A complete and accurate account of the operation of New Britain by the Marine units during World War II.

Background. Geographical notes ; Historical summary ; Japanese offensive operations ; Target : Rabaul ; The Japanese on New Britain -- Concept and high level planning. The southwest Pacific area ; Strategic considerations ; Tactical planning -- Final preparations. Training and reequipment ; Intelligence planning ; Naval and air participation ; Logistics ; Loading out -- The enemy. Strength and organization ; Terrain and dispositions ; Morale and physical condition -- Cape Gloucester D-day. Thunder at dawn ; The "damp flat" ; The gunners had their problems ; Never a dull moment ; The monsoon ; The misconceptions of Matsuda ; Summing up -- Seizure of the airdrome. Advance of the 1st marines ; Supply and perimeter problems ; Enter the 5th Marines ; The first gets there first ; Behind the airdrome ; Green beach ; "Happy New Year" -- Drive to the southeast. The ADC command group ; Colonel Katayama guesses wrong ; Suicide creek ; Aogiri ridge ; The final objective -- Flight and pursuit. The vanishing enemy ; Operations in the high ground ; Eastern area patrols ; The Katabasis of Jiro Sato ; The Itni patrol ; Rooke island -- Flashback : action at Arawe. Concept of mission ; Arawe Z-day ; The first twelve days ; Enter Tobuse and Komori ; Komori makes a noble resolve ; Disillusionment of a "hero" -- Talasea. Eastward to Talasea ; D-day at beach red ; Bitokara, Talasea and Waru ; The Navy at Willaumez ; The fifth mops up -- Long trail a'winding. Sato, Komori & company ; Contact at Kandoka ; Further patrolling by 1st Marines ; Journey's end -- Conclusion. The Marines depart ; Summing up ; Epilogue.