APPENDIX B
Casualties, 1st Battalion, 5307th CompositeUnit (Provisional), Burma Campaign, 15 February-8 June 1944
James E. T. Hopkins, M.D.
In the following pages, the variousengagements of the 1st Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), duringthe Burma campaign are grouped into tactical situations, and casualties aredescribed in the order in which they occurred in combat.
A comparison of casualties sustained by the1st Battalion during the period of actual combat from 5 March through 8 June1944 with the number of enemy casualties is practically impossible because oflack of knowledge of either the Japanese forces or the casualties theysustained. The 1st Battalion sustained a total of 61 casualties, of whom 7 werekilled in action. Of the 54 who survived the initial wounding, 8 died later oftheir wounds.
1.-While they were guarding the airstrip atLagang Ga, near Walawbum, soon after entering Burma, elements of the 1stBattalion came under barrages from Japanese 77 mm. artillery at a range of 2?miles. The first shells caught the troops without protection of foxholes, andeight casualties were sustained, as follows:
Case l.-Multiple penetrating andmutilating wounds of the face and neck. This man was in a prone position on flatterrain in tall grass and bushes when an enemy artillery shell burst at a 1-yardrange. Classified as DOW, with a 1-hour survival time. This casualty might havebeen avoided if the troops had taken advantage of protective cover and foxholes.
Case 2.-Multiplepenetrating wounds of the thorax. This man was in a prone position when he wasstruck by fragments from an enemy artillery shell which had a tree burst at 25yards. Classified as WIA, first echelon type.
Case 3.-Mild penetrating wounds ofthe left leg. This man was wounded under circumstances similar to those of Case2. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type.
Case 4.-Multiple, severe penetratingwounds of the left thigh and face. This man was in a prone position when he wasstruck by fragments of an enemy artillery shell when it detonated at a 2-yardrange. Classified as WIA, first echelon type.
Case 5.-Mild penetrating wound of thethorax. This man was in a prone position on the ground when he was struck byfragments of an enemy artillery shell which had a tree burst at 15 yards fromhis position. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type.
Case 6.-Moderatelysevere penetrating wound of the thorax and mild penetrating wound of the leftleg. This man was wounded by fragments from an enemy artillery shell whichdetonated 10 yards from his position. Classified as WIA, first echelon type.
Case 7.-Mildlaceration of the right hand. This man, while walking on patrol, was ambushed bya Japanese trail block and was struck by an enemy rifle bullet at a 15-yardrange. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type.
Case 8.-Severe perforating wounds ofthe left upper and lower extremities. This man was riding horseback on patrolwhen the trigger of a Thompson submachinegun was caught in a twig and the weapondischarged. Classified as WIA, second echelon type. This casualty could havebeen avoided.
2.-After Walawbum, the 1st Battalion wasassigned the task of throwing a roadblock below Shaduzup. A regiment of Chinesewith pack artillery was attached to the battalion for the mission. En route toShaduzup, the 1st Battalion encountered two enemy road
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blocks at Tabayin and Naprawa, and seven U.S.casualties were sustained while reducing enemy resistance as follows:
Case 9.-Severe penetratingwound of the head. This man, while on offensive action walking along a trail,was struck by a fragment from a Japanese knee mortar shell at a 3-yard range.Classified as WIA, U.S. evacuation type. This casualty might have been avoidedif he had worn his helmet and taken advantage of protective cover.
Case 10.-Multiple, mild penetratingwounds of the neck and thorax. This man, while on patrol, was standing in themiddle of a trail when he was struck by fragments from a Japanese knee mortarshell. Classified as WIA, first echelon type.
Case 11.-Moderately severepenetrating wound of the left arm. This man was walking along the side of thetrail in rather thick jungle growth when he was struck by an enemy rifle bullet.Classified as WIA, first echelon type.
Case 12.-Multiple,severe penetrating wounds of the head. This man was walking in a crouchedposition along the side of the trail when he was struck by enemy lightmachinegun fire at a 25-yard range. Classified as KIA.
