October 27, 1943

1994

History
The Japanese had a supply depot on Mono, and when the island was liberated, there were about 200 Japanese on the island at the time of the liberation. October 27, 1943 the 8th New Zealand Brigade and USN 87th Navy Construction Battalion landed at Mono.  With a force landing at Falami near the Saveke River in the south, and the 'Logan Force' at Soanotalu to the north on Purple beach. Sporadic fighting occurred on the island, and the last resistance was silenced on November 7. 40 New Zelanders and 12 Americans were KIA, 174 WIA. Immediately, a airstrip was begun on nearby Stirling, using Blanche Harbor and establishing a radar station on the north of Mono.

Veteran Herbert Bodine 87th Navy Construction Battalion recalls:
"I participated in the invasion of Mono Island in the Treasury Group on October 27, 1943. I was wounded by Japanese mortar fire while unloading supplies from an LST. I was evacuated back to Guadalcanal for treatment of my wounds. While on the beach I witnessed Aurilio "Ray" Tassone of Milford, MA destroy a Japanese twin barrel 50mm gun emplacement which was firing at landing troops. He drove his D9 bulldozer toward the emplacement using the blade as a shield and when close he lowered the blade and destroyed the gun and the 12 Japanese manning it. He received the Silver Star for his heroism. A movie, "The Fighting Seabees" with John Wayne was based on that episode. An airfield was constructed on Sterling."