On the Munda Trail


July 2nd, 1943


As part of the genreal offensive, the Central Solomons was invaded at the
end of June. One of the key islands was New Georgia itself. The U.S. Army
43rd Infantry Division was an National Guard unit. It was inexperienced and
not very motivated. Ordered to march up the trail to the critical town of
Munda, the men of the 43rd were constantly ambushed. It was a deadly game
of "hide and seek" that ate away at the morale of the 43rd. It would not be
till Aug. 5th that Munda would fall into Allied hands.