Case 13.-Severe perforating wound ofthe head. This man was in a prone position when he was struck by an enemy sniper'sbullet at a 100-yard range. Classified as KIA.
Case 14.-Moderatelysevere perforating wounds of the left leg. This man was advancing in a crouchedposition along the side of a trail when he was struck by fire from an enemylight machinegun. Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
Case 15.-Multiple, severe penetratingwounds of the left lower extremity. This man was wounded under circumstancessimilar to those of Case 14. Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
3.-The 1st Battalion engaged the enemy at astrongly defended area at Htingdankawing and sustained the following casualties:
Case 16.-Severe perforating wound ofthe right leg. This man was in a prone position behind a clump of bamboo but forsome reason was told to leave this position and retreat to the rear. Whilerunning down the center of the trail, he was struck by an enemy machinegunbullet at a 35-yard range. The wound track involved the right popliteal fossawith laceration of the popliteal artery. This wound was not dressed for 15minutes following the injury, and the patient became hysterical and kicked thetourniquet off. The patient bled to death within a half hour. Classified as DOW,with a 30-minute survival time. This casualty might have been avoided if he hadused better judgment about running down the trail and if he had been cooperativewith the aidmen in their attempts at treatment.
Case 17.-Mild penetrating wound ofthe abdomen. This man was struck by fragments from a U.S. 60 mm. mortar shellwhich exploded at an unknown distance. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type.This casualty might have been avoided if the 60 mm. mortars had been properlylocated closer to the frontline.
Case 18.-Mild penetrating wound ofthe face. This man, while attempting to treat Case 16, was struck by a fragmentfrom the same shell which wounded Case 17. Classified as WIA, immediate dutytype.
Case 19.-Multiple penetrating woundsof the thorax and the left upper and lower extremities. This man was in astanding position when he was struck by fragments from an 81 mm. mortar shell ata 15-yard range. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type. This casualty mighthave been avoided if he had taken advantage of a prone position in protectivecover.
Case 20.-Mild penetrating wound ofthe left upper extremities; no other record available.
Case 21.-Mild penetrating wound ofthe right thigh. This man was in a prone position in the midst of a bamboo clumpwhen he was struck by fragments of a Japanese hand grenade which exploded within5 feet of his position. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type.
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4.-The 1st Battalion, with an attachedChinese regiment, had been advancing on Shaduzup over very difficult terrain andthrough virgin jungle for 2 weeks. They had fought several skirmishes with a fewcasualties.
On 27 March, the Americans, with the Chinese24 hours behind, bivouaced with great care and secrecy on the east bank of theNam Kawng Chaung, 3 miles below Shaduzup. The Chinese in the distance attractedattention with their campfires, and they were shelled by enemy 77 mm. guns. Whenthe Chinese sent back several counterartillery barrages, they gave away theirpositions to the enemy and sustained numerous casualties. Shells began to fallin one of the 1st Battalion platoon areas, but they moved out, sustaining onecasualty.
Case 22.-Severe penetrating wounds ofthe right temporal region of the head. This man was in a platoon area that wasbeing shelled by the enemy and the platoon was being moved to a safer location.The man was not wearing a helmet, and in spite of orders to the contrary hereturned to the original area to retrieve his pack. While walking around in thedark, he was struck by a fragment of an enemy 77 mm. artillery shell. It was 3hours before the man was located, and it was 48 hours before he was treated bySeagrave Unit No. 2. Classified as DOW, with a 4-day survival period. Thiscasualty, which could have been avoided, was due to the carelessness anddisobedience of the soldier.
5.-During the night, an officer madereconnaissance of the Japanese camp across the river, and the combat teamcrossed at dawn, catching the Japanese by surprise and killing many of them. Theentire operation was a success, and the enemy suffered many casualties. Theattached Chinese units arrived within 24 hours to take over the position, andseveral heavy enemy counterattacks were broken up.
