History of New Georgia

1943. New Georgia was secured by American forces on 23 August, after weeks of difficult and bloody jungle fighting, although fighting continued on some nearby islands until October 1943. Rodger Wilton Young, an Army soldier who was originally a Sergeant, and had requested a demotion to the rank of Private due to his deteriorating sight and hearing, destroyed a machine gun nest in combat on New Georgia, allowing his comrades to reach safety. For this action in combat, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Also, several significant naval battles between warships of the U.S. Navy and its allies, and the Imperial Japanese Navy occurred in the waters near New Georgia Island, such as the Battle of Kula Gulf, in 1943

Munda, the Japanese base on New Georgia Island, was the main objective of the assault on the island. This base was not overrun until 5 August 1943. The Japanese port at