Gona, Battle of

Gona is located on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea, and, during the New Guinea Campaign, it was a Japanese stronghold. On November 16, 1942, a combined Australian and American force attacked Gona through a miserable tropical swamp in an effort to reduce this position. Gona was very well defended, the Japanese having established an 11-mile-long perimeter along the beachhead. Two regiments of the 32nd U.S. Division attacked the nearby village of Buna and Cape Endaiadere, while two brigades of the 7th Australian Division hit Gona village, then, in concert with another regiment from the 32nd U.S. Division, attacked Sanananda Point. The defense of Gona was far fiercer and the defenders far more numerous than had been anticipated. The battle was protracted over two months and exacted a significant cost. The Japanese made their last stand at Sanananda Point on January 21, 1943. When the Allies took that, the Battle of Gona was at last ended.