what is the situation when Ned meets up with Georgia Boy

Ned reconnects with Georgia Boy in Guadalcanal as his squad waits for orders to invade Bougainville. As Ned and his group of Marines are preparing to invade Bougainville, General McArthur and his men are preparing to invade New Britain Island so they can establish air strips on both. As Ned waits on his transport vehicle to land on the beach, he and his fellow Marines listen to the American ships and planes bombard the beaches with bombs.