The mission was to get a couple of Japanese prisoners for headquarters. The 32nd Division was moving in from the Saidor beachhead on New Guinea, and wanted more information. Twenty-four-year-old 2nd Lieut. John Lee Mohl had been scouting Jap trails far ahead of the American positions, and thought he knew where a small patrol could be ambushed.
Mohl chose seven volunteers, assembled a party of native guides and carriers, hit off toward the Yaut River with eight days rations. By evening of the second day they reached the spot: a jungle trail through tall grasses dipping through a dry creek bed. At...