Preface
The object of this volume is to increase the body of organized information easily available about Quartermaster support of the forces fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. Anyone who writes on military supply ventures into almost virgin territory, especially in dealing with Quartermaster supply activities. Only a few professional officers—and those mainly Quartermaster officers—are familiar with the subject, and they have gained this knowledge chiefly through their own experience and the oral traditions of the offices in which they have worked. When Quartermaster activities in theaters of operations is the subject of a volume, as in this case, readers lacking even elementary information are likely to be more numerous than when the subject is Quartermaster activities in the United States. For that reason the needs of these readers have been constantly borne in mind. The writer hopes particularly that the volume may furnish Quartermaster officers with facts that will prove useful in planning future field operations and in training Quartermaster troops.
No attempt has been made except in a very general way to tell the story of strategic decisions and tactical actions. In a work comprising part of the historical series on the UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II, that story would have been redundant. A consistent effort has been made to analyze Quartermaster activities in the three major territorial commands in the Pacific, whether these activities were conducted at higher headquarters, in base sections, or by Quartermaster troop units in support of combat operations. As the area in which the U.S. Army played its most important role in the war against Japan, the Southwest Pacific Area has been treated at greater length than have the two other major territorial commands—the South Pacific Area and the Central Pacific Area—but these areas are by no means neglected and many of their activities are dealt with in detail. In order to clarify the perplexing production and transportation problems presented to quartermasters as they procured, stored, and distributed supplies and equipment, this volume gives considerable attention to economic matters. At times the account of the activities of the Corps may appear lacking in homogeneity, but this impression is unavoidable in view of the wide diversity of Quartermaster tasks.
It should not be concluded from a reading of those sections which contain detailed descriptions of some of the troubles encountered in distribution activities that these difficulties were typical. They are discussed at length only because they demanded so large a share of the time and energy of supply officers and presented knotty problems not susceptible of easy solution. If the reader is occasionally
tempted to think that distribution activities were usually marred by inadequate performance, he will be in error. Quite the contrary, Quartermaster supply was in general satisfactory, but since the tasks connected with fully satisfactory accomplishment normally had few lessons to teach, the writer had no reason to consider such routine operations in as much detail as he did complicated operations that could not be completed either readily or quickly. Only through thorough knowledge of the bothersome supply problems that are likely to arise during the course of combat activities can future perplexities be anticipated and plans be made in time to cope with probable difficulties.
The writer performed virtually all the research for this volume, using chiefly the records of overseas commands, pertinent sections of which were obtained on loan from the Records Administration Center, AGO, St. Louis, where they were stored before their removal to the Kansas City Records Center. Mr. William H. Peifer rendered invaluable help in searching operational plans, after action reports, and unit histories kept in the Department of Defense. The volume also profited tremendously from his comprehensive knowledge of Quartermaster troop units. Many people responded willingly to frequent requests for files in their custody. The author wishes especially to thank Mrs. Julia R. Ross and her assistants in the Mail and Records Branch of the Office of The Quartermaster General, Mr. Wilbur J. Nigh and his co-workers in the Departmental Records Branch, AGO, and Mr. Israel Wice and his highly competent staff in the General Reference Office, Office of the Chief of Military History.
To Dr. Thomas M. Pitkin, Chief of the Historical Branch of the Office of The Quartermaster General until the spring of 1952, the author owes a special debt for constant and sympathetic encouragement. He is deeply obligated, too, to Dr. Louis Morton, Chief of the Pacific Section in the Office of the Chief of Military History, who made many suggestions for the improvement of the manuscript in its final revision. Without Dr. Morton’s trenchant criticism, vast knowledge of Pacific problems, and keen sense of literary refinement, this volume would have been far less substantial than it is. The writer is also greatly indebted for sound advice and constructive criticism to Lt. Col. Leo J. Meyer, Deputy Chief Historian in the Office of the Chief of Military History during the writing of this manuscript, and to his successor, Dr. Stetson Conn. Some thirty officers, most of whom had participated in the activities of the Quartermaster Corps in the Pacific, read all or part of the manuscript. Of these officers, Col. James C. Longino, Assistant Quartermaster of the Sixth Army in the war against Japan, and Brig. Gen. Herbert A. Hall, formerly chief of the Management Division in the Office of The Quartermaster General and now commanding general of the Utah General Depot, made particularly valuable recommendations.
Mrs. Charlesette Logan, Mr. Irvin R. Ramsey, Miss Helene M. Bell, and Mrs. Hadasel W. Hill of the Historical Branch, Office of The Quartermaster General, in addition to typing many drafts of the manuscript performed the arduous task of interpreting the countless deletions and interpolations made by the author.
Special acknowledgments must be made to Mr. Joseph R. Friedman and his aides in the Editorial Branch, Office of the Chief of Military History,
particularly Mr. David Jaffe, the editor, and Mr. Allen R. Clark and Dr. Vincent C. Jones, the copy editors, who painstakingly prepared the manuscript for the printers; to Maj. James F. Holly, who provided maps to guide the reader through the Pacific; to Maj. Arthur T. Lawry and Mr. Henry U. Milne, who searched in remote corners for the pictures with which to illustrate this volume; and to Mrs. Faye F. McDonald and Mrs. Anne Mewha, who typed the final copy.