The first photo was not kept from the American public. It was release in early 1943. The dead are Americans from the 32nd Infantry division, killed during the Buna landings in late 1942. The are among the first photos of American KIAs released to the American public during WWII.
IIRC, the photo in question was originally doctored before release to edit out the maggots on the corpse in the foreground. They can be see in this version on the Soldier’s back.