One platoon of the combat team found that incrossing the river they were required to make two crossings because of theS-shaped character of the river. While making the second crossing, the platooncame under fire from enemy automatic weapons located on a 20-foot embankment.Two men were wounded on the approach and two more were wounded during a rescueattempt. One of the four soldiers was killed.
Case 23.-Moderately severeperforating wound of the left leg with a compound comminuted fracture of thefibula. This man was on offensive action in a prone position in grass and brushcover when he was struck by a bullet from an enemy light machinegun at a125-yard range. The man was able to bandage his own wound and was evacuated.Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
Case 24.-Mild penetrating wound ofthe right leg. This man was struck under circumstances similar to those of Case23. This man received treatment within 45 minutes and was classified as WIA,second echelon type.
Case 25.-Multiple, severe penetratingand perforating wounds of the head, the left arm, and the right foot. This manwas wounded under circumstances similar to those of Case 23. Two hours afterthis casualty sustained his injuries, he reached an aid station where hereceived 6 units of plasma. On the following day, he was treated at the SeagraveUnit No. 2. Classified as DOW, with a 6-day survival. This man was attempting toreach a wounded man, and it is possible that his death could have been avoidedif he had waited until more firepower were available.
Case 26.-Severe penetrating andperforating wounds of the right thigh. This man was wounded under circumstancessimilar to those of Case 23. Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
6.-After the Japanese camp was occupied, aplatoon patrol advanced north on the road. A Japanese truck was encounteredbefore cover was available; one American was wounded, and nine Japanese werekilled. Numerous other American casualties occurred in the camp area.
Case 27.-Moderately severepenetrating wound of the right arm. This man was on patrol and in a proneposition in grass cover along the side of the road when he was struck
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by a fragment from a Japanese hand grenade ata 5-yard range. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type.
Case 28.-Mild laceration of the lefttemporal region of the head. This man was on defensive action when he was struckby a Japanese rifle bullet. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type.
Case 29.-Moderately severe laceratingwound of the right forearm. This man was on defensive action and wasconstructing a foxhole when he was struck by a fragment from a 90 mm. mortarshell which exploded at a 10-yard range. Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
Case 30.-Moderately severepenetrating wound of the right side of the neck. This man was sitting in a veryshallow foxhole with his head down when he was struck by a fragment from a 90mm. mortar shell which had a tree burst at a 5-yard range. Classified as WIA,U.S. evacuation type. This casualty might have been avoided if he hadconstructed a deeper foxhole.
Case 31.-Severe perforating wound ofthe right forearm. This man, while on defensive action, left his foxhole and wasin a standing position when he was struck by a fragment from a 90 mm. mortarshell which had a tree burst at a 5-yard range. Classified as WIA, U.S.evacuation type. This casualty could have been avoided.
Case 32.-Moderately severe lacerationof the left hand. This man was on defensive action in a prone position but hadnot constructed a foxhole. During an enemy counterattack, he was struck by a .25caliber rifle bullet at an unknown range. Classified as WIA, second echelontype. This casualty might have been avoided if he had taken advantage ofprotective cover or of a foxhole.
Case 33.-Severe penetrating wound ofthe abdomen, anteriorly. This man, while under defensive action, was sleeping ina very shallow foxhole when he was struck by a fragment from a 77 mm. artilleryshell which had a tree burst at a 5-yard range. This man did not receive anytreatment and died within 30 minutes. Classified as DOW. This casualty mighthave been avoided if he had constructed a deeper foxhole.
Case 34.-Severe perforating wound ofthe right buttock. This man was sleeping in the same foxhole with Case 33 andwas wounded under similar circumstances. Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
Case 35.-Moderately severepenetrating wound of the abdomen, posteriorly. This man was in a prone positionin a foxhole when he was struck by a fragment from a 90 mm. mortar shell whichhad a tree burst at a 2- to 3-foot range. Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
Case 36.-Moderately severepenetrating wounds of the right forearm and the right leg. This man was in thesame foxhole with Case 35 and was wounded under similar circumstances.Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
7.-During the night of 28 March, sporadicenemy artillery and mortar fire was directed at the perimeter, and threecasualties were sustained.
