The experience of a combat soldier can greatly differ based on the terrain they are fighting in. Georgian-Australian journalist, Greg Callaghan, discusses how the harsh terrain in New Guinea impacted soldiers during World War II.
The jungle fighters of World War II were ranked with the Australians at the top, followed by Japanese and Americans. In the fighting on Kokoda, aircraft played a significant role in tipping the tables in favor of the Australians.
The Japanese troops were positioned poorly by their own government during the campaigns at Buna, Gona, and other places in New Guinea, which resulted in a significant loss of lives. On the other hand, the Australian soldiers' lives were well preserved with fewer than a thousand being killed during the Japanese attack on Finch Haven in 1944.
The Kokoda Track in New Guinea is a moment that immortalizes the Australian Military's bravery and military comradeship. The Choco soldiers, though often looked down upon, were the last line of defense against Japanese veterans during the peak of World War II in the Pacific.
The Guadalcanal and New Guinea Campaigns were intense, with soldiers dealing with horrors that were unfamiliar to them. These theaters of war saw a back and forth battle between the Japanese and the Allies, with the latter eventually denying the Japanese their objectives.
The Japanese had a particular preference for hand-to-hand combat in the Second World War, which was combined with their tendency towards night attacks. The psychological effects of killing in combat are explored in various books, particularly from a military mental health professional perspective.