World War II Database

1. Donald Lambert says:
18 Sep 2007 06:30:16 PM

According to the 24th Divisional history, the division never fought on Bougainville. I believe the African-American soldiers shown are from the 25 Infantry Regiment from the 93 Infantry Division. What follows is a portion of their divisional history - On March 21, 1944 the commanding general, United States Army Forces in the South Pacific area ordered the 93rd Infantry Division to move its 25th Combat Team to Empress Augusta Bay Perimeter on Bougainville Island with the least practically delay. The combat team was composed of the 25th Infantry Regiment, 593rd Field Artillery Battalion, 596th Field Artillery Battalion, Company A of the 318th Combat Engineer Battalion, Company A of the 318th Medical Battalion, one platoon of Company D, 318th Medical Battalion, 93rd Reconnaissance Troop, a detachment of the 93rd Signal Company, a detachment of the 793rd Ordnance Company, and a detachment of the 93rd Military Police Platoon.

2. Donald Lambert says:
19 Sep 2007 02:36:14 PM

A fellow WWII history buff has pointed out to me that your original caption read: "Negro troops of the 24th Infantry, attached to the Americal Division, wait to advance behind a tank assault on the Japanese], along Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville. 1944" - I assumed you meant the 24th Infantry Division when it is obvious now you meant the 24th Infantry Regiment. Both the 24th and the 25th Infantry Regiments were attached to the Americal Division albeit at different points in the battle. My deepest apologies for any confusion my earlier comment may have caused. If anyone has a clarification on when exactly the photo was taken this information would be greatly appreciated. If the photo was taken prior to march 23rd, 1944 then the unit pictured is the 24th Infantry Regiment.

3.  C. Peter Chen says:
19 Sep 2007 07:23:02 PM

Special thanks to Shamus, Shipwreck, and other friends at the World Affairs Board forum, Sniper1Shot from the World War II Zone forum, and also WW2DB visitor Donald Lambert. They contributed much with the identification of the tank as well as the unit.

4. D. Mitchell says:
20 Sep 2007 03:36:03 AM

An interesting historical account of the 93th Divisions experiences on Bougainville can be found in Bougainville 1943-1945, The Forgotten Campaign, by Harry A Gailey. Univ. Press of Kentucky, 1991.
See Ch. 10, The 93rd Division Affair.

5. Anonymous says:
7 Feb 2008 06:52:14 PM

I don't know anything specific about the photograph with the troops behind the Sherman tank. It's my understanding that the tactic depicted in the photo was a common infantry tactic during WWII and that the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment was involved in combat on Bougainville. My father was an officer with the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment during WWII and participated in the operations on Bougainville. At the end of the War in the Pacific, the 24th accepted the surrender of the Japanese forces on Aka Shima Island, the first formal surrender of a Japanese Imperial Army Garrison. Recently, while helping him move, he came across four old faded black and white photos that were taken at that surrender ceremony. I have scanned them (so they are digitized), and would be glad to share them if there is anyone that might be interested.

6. daniel harris says:
13 Aug 2009 06:52:42 PM

Im intrested in the photos,mainly beause my grandad served in the 92nd infantry div in north africa sicily,italy and was attached to pattons 3rd army,red ball express and then attached to the 761st tank battallion during the breakthrough of bagastone,to help relieve the 101st aireborn.My grandfather also told me also that all black units where the first to push into Germany after the battle of the bulge. I also remember him saying that(who at the time was a first seargent black platoon leader)they liberated the first concentration camps.

7. RAy Scott says:
2 Oct 2014 12:25:19 AM

My father were in the 93 Infanty. How can I find what or how he serve doing this time.

8. Chris "toadman" Hughes says:
20 Oct 2014 10:42:02 PM

The tank is an M4, not an M4A3.

9. DARREL NASH says:
31 Mar 2015 10:49:49 AM

HELLO THIS EMAIL IS FOR ANONYMOUS 7 FEB 2008,
HE SAID HE FOUND COPIES OF THE SURRENDER TO THE DEUCE FOUR ON AKA SHIMA AND TOKASHIMA DURING WWII.

IM THE HISTORIAN OF THE 24TH INFANTRY REGIMENT AND WOULD LOVE TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE PHOTOS AND WILL PAY FOR ANY TROUBLES THAT YOU ENCOUNTER THANKS AGAIN

10. DARREL NASH says:
31 Mar 2015 10:53:40 AM

HELLO RAY SCOTT

WHAT UNIT IN THE 93RD BLUE HELMUT DID YOUR DAD SERVE IN? I HAVE FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE 93RD DIVISION...IF YOU ARE INTERESTED...THANKS

11. RAY SCOTT says:
1 Apr 2015 08:25:48 AM

MR NASH
MY FATHER DIE WHEN IS WAS 10 YEARS OLD. I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION JUST FOUND THIS LOOKING IN MY MOTHER OLD PAPER. ANY INFORMATION WILL HE SO HELPFUL. THANKS

12. Anonymous says:
16 Jul 2015 08:44:23 PM

Mr. Nash: I'm the "Anonymous" that posted earlier about photos of the 24th Infantry Regiment accepting the first surrender of a a Japanese garrison at the end of WWII. I'm not sure how this forum works regarding exchange of personal contact information, but I'd be glad to share the digitized files with you if I knew where to send them. Perhaps the WW2DB administrators could provide my email address to you.