"Japs, hiding in a barge with rifles and grenades, took the lives of these three American fighters who were mopping up on the last day of the Buna Gona battle in New Guinea, last January. Beach and barge action was the bloodiest and most fierce of any Buna action, and these boys are among those who lost their lives but helped win the battle." Published Sept 13, 1943 for release on September 17, 1943.

The photo, taken by George Stock in January 1943, was controversial because it depicted the bodies of American GIs. It took nine months to get the War Department to approve publishing the image. The decision finally went all the way to President Roosevelt, who authorized its publication because he was concerned that the American public was growing complacent about the war and its terrible cost on human life. It was the first image in World War II to depict American troops who had died in combat without the bodies being draped, in coffins, or otherwise covered.

In Combat: LIFE's Great War Photos

Battle of Buna–Gona

entire

yes

This image is a historically important photo, depicting for the first time during World War II deceased American soldiers on the battlefield. The photo by George Strock for LIFE magazine is now acknowledged as a war classic.

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"Japs, hiding in a barge with rifles and grenades, took the lives of these three American fighters who were mopping up on the last day of the Buna Gona battle in New Guinea, last January. Beach and barge action was the bloodiest and most fierce of any Buna action, and these boys are among those who lost their lives but helped win the battle." Published Sept 13, 1943 for release on September 17, 1943.

It took nine months to get the War Department to approve publishing the image. The decision finally went all the way to President Roosevelt, who authorized its publication because he was concerned that the American public was growing complacent about the war and its terrible cost on human life.

In Combat: LIFE's Great War Photos

George Strock

entire

yes

This is a historically important image because it depicted for the first time the bodies of American GIs on the battlefield during World War II. It was the first image that showed dead soldiers without the bodies being draped, in coffins, or otherwise covered. The image establishes Strock as an important war photographer.

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