Case 37. -Enemy artillery shell madea direct hit in the center of the thorax, posteriorly, and the body wasmutilated into three separate pieces. This man was on defensive action in afoxhole which was considered to be too deep and much too large. He was killedinstantly. This casualty might have been avoided if the foxhole had beenproperly constructed.
Case 38.-This man was occupying thesame foxhole as Case 37 and sustained at least 30 perforating and penetratingwounds of the thorax, abdomen, and lower extremities. Classified as DOW, with a30-minute survival period.
Case 39.-Severe penetrating wounds ofthe left leg. This man was in a foxhole on defensive action when he was struckby a fragment from an enemy 77 mm. shell. Classified as WIA, U.S. evacuationtype.
8.-A combat team of 250 men from the 1stBattalion threw up a roadblock at Kauri, 1 mile south ofNhpum Ga, at 1800 hours on 8 April. A strong perimeter was set up, and
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two attempts of an enemy food and ammunitiontrain to reach the Japanese lines were repulsed. One American was killed by firefrom a U.S. carbine, and another soldier shot himself while cleaning his gun.Two casualties resulted from enemy fire.
On 13 April, one man was killed and one manwas wounded while out on patrol. Four other casualties occurred up to 1 May1944. Two of these casualties were wounded by carbine fire, one was killed byfire from a Thompson submachinegun, and one was wounded by fire from a Browningautomatic rifle. During the first 3 weeks in April, 6 of the 10 casualties werecaused by U.S. weapons.
Case 40.-Severe perforating wounds ofthe head. This man, while on defensive action, left his foxhole during the nightto investigate a noise. He was killed 10 feet from his foxhole by fire from aU.S. carbine at a few yards range. Classified as KIA. This casualty, due tocarelessness, could have been avoided.
Case 41.-Mild laceration of thethorax. This man, while on defensive action, left his foxhole to reach his packwhen he was struck by fire from a Japanese supply train. Classified as WIA,immediate duty type. The Americans had opened fire first, and this man did nothave time to take protective cover.
Case 42.-Severe perforating wound ofthe right foot. This man was on offensive action moving in a crouched positiontoward the Japanese when he was struck by a .25 caliber rifle bullet at anunknown range. Classified as WIA, U.S. evacuation type.
Case 43.-Severe penetrating wound ofthe right forearm. This man was in a foxhole on defensive action when he waswounded by an accidental discharge of his own rifle. Classified as WIA, secondechelon type. This casualty could have been avoided.
Case 44.-Moderately severeperforating wound of the left foot. This man was sitting cleaning his carbinewhen it accidentally discharged. Classified as WIA, second echelon type. Thiscasualty could have been avoided.
Case 45.-Multiple penetrating andperforating wounds of the chest and abdomen. This man was out on patrol when hewas ambushed by the Japanese and was struck by a burst of light machinegun fireat a 10-yard range. Classified as KIA.
Case 46.-Severe perforating wound ofthe right leg. This man was wounded under circumstances similar to those of Case45. Classified as WIA, U.S. evacuation type.
Case 47.-Severe perforating wound ofthe thorax. This man was in a foxhole on defensive action and was awakened bythe return of his companion at 0100 hours. This man then left his foxhole andwas mistaken for a Japanese and shot with a Thompson submachinegun. Classifiedas KIA. This casualty could have been avoided.
Case 48.-Moderately severeperforating wound of the right foot. This man, after trading his Thompsonsubmachinegun for a carbine, was engaged in cleaning the carbine when itaccidentally discharged. Classified as WIA, second echelon type. This casualtycould have been avoided.
Case 49.-Complete traumaticamputation of the right middle finger. This man was cleaning his Browningautomatic rifle when it accidentally discharged. Classified as WIA, firstechelon type. This casualty could have been avoided.
