Track

"The Australians are in cover just ahead of us."

"Be ready!"

"Advance!"

Fire was soon exchanged with the left-most Australians. But....

"I radioed Col. Shears, Sir, t
he Papuans to our left have pulled back, our mates to the right have suffered cruelly and are...."

"Incapable of further defence."

"The Colonel says pull back to the village joining him there."

"Alright men, we're done here. 

"Follow me."

"Halt, line the bushes. Fire at will to stop 'em."

It's not working, Sir. Too many of 'em!"

"Right. Fall back."

"Fire again!"

"No good men. Run for the track and into the bush. We're outta here mates!"


Japanese Far Left Flank
Australian Far Right Flank

"Radio the Colonel the enemy is not in sight anywhere to our front. New orders?"

"He says withdraw back to the village. Quick march. Our left flank has collapsed."

"Tell him we'll leave now."

"Pull back. Colonel Shears wants us in the village fast. No dithering."

"The enemy is just on the other side of that hut where Colonel Shears is standing. He's a cool one, he is, without a care. We're in it now!"


The Center
Battling Up The Track

"There's the village. Forward. Don't stop."

"Wait for 'em mates and fire."

"We're taking hits, Sir. Then we'll charge straight in. BANZAI!"

Hand to hand combat in the village as....

The Australians from the Right Flank arrive.

"We beat them. They run!"

"Fall back men."  

"Form a new line here. More are coming."

"Help has arrived."

"Fire!"

"That's all men.  Back down the track now."

"But Colonel...."

"We can't stay Duncan. Off we go lads."

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CLOSING REMARKS


"Before Colonel Shears ordered the retreat from Kokoda Village, he suggested that I fly back to Port Moresby in my Lysander to report what I had seen." 

"Fortunately the Lysander was not engaged by Japanese aircraft as I flew back to Port Moresby. However, after thirty minutes or so I perhaps foolishly asked the pilot to return to Kokoda and make a quick pass for a last photograph."

"This is what I saw. The Japanese had formed up on the very parade ground we had used early that morning. The commanding officer even spoke to his men upon the same crates Colonel Shears had stood upon." 
 
"The immediate future of our campaign remains Top Secret for now. However, you will be the first to learn where and when General MacArthur will strike back. Until then, keep calm and carry on."

"One last thing. The following booklet was used to inspire Bill's tabletop solo game."


"We would be grateful for your remarks below."

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