The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia

Oda Kensuku (1888-1943)

Oda replaced the drowned Horii as commander of South Seas Detachment at Buna in November 1942. He directed the bitter defense of the Buna beachhead against the Australian 7 and American 32 and 41 Divisions. He committed suicide when Sananda fell in January 1943.

1888-4-4		Born
1935-8-1	Lieutenant colonel	Commander, 2 Independent Defense Battalion
1937-8-1	Colonel
1938-8-1		Commander, 50 Regiment
1940-8-1	Major general	Commander, Infantry Group, 26 Division
1941-9-1		Commandant, Toyohashi Reserve Officers' Cadet School
1941-9-1		Commandant, Toyohashi Army Training School
1942-12-14		Commander, South Seas Detachment, Buna
1943-1-21	Lieutenant general	Commits suicide. Promoted posthumously.

References