Army & Navy: Second Invasion

A second U.S. advance across the Pacific was under way—the wives of servicemen were going out to rejoin their husbands at island outposts.

Hundreds of wives swarmed ashore last week from hospital ships at Honolulu. Among them was the wife of Platoon Sergeant Minor C. Alexander, of the Marines’ 6th Defense Battalion, guarding Midway. Because it was Christmas Eve the Navy transportation authorities whisked Mrs. Alexander into a plane, flew her the 1,300 miles to Midway.

When she stepped out of the plane into her husband’s arms, almost the whole island garrison was lined up, cheering. A following plane brought five more wives. By next spring (TIME, Dec. 31) the advance may reach Tokyo.