Victory in Papua: United States Army in World War II - The War in the Pacific

by Samuel Milner

The strategic significance of the Papuan Campaign can be briefly stated. In addition to blunting the Japanese thrust toward Australia and the transpacific line of communications, it put General MacArthur's forces in a favorable position to take the offensive. But this little known campaign is significant for still another reason. It was the battle test of a large hitherto-inexperienced U.S. Army force and its commanders under the conditions which were to attend much of the ground fighting in the Pacific. Costly in casualties and suffering, it taught lessons that the Army had to learn if it was to cope with the Japanese under conditions of tropical warfare.Samuel Milner holds a graduate degree in history from the University of Alberta and has done further graduate work in political science at the University of Minnesota. During World War II, he served in Australia and New Guinea as a historian with the Air Transport Command, Army Air Forces. Upon completing Victory in Papua he left the Office of the Chief of Military History to become historian of the Air Weather Service, U.S. Air Force.

Genres: World War II, History, Military Fiction, Military History

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a detailed accounting of the 6-month campaign in Papua in 1942. I have read several other books about the battles, which turned back the Japanese from Port Moresby so I was somewhat famiiar with the basics. It was horrible struggle in the Owen Stanley Range and then on the north coast for such objectives as Sanananda, Gona and Buna. The casualty levels were high because of tenacious combat and horrendous fighting conditions, which led to diseases and unimaginable suffering.

There are some maps, but the number of place names are mind-boggling. The author also is scrupulous in naming the soldiers involved as they should be recognized for their bravery. He does omit the name of one individual who could not face the enemy, and was arrested. It makes you wonder how many others there were.

Strangely, the book has a sub-title referring to the U.S Army in Papua. The Australians also played a major role in the campaign, but for some reason the Americans didn't have as great an appreciation for their efforts. Perhaps it was the MacArthur mentality of keep pushing as fast as possible whereas the Australians wanted to take a day off once in awhile to let their men have a breather.

I must admit that I was glad to see the author address an issue that I had wondered about. He makes no judgment, but lets a Japanese officer make the point. "Tactically the Allied co-ordination of fire power and advance was very skillful. However we were in such a position at Buna that we wondered whether the Americans would by-pass us and leave us to starve." I'm sure there were many who wondered if that wouldn't have been the best way.

[Kristaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most exciting read (listen if you're into audiobooks), but well worth its salt for military history fans.

At first thought about giving up early and rating this book with just 3 stars as the narrative is far from the first person guts, gore and glory/misery tales of best WWII history books that I like most (I assume most other readers of military history do to). However, glad that I persisted as I realized that this is written from the perspective of how the war would be seen from the perspective of middle/upper military management (Colonel to Lieutenant General).

[William C Ruediger · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a good book in there somewhere, but there is so much trivia about different unit names and numbers and specifics on soldier names, ranks, etc that would be OK if there were just a few, but the info goes on for page after page. It takes a disciplined reader to get through the book. Whereas many books are page turners and the reader laments getting to the end, with Victory in Papua, the reader wonders when all the irrelevant details will end. The book could use a good editor for the popular version, but it is unclear how much text would survive.

Our Jungle Road to Tokyo by General Eichelberger is a much better written rendition of the war in New Guinea.

[James M. Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rarely told story

Though interesting , for this battle was entirely new to me, it would have helped greatly to have more maps. There were maybe three maps in the whole book. It was quite difficult to follow the text without having any idea of the layout of the battlefield. The one detailed map provided showed up after I had read 85 percent of the book. I realize Mr. Milner has gone up to the great library up in the many years ago. If his publisher were to ever republish this book, they would have at least add a few more detailed maps, relevant to the chapters in this book.

[Bill V · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing in the book is very good. I have found it very difficult to find anything to read on the Kokoda Trail and the Battle for Buna. The book has filled this gap quite well. There are some facts that are incorrect but they are entirely found in the naval aspects of the campaign.
Great care was given to fully describe the experiences of both sides and what they endured such as starvation, disease and terrible weather conditions which oftentimes gets overlooked.

[Pauli Bokor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Read

This book captures and describes the Hell that the Allies were forced to endure while fighting in Papua. The tactical accounts of the fighting were very detailed but the reader can get lost as there were no maps to provide context. In any event, this book was well worth the read.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War 2 Story

This is a good summary of the battle of New Guinea. It is an official history and like most, it is somewhat boring. However in reading it you get the idea that this battle was particularly difficult for the GI. It is good for the history of the region

[Blair A Ohler · Rating 4 out of 5]

God History

Too many regurgitations of units and their commanders. Some mention of enlisted and NCOs. A few times I lost sense of the battles and then I realized there were sections that reverted in time to show various units’ activities during a time frame.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story of a little covered campaign

A great read of campaign not usually covered and some early mistakes and lesson of the army in the Pacific. Maybe a little too much technical detail, but a great read.

[John Flick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Papua

A very interesting, if not lengthy, account of a little known part of World War II. I found the fighting relationship of the Australians alongside the Americans quite interesting. A good book to read for anyone interested in the Pacific part of the War.

[Tom Burkhalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and detailed

Anyone looking for an analysis of the lessons of the now mostly forgotten Papuan campaign, as well as the personalities involved, will find this an invaluable resource.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good history of Papua

Interesting account of the battle in Papua. Was Macarthur a good guy or not needs further study. Great book and I enjoyed it.

[Frank J. Tencza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I FOUND THIS BOOK TO BE DIFFICULT READING IN THAT THERE IS NO VISUAL ASSIST TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE OVERLY LOGISTICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITIES BEING DESCRIBED.

[George Polansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Milner makes it clear that overcoming the Japanese was only part of the battle in Papaua.

[Charles McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Factual

This was a factual treatment of the subject. It might have used more first person narrative to avoid being so dry.