Editing Douglas MacArthur (section)

====Papuan Campaign====
Anticipating that the Japanese would strike at Port Moresby again, the garrison was strengthened and MacArthur ordered the establishment of new bases at [[Merauke]] and [[Milne Bay]] to cover its flanks.{{sfn|Milner|1957|pp=39–41}} The [[Battle of Midway]] in June 1942 led to consideration of a limited offensive in the Pacific. MacArthur's proposal for an attack on the Japanese base at Rabaul met with objections from the Navy, which favored a less ambitious approach, and objected to an Army general being in command of what would be an [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious operation]]. The resulting compromise called for a three-stage advance. The first stage, the [[Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo|seizure of the Tulagi area]], would be conducted by the [[Pacific Ocean Areas (command)|Pacific Ocean Areas]], under Admiral [[Chester W. Nimitz]]. The later stages would be under MacArthur's command.{{sfn|Milner|1957|pp=46–48}}

[[File:03 walker macarthur.jpg|thumb|right|Senior Allied commanders in New Guinea in October 1942. Left to right: Mr [[Frank Forde]] (Australian Minister for the Army); MacArthur; General Sir [[Thomas Blamey]], Allied Land Forces; Lieutenant General [[George Kenney|George C. Kenney]], Allied Air Forces; Lieutenant General [[Edmund Herring]], New Guinea Force; Brigadier General [[Kenneth Walker (general)|Kenneth Walker]], V Bomber Command.|alt=Six men wearing a variety of different uniforms.]]
The Japanese struck first, [[Invasion of Buna-Gona|landing at Buna]] in July,{{sfn|Milner|1957|pp=53–55}} and at [[Battle of Milne Bay|Milne Bay]] in August. The Australians repulsed the Japanese at Milne Bay,{{sfn|Milner|1957|pp=77–88}} but a series of defeats in the [[Kokoda Track campaign]] had a depressing effect back in Australia. On 30 August, MacArthur radioed Washington that unless action was taken, [[New Guinea Force]] would be overwhelmed. He sent Blamey to Port Moresby to take personal command.{{sfn|McCarthy|1959|p=225}} Having committed all available Australian troops, MacArthur decided to send American forces. The [[32nd Infantry Division (United States)|32nd Infantry Division]], a poorly trained National Guard division, was selected.{{sfn|Milner|1957|pp=91–92}} A series of embarrassing reverses in the [[Battle of Buna–Gona]] led to outspoken criticism of the American troops by the Australians. MacArthur then ordered Lieutenant General [[Robert L. Eichelberger]] to assume command of the Americans, and "take Buna, or not come back alive".{{sfn|McCarthy|1959|pp=371–372}}{{sfn|Luvaas|1972|pp=32–33}}

MacArthur moved the advanced echelon of GHQ to Port Moresby on 6 November 1942.{{sfn|McCarthy|1959|p=235}} After Buna finally fell on 3 January 1943,{{sfn|Milner|1957|p=321}} MacArthur awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to twelve officers for "precise execution of operations". This use of the country's second highest award aroused resentment, because while some, like Eichelberger and [[George Alan Vasey]], had fought in the field, others, like Sutherland and Willoughby, had not.{{sfn|James|1975|p=275}} For his part, MacArthur was awarded his third Distinguished Service Medal,{{sfn|MacArthur|1964|p=167}} and the Australian government had him appointed an honorary [[Order of the Bath|Knight Grand Cross of the British Order of the Bath]].<ref name="AWM MacArthur" />