General Douglas MacArthur, the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) commander, had his airstrip and staging base at Buna on the north coast. It was expensive real estate. About 13,000 Japanese troops perished during the terrible fighting, but Allied casualties were also heavy; 8,500 men fell in battle (5,698 of them Australians) and 27,000 cases of malaria were reported, mainly because of shortages of medical supplies. Besides ruining the Australian 7th and U.S. 32d Infantry Divisions, the campaign had severely taxed the Australian 5th and U.S. 41st Infantry Divisions. The exhausted Americans needed six months to reconstitute before their next operation. Australian ground forces, despite heavier losses, became the front line of defense against the Japanese who, though bloodied, were ready for round two.

2 January   The allied operation to seize Japanese bases at Buna/Sanananda on the northeast coast of, Papua (Australian) New Guinea initiated on 18 November 1942, involved the U.S. 41st and 32nd Infantry Divisions and Australian forces. Buna, fell to the Allied forces after an early major setback and bloody fighting with high casualties on both sides.

15 January 2LT Henry Hoffman of Dog Company was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

22 January The same Allied forces involved in the Buna operation defeat the Japanese Army at Sanananda. The final attack against the Japanese defenses was successful, and all that remained was a mopping-up operation. The Papuan Campaign to destroy the Japanese bases along the northeastern coast of New Guinea was costly, but successful.

3 February T5 (SGT) Stanley V, "Dyke" Knoll, D Company, was diagnosed with Dengue Fever and was sent to 17th Station Hospital, Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia.

Editors Note: Dengue Fever is a mild viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes. It is characterized by fever, rash, and muscle and joint pains. Dengue fever is caused by several related viruses (four different arboviruses). It is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes in tropic and subtropic regions. This includes portions of Southeast Asia, the Indonesian archipelago into northeastern Australia, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of South and Central America.

     The fever begins with sudden onset of a high fever, often to 104 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, headache, and slightly later the appearance of severe joint and muscle pains. A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body early during the fever. A second rash, measles-like in appearance, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.

9 February The battalion received a letter of commendation for efficient service and duties from CPT Samuel Cutler, Army Air Corps, Mackay, Queensland, Australia.

22 April SGT Frederick A. Burness, Jr. of Baker Company was in charge of a detail escorting Japanese prisoners of war from Townsville, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea by air when the aircraft  crashed into the Coral Sea near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. SGT Burness did not survive the crash and became the first battalion and Baker Company casualty.

     The aircraft SGT Burness was using for his mission, the CAMILLA, a Short S024 class Empire Flying Boat, registration number VH-ADU, contracted by Quanta's Empire Airlines to the Australian military.

    The Camilla took off from Townsville at 1250 hours with a crew of five, and twenty seven passengers including twenty-two from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and five from the U.S. Army. The Camilla crashed into the Coral Sea during an attempted water landing due to a continuing weather emergency. Two crewmembers and eleven passengers including Sergeant Burness perished.

     SGT Burness is listed as Missing and Killed In Action on a Memorial Monument located at the Manila American National Cemetery, Philippines.

4-16 September Allied forces recaptured Lae-Salamaua on the northeast coast of Papua (Australian) New Guinea.

11 September The battalion provided an Honor Guard and security during the visit of the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt in Townsville,  Queensland, Australia conducting a good will tour of the South Pacific as a representative of the Red Cross. She traveled 23,000 miles visiting field hospitals in Australia and throughout the South Pacific.

18 September The battalion received a letter of commendation for efficient service and duties from COL William G. Purdy, Chief Provost Marshal, U.S. Army Forces Far East.

20 September 2LT Webster of Baker Company was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

22 September The battalion received a letter of commendation for efficient service and duties from MAJ Arthur J. Wojnowski, Provost Marshal, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

Editors Note: MAJ Wojnowski would serve as the 720th MP Battalion Commander in New Guinea from 6 April through 3 October 1944.

2 November A detachment of sixteen troops from Dog Company departed Townsville, Australia for Oro Bay aboard the Dutch freighter Van Spillbergan, where they were assigned as cargo hatch guards. No provisions were made for meals on the ship galley so the detachment had to eat C-Rations during the transport.

     While traveling along the coast of Papua (Australian) New Guinea the ship struck and became stranded on a reef. Although stuck, the ship was not damaged, however, they could not radio their dilemma due to strict radio silence, so their plight remained unknown until a B-25 bomber on patrol spotted the ship. An ocean going tug was dispatched from Milne Bay and freed the ship.

     Other small detachments from Dog Company would do the same during their move to New Guinea.

7 November Battalion HQ & HQ Detachment and Able Company departed Townsville, Australia for Port Moresby, and Milne Bay, Papua (Australian) New Guinea aboard the USS Robert Stewart.

9 November After a stop at Milne Bay, the detachment from Dog Company arrived at Oro Bay, Papua (Australian) New Guinea.

11 November At Port Moresby, one platoon of Charlie Company was stationed at the stockade while two platoons were at the original camp in the vicinity of Koki Mission (2-Mile Hill).

13 November 1LT George Dennis of Baker Company was promoted to the rank of Captal.

15 November There was a redesignation and extension of the U.S. Army Services of Supply (USASOS) Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) base system. Advance Section with headquarters at Port Moresby was redesignated Intermediate Section and the advance bases of A, B and D were redesignated simply Bases A, B & D.

     Able Company was sent to the staging area of Port Moresby, and remained there for six-weeks, engaging in stevedore-type work at the docks.

20 November With Port Moresby receiving a massive influx of Allied troops, tons of supplies and equipment for the ongoing battles to clear the eastern end of Papua (Australian) New Guinea, the 814th MP Company [activated 6 May 1942 in Australia] arrived at Port Moresby and was attached subordinate to the battalion for duty, administration and training. They were assigned to assist Charlie Company in the performance of military police duties on the base.

29 November The remaining elements of Dog Company completed its transfer from Australia to Oro Bay.

A medley of popular patriotic songs from the era.

9 December Members of the 720th MP Battalion, enjoying their meal under the jungle canopy in New Guinea. (right)

22 December Orders received from Headquarters Base D and 22nd Port Headquarters, U.S. Army Service and Supply assigned LT Neidlinger of the battalion to command the 814th MP Company.

     The battalion received a letter of commendation for efficient service and duties from LTC J. P. Holland, Provost Marshal, U.S. Army Service and Supply Headquarters, Port Moresby, Papua (Australian) New Guinea.

27 December Dog Company was assigned duties guarding Japanese prisoners of war captured by the U.S. 41st Infantry Division at the stockade in the small costal port and mission station operated by the U.S. Army 491st Port Battalion at Oro Bay located on the northeastern side of Papua (Australian) New Guinea, 15 miles southeast of Buna.