I'm going to focus on just one battle in the Pacific, and it's often overlooked and forgotten, but the Battle of Munda in the New Georgias was a key element in the drive across the Pacific. It holds special meaning to me as not only was my father there with the US Marines, but so was my National Guard unit, the 86th Field Artillery though it was then titled the 169th Field Artillery. There is a building at the Ethan Allen Firing Range which is the military reservation here in Vermont named "Munda Hall". My dad got a huge kick out of visiting it during a family day excursion there several years ago.
The beach at Munda
Munda Airfield
Marine radar tower at Munda Airfield (my dad was wounded here by a Japanese air raid)
Marine AA at Munda Airfield
More Marine AA at Munda Airfield
169th Field Artillery Army National Guard firing 155mm "Long Toms" at Munda
169th Field Artillery Army National Guard fire direction center (FDC) at Munda
Joint Army and Marine officers mess at Munda
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"Do not forget your dogs of war, your big guns, which are the most-to-be respected arguments of the rights of kings."
- Frederick the Great, King of Prussia
