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Christmas 1942. Brisbane Australia.
A unique situation: Three American Brigadier Generals recuperate from wounds inflicted within a 3-week period in the same small area of action - Buna, Papua, SWPA.
These were the first U.S. general officers wounded in action in WW2.
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On Nov 23d, 1942 the American advance on the Japanese beachhead at Buna had been stalled for 3 weeks.
Brig. Gen MacNider went forward to encourage his 128th Rgt.
A rifle grenade exploded next to him, causing several shrapnel injuries and serious eye wound.
It killed a nearby man.

With the Battle of Buna-Gona going slowly, General Douglas MacArthur (in Australia), Supreme Commander, South West Pacific Area, sent in Lieut. General Robert Eichelberger.
His dramatic order: “Bob,” he said, “I want you to go out there and take Buna, or don’t come back alive.”

The 32d Division’s artillery commander, Brig. General Albert W. Waldron, now took command of the Division, Dec 2nd, 1942.
Three days later, B.Gen. Waldron was shot in the shoulder by a sniper.
Brig. General Byers, Chief of Staff, succeeded him as commander of the fighting troops.

Just 11 days later Byers was also wounded by a sniper; the 3rd General to be WIA at Buna.
All three were within 70m from Japanese lines at the time.

Eichelberger was now the last General with 32d Division – in brutally close combat with elements of Japanese Army and Naval units.