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Shane Laemmel, MR3
to remember
Somerville, Ronald, LT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Chillicothe, Missouri
Last Address Chillicothe, Missouri
Date of Passing Apr 11, 1986
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Additional Information
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World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Northern Solomon Islands Campaign (1943-44)
From Month/Year
February / 1943
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign began with Japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942. The Japanese occupied these locations and began the construction of several naval and air bases with the goals of protecting the flank of the Japanese offensive in New Guinea, establishing a security barrier for the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain, and providing bases for interdicting supply lines between the Allied powers of the United States and Australia and New Zealand.
The Allies, in order to defend their communication and supply lines in the South Pacific, supported a counteroffensive in New Guinea, isolated the Japanese base at Rabaul, and counterattacked the Japanese in the Solomons with landings on Guadalcanal (see Guadalcanal Campaign) and small neighboring islands on 7 August 1942. These landings initiated a series of combined-arms battles between the two adversaries, beginning with the Guadalcanal landing and continuing with several battles in the central and northern Solomons, on and around New Georgia Island, and Bougainville Island.
In a campaign of attrition fought on land, on sea, and in the air, the Allies wore the Japanese down, inflicting irreplaceable losses on Japanese military assets. The Allies retook some of the Solomon Islands (although resistance continued until the end of the war), and they also isolated and neutralized some Japanese positions, which were then bypassed. The Solomon Islands campaign then converged with the New Guinea campaign.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
February / 1943
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Ronald Lee Somerville (NSN: 0-156553), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a pilot of a carrier-based dive bombing squadron in successful dive bombing attacks against the enemy in the assault and capture of the Gilbert Islands 19 to 22 November 1943, the strike on shipping at Kwajalein Atoll 4 December 1943, the assault and capture of Roi Namur, Marshall Islands on 29 January 1944 to 1 February 1944, and the first carrier aircraft strike at Truk Atoll 16 February 1944. On 19 November, he made a direct hit with a 1,000-pound bomb on a five-inch gun position of a three gun battery at King's Wharf, Butaritari Island, Makin Atoll. On 4 December 1943 in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire, he scored a direct hit with a 1,000-pound bomb on a medium size cargo ship on the east side of Kwajalein anchorage. The bomb struck on the starboard side amidships sinking the vessel before aircraft left the area. On 29 January 1944, he bombed an ammunition dump on the northwest end of Roi Islands, Kwajalein Atoll starting fires. On 30 January 1944, he scored a bomb hit on the concrete administration building on Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll causing material damage. His skill, courage and disregard for his own safety were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
