Shannon Stirnweis (American, B. 1931) "Landing at Bougainville" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 29c Landing at Bougainville 1943 stamp issued November 1, 1993. "This is the hottest potato they ever handed me," said Admiral William "Bull" Halsey upon taking command of the Pacific. Included in his new territory was Bougainville, largest of the Solomon Islands, a position that represented another vital step in America's "island hopping" campaign toward Tokyo. On November 1, 1943, in a cunning move, Allied forces bypassed large Japanese troop concentrations elsewhere on Bougainville, landing instead on the west side of the island at Empress Augusta Bay. In days, the Allies under Lt. General Alexander Vandegrift had gained enough ground to build four airstrips, and bombing of nearby Rabaul began. By the new year, Allied troops on the island numbered 44,000, foiling any Japanese attempts to dislodge the new forward base. Image Size: 14.75 x 22.5 in. Overall Size: 18 x 25.75 in. Unframed. (B14411)