06 - Jungle Patrols

When going through heavy jungle there was not much chance of meeting a Jap patrol. We would have to hack through the vines and growth. We traveled through the undergrowth in a single line. The first scout would cut his way with a machete and by the time the last man came along it was a well beaten path. If you came by thirty days later and no one else had used the trail you would have to cut a new path as it would be overgrown again. If it wasn’t overgrown you had a good chance of meeting the opposition and an ambush. Also the Jap’s would post snipers along a well traveled path and pick off anyone who wasn’t alert.

Everyday we had a new password and a new countersign. You didn’t dare forget as the guy saying the password had a loaded gun and a hair trigger. No counter sign quick shot as you didn’t want to come in second least, not like a counter punch in a boxing match. At six feet nobody missed. On Bouginville a guy got cut off and lost on one patrol. He found his way back three days later after dark and when the sentry (the guy on guard seen him he said the password. Well his countersign was three days old and he started in anyway over the barbed wire. When the guard snapped the safety off he stopped barefooted as he had lost his shoes. Till they were sure he was one of ours.

The jungle had vines bougainville and what we called wait a minute vines. They had lots of stickers and if you started past they would hook you. If you didn’t wait a minute the vine would tear a big hole in your skin just like a sharp knife. There were always lots of flowers but we never had time to smell them. We had other things on our minds. There was a rainy season and a dry season. Not much difference. It rained all the time and when it wasn’t raining the humidity was off the scale. With a bar of soap you could shower and if it stopped raining just wait five minutes and it would start again.

Ken's World War II Experiences 01-Into The Army 02-California Living 03-Food, Drink & Rations 04-On Patrol 05-Never Volunteer! <Previous 06-Jungle Patrols Next> 07-Foxhole Lore 08-God In the Foxhole 09-Life As It Was 10-Humor 11-Entertainment 12-The End of the War 13-After The War 14-Coming Home 15-On Veterans