9.-On 10 May 1944, the 1st Battalion, withthe 150th Chinese Infantry attached, bypassed the 3d Battalion, with the 88thChinese Infantry attached, at Ritpong and proceeded to take the southernairfield at Myitkyina on 17 May. From this time, until they were reformed earlyin June, the 1st Battalion defended the airfield, with three casualties, detailsof which follow. Later casualties are not included in this study.
Case 50.-Mild laceration of leftthigh. This man, while on offensive action, was wounded by a fragment of a U.S.mortar shell. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type. This casualty could havebeen avoided.
Case 51.-Mild penetrating wound tothe left side of the thorax. This man was riding in a jeep at the airfield whenhe was hit by a ricochet of an enemy rifle bullet which struck the vehicle.Classified as WIA, first echelon type.
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Case 52.-Severe perforating wound ofthe thorax and penetrating wound of the left arm. This man, while on defensiveaction, was walking on the airstrip when he was struck by an enemy sniper'sbullet at a 15-yard range. Classified as DOW, died 30 hours later while beingtaken to a hospital.
10.-An American patrol of 18 men had moved750 yards from the base at Zigyum ferry when the patrol hit a 7-man enemy trailblock. Three Americans were wounded, one dying later of his wounds; there werethree Japanese casualties.
Case 53.-Moderately severepenetrating wound of the abdomen. This man was on offensive action in a standingposition when he was struck by a fragment from a Japanese hand grenade whichexploded at a 2-yard range. Classified as WIA, second echelon type. Thiscasualty could have been avoided if he had taken advantage of cover andconcealment.
Case 54.-Moderately severepenetrating wound of the left thigh and the hip. This man was wounded undercircumstances similar to those of Case 53. Classified as WIA, first echelontype. This casualty could have been avoided.
Case 55.-Severe penetrating wound ofthe left side of the head and multiple penetrating wounds of the left side ofthe thorax. This man was on offensive action in a standing position when he wasstruck by fragments from an enemy hand grenade which exploded at a 3-foot range.Classified as DOW with a 58-hour survival period. This casualty could have beenavoided.
11.-The 1st Battalion sustained thefollowing casualties during the period 24-26 May 1944:
Case 56.-Moderately severepenetrating wound of the right forearm. This man was on a defensive positionwhen he was struck by a fragment from a 60 mm. Chinese mortar shell. Classifiedas WIA, first echelon type. This casualty was due to carelessness on the part ofthe Chinese forces.
Case 57.-Moderately severepenetrating wound of the left side of the thorax. This man was wounded undercircumstances similar to those of Case 56.
Case 58.-Moderately severepenetrating wounds of the right forearm with a compound fracture of the radius.This man was on defensive action when he was wounded by an enemy rifle bullet.Classified as WIA, second echelon type.
Case 59.-Mildpenetrating wound of the left side of the thorax. This man was sitting on theground at the airfield when he was struck by an enemy rifle bullet. Classifiedas WIA, first echelon type.
Case 60.-Moderately severe laceratingwound of the left side of the thorax. This man was wounded by a fragment from aJapanese 77 mm. artillery shell. Classified as WIA, immediate duty type.
12.-At 1515 hours on 8 June 1944, a six-manpatrol attempted to set up a machinegun in the vicinity of the airstrip. Theysaw the body of a Chinese casualty, and in attempting to reach it they werefired on by two Japanese light machineguns. The first burst took the heel offone man's shoe, grazed another man, and hit another soldier's carbine. Aftera few minutes of action, one man was killed. It was estimated that two Japanesewere killed.
Case 61.-Severe perforating wound ofthe head. This man, while on offensive action in a prone position in brushcover, attempted to reach his helmet which had fallen off when he was struck byan enemy light machinegun bullet at a 150-yard range. Classified as KIA. Thisman had killed one of the enemy machinegun crew from the spot where he was hitand apparently did not take advantage of further protective cover.
