Finschhafen
Finschhafen was founded as a German mission before World War I. It does not appear on current maps but with a harbor and coconut groves there must still be a community at this location.
Finschhafen was taken from the Japs by the Aussies in October of 1943. When the 1897th landed April 11, 1944 the Japs had been pushed back to Madang. We had a few air raid alarms but no actual air attacks while we were there. As related in my letter of July 2, 1944 the Japs attempted to take back Finschhafen but were repulsed. I remember the wrecked landing barges on the shore.
At Finschhafen we were guests of the Aussies. We used Australian money and were welcome at the Aussie PX with its large tea urn full of hot, sweet, black tea available twenty four hours a day. The Aussies were quite a contrast to the Americans. We lived in a tent city back in the jungle with company streets and drainage ditches laid out according prescribed dimensions. We slept on cots with mosquito bars and the inside of each tent was sprayed twice a day for insects. The Aussies lived under trees next to shore where there was a cool breeze. They used any kind of tent or piece of canvas with no pretence of company streets. They hung their hammocks where ever it was convenient with or without mosquito netting.
MacArthur rigidly enforced his health rules for protection against malaria which included fatigues or coveralls buttoned at the neck, laced leggings and cap or helmet. The Aussies ran around in shorts, usually with no shirt with whatever head covering, if any, they thought suitable. We drank only treated, chlorinated water. The Aussies drank beer. I do not know what the malaria rate was with the Aussies but I am convinced that MacArthur’s rules made sense.
I have only two pictures from Finschhafen. One showing native houses in the river and one showing some of the 1897th with natives. We did not associate with the natives and especially we avoided the villages. The local custom was to leave the dead on a platform in the community house in the village. The stench was unbelievable. The color picture is a current picture from the internet of a community house. These houses now contain souvenirs for tourists and their use for the storing the bodies of relatives and the heads of enemies is not mentioned.
I would like more information and pictures of the above article.
Posted by: Kenneth Rida | June 01, 2006 at 04:48 PM
My mother and aunt were US Army nurses who were stationed in finschafen during WWII. My mother took many pictures during their stay there with the 4th General Hospital.
Posted by: Paul Riecke | July 17, 2006 at 10:57 PM
Im interested to hear from anyone who has information or photo's on Finschhafen during WW2
I have been researching this for a few years and am slowly gathering info on Units based there etc
Posted by: Jason Van Der Graaf | February 26, 2008 at 04:22 AM
Im interested to hear from anyone who has information or photo's on Finschhafen during WW2
I have been researching this for a few years and am slowly gathering info on Units based there etc
email: waxx76@optusnet.com.au
Posted by: Jason Van Der Graaf | February 26, 2008 at 04:36 AM