Infighting at Koromokina Lagoon*
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7 November, 1943*
Bougainville, Solomon Islands*
USMC Assault vs Japanese Defend*
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Design: C. Berry*
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The Japanese initially reacted to the American landings at Bougainville by sending an infantry force from Rabaul aboard four destroyers. On November 7, at 0600, elements of the Japanese 54th Infantry effected their own landing just north of the 3rd Marine Division's beachead perimeter at Cape Torokino.*
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The 500 Imperial troops soon clashed with Marine outposts and repulsed a counterattack by Company K, 9th Marines. At 1350, the Regimental reserve; 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, is committed to counterattack.*
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 The Japanese had used the time in the morning to improve their position and the Marine attack through the tangled swampy jungle resulted in close, savage combat. The hard day's fighting produced one Medal of Honor (Sergeant Herbert J. Thomas) and a Navy Cross (Captain Gordon Warner).*
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 At dusk, the 1/3d Marines had reduced the Japanese position and extended the perimeter. After some small night skirmishes and a one sided artillery exchange, the remainder of the Japanese force melted into the jungle on the 8th.*
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Sources:*
Bougainville and the Northern Solomons-USMC Historical Monograph*
by Major John N. Rentz, USMCR*
Historical Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1946*
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-NSols/index.html*  