 Complete the following phrase:  Service on New Caledonia followed before the 3rd Division concentrated on Guadalcanal in August 1943. As the Solomon Islands campaign progressed, the 3rd Division was given a combat role, and the 30th Battalion took part in its first combat operation of the war, landing on Vella Lavella in September 1943. In February 1944, the 30th fought another battle against the Japanese, this time on 