December 1944 -While troops of the 33rd were enroute to take over from the 31st Division, the Japanese put an infantry colonel ashore to organize their remaining force. From the nearby island of Halmehara they reinforced their troops in preparation for a counter attack.

General Clarkson, with members of his staff, had flown to Morotai as soon as he received orders to leave New Guinea. He was to confer with the XI Corps and the brass of the 31st to coordinate reinforcement plans. MG Hall, Corps Commander greeted Clarkson with the news that the 33rd's mission had been changed because of Japanese reinforcements that had been streaming onto the island. The 33rd was to clean them out.

Morotai, NEI - Vehicles, troops and supplies move ashore to begin a short but intense campaign against the Japanese. (Photo: Charles Munie, former Division historian, via newsletter)

George Villielm, a 1st lieutenant with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion of the 136th Infantry, vividly remembered the bitter fighting on Morotai when interviewed in 2002.

"On Christmas Eve, the Japanese harassed us all night long," he recalled. "'At one point they fired three mortar rounds in quick succession, which was great because they didn't have the range, and all three rounds went into the bay. Back at base camp our guys were getting a good going-over and we in our foxholes could feel the ground shaking from the impacts there. They were giving us a good Christmas party. By morning we had several wounded.

"I remember the area was so bad that no vehicles could be used. The whole beach was five to six feet above sea level and swamp all around. Eventually, all the jeeps were sent back. The little D-4 bulldozer remained - the Japanese used it every night for target practice. It was out front of our perimeter with its left side exposed to small arms fire. In spite of all this, there was not a mark on the fuel tank because the enemy didn't have enough firepower to put a hole in it. The rest of the 'dozer was so dented and filled with holes that it looked like a cheese grater.

"The last day of 1944 was bright and sunny. Most of the day we observed our white phosphorus artillery rounds falling on the distant hills to the south, and the east, and the impact zone was moving north toward us. About mid-afternoon, the liaison plane flew over our position dropping a note in a weighted-down mini-chute. And what a surprise! We knew the artillery was shelling the enemy, but we didn't know the number of Japanese soldiers. The note said 300 were in one location, 400 in another, and several hundred more in a third - and all were headed north. The note ended with `Happy New Year!'

"The days went by very quickly, but the nights were long. Most of the time we had clear nights and bright moonlight. Clear nights would reduce Japanese activity. I don't remember the exact date, but about this time a platoon from Company C, 130th Infantry, came ashore under the command of Lieutenant Joe Kutys. We were now up to a reasonable fighting force. We pitched in and continued building our fortifications. During this time we also received a shipment of hand grenades, but we had to go offshore to retrieve them, wallowing in mud with water up to our waists. A human chain was formed and the grenades were floated ashore. There, we opened the boxes and dried them in the sun. We also got some 60mm mortar shells.

"I remember the last day on Morotai. About mid afternoon, the forward echelon of the battalion arrived back at the beachhead. We were about like we were at Christmas when the campaign began, but now in reverse order. We had DUKWs (amphibious vehicles) and water buffalos (LVT 2s) ready to take us aboard.

"Artillery personnel came ashore from the 136th Infantry regimental headquarters. They wanted to look over the impact area. Myself and several GIs warned them, "Don't go there it's all boobied up!" I had just warned a colonel from artillery when a short time later we heard an explosion. It was a lieutenant colonel and a lieutenant; both had been hit by a 'bouncing betty' land mine. This was what we had tried to avoid happening."