Tag Archives: Cape Gloucester Invasion

Coasties Swatting Vals on the Cape

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As a follow-up to our coverage of the 80th passing of the Cape Gloucester operations that saw the 1st Marine Division hit the beaches on the day after Chrismas 1943, we touched on the fact that a lot of the Gators used in the op were Coast Guard-manned.

In fact, as detailed by the Foundation for Coast Guard History:

Landings at Cape Gloucester were conducted by Coast Guard-manned LSTs 18, 22, 66, 67, 68, 168, 202, 204, and 206.

LST-22 shot down a Japanese “Val” dive bomber while LST-66 was officially credited with downing three enemy aircraft. Two of her crew were killed by near misses. LST-67 brought down one Japanese dive bomber while LST-204 shot down two and the gunners aboard LST-68 claimed another. LST-202 claimed three enemy planes shot down.

USS LST-66 gunners shot down three Japanese bombers in the battle off Cape Gloucester, New Britain on 25-27 December 1943 and they are justly proud of their marksmanship. They call their LST the “Little Joe,” in honor of a Coast Guard shipmate who was killed in that battle. Left to right; S1/c Cleo Kidd, Perkins, Oklahoma, RM2/c Kenneth Gundling, West New York, N.J. MMoM2/c Julio Pascuito, Hyde Park, Mass., and F1/c John Langston Newport, Arkansas. (US National Archives Identifier 205584225, Local Identifier 26-G-2108, US Coast Guard photo # 2108 by Coast Guard Photographer Halscher.)

Aboard USS LST-66 Coast Guardsman Rudolph Broker, coxswain, examines the hole pierced in an armored gun shield by a Japanese bomb fragment during an air attack, 25-27 December 1943 off Cape Gloucester, New Britain. The fragment wounded Broeker slightly, but he stuck to his gun post and helped knock out one of the attacking Japanese bombers. Two others were bagged by the Coast Guard gunners. Twice attacked by enemy aircraft, four near misses caused minor damage, with two killed and seven wounded. The ship’s gunners shot down three enemy aircraft. (US National Archives LST-66 War Diary, Identifier 78270636, Local Identifier 26-G-2112, US Coast Guard photo 2112 by Coast Guard photographer Halscher.)

During WWII, the Coast Guard lost 1,918 men— 574 in combat– while under Navy service before they were returned to the Treasury Department on 1 January 1946.

A Quiet Tropical Cruise

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80 years ago today. First Marine Division Marines are seen boarding USS LCI-340 at Oro Bay, New Guinea on the day before Christmas, 1943. 

Photographed by Brenner, USMC Photo 72064, via the NHHC

Note the newly-issued M-1 Garand rifles carried by most men, as well as a telescope-equipped M1903 Springfield rifle at left. The fourth Marine on the ramp has a rifle grenade attachment on his Garand while the sixth and seventh Devils tote the 20-pound (unloaded) M1918 BAR. 

Inset of the above.

The Marines shown above would spend the holiday afloat and, the day after Christmas, they landed at Cape Gloucester on Japanese-occupied New Britain Island.

United States Coast Guard-manned LST (the USCG manned 61 Navy LSTs in WWII as well as 28 LCIs), beaching at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Bismarck Islands, Dec 1943

The Marines Land. Marines hit three feet of rough water as they leave their LST to take the beach at Cape Gloucester, December 26, 1943

Marines wade ashore from a Coast Guard-manned LST beached at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, circa 26 December 1943. Note the nickname “The Ace in the Hole” on the shield of a 105mm gun being towed ashore by a bulldozer. These men are armed with M-1 Garand Rifles, M-1 Carbines, and Thompson submachine guns. National Archives Catalog #: 80-G-44428

Marines and Coast Guardsmen landing on Cape Gloucester, New Britain, circa 26 December 1943. An LVT (1) leads the way as some men carry stretchers and others push a jeep toward the beach. National Archives Catalog #: 26-G-3046

The cost to the Marines for the resulting four-month campaign was 478 killed and 982 wounded.