This study investigates unit cohesion as it relates to neuropsychiatric casualties in the 43rd Infantry Division in World War II. The 43rd was a National Guard Division federalized in 1941 and sent to the South Pacific, where it sustained over 15 percent neuropsychiatric casualties in its first action on New Georgia Island, The Solomon Islands, from July to September 1943. The study explores the multiple causes of these casualties, to include ignorance of lessons learned regarding neuropsychiatric casualties in World War I, general unpreparedness, poor training, and inexperienced leadership. The study emphasizes the importance of knowledge of the enemy and of basic military psychology in developing units capable of performing well under the stress of combat. Lacking in cohesion, the 43rd was susceptible to the large number of neurospychiatric casualties it sustained.

ADA 367913 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)