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Infantry, 11th
Airborne Division, to drop near Aparri on 23 June. By that evening, elements of Maj. Connolly's task force and the 2d Battalion of the 11th Infantry were ten miles south along Route 5 from Aparri and had secured Camalaniugan Airstrip, three miles from Aparri. On the very day that Krueger issued this order, the Connolly Task Force entered Aparri unopposed. There was no trap for the 511th Parachute Infantry to close. The Connolly Task Force was overwhelmingly successful in eliminating the remaining elements of the Japanese Imperial Army. Connolly reported 368 enemy dead and six prisoners taken. His losses for the operation were two killed and three wounded. Despite the great successes of the now reinforced Connolly Task Force, Krueger did not change his mind about the desirability and necessity for the airdrop. Instead, he concluded that the "seizure of Aparri without opposition” by elements of the Connolly Task Force on 21 June 1945, together with the almost unopposed advance of the 37th Division, indicated clearly that the time had come for mounting the airborne troops to “block the enemy's retreat in the Cagayan Valley." It is not clear just what retreat Krueger expected to block. The airborne force totaled about 1,030 men, including the reinforced 1st Battalion of the 511th Infantry and Battery C, 457th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion. Then Major (later LTC) Robert V. Connolly was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Battle.
557:." This 800-man task force included a reinforced rifle company of the 127th Infantry, 32d Division, one company of the 6th Ranger Infantry Battalion, a battery of 105-mm. howitzers, and engineer, medical, and port detachments. Assembling near Vigan, Connolly Task Force would follow Route 3 around the northwest tip of Luzon to the vicinity of Aparri, where a battalion of the 11th Infantry would join. Ordered to “annihilate the enemy forces fleeing north” by Gen. Krueger and to liberate, secure and occupy the Aparri region, the task force was also to prepare minor port facilities and a liaison plane airstrip along the coast west of Aparri. On 11 May 1945, a member of this force, PFC
510:
units of 2-123 executed a brilliant night operation to capture strategic points on the route of advance. This night attack was so well undertaken that the
Japanese were unaware that their strong emplacements had been occupied, and at daybreak the enemy was mowed down in great numbers as they emerged from their caves on the reverse side of the hill to man their positions. In the fight to the highest point of terrain, K Company 3-123 launched a well-coordinated attack after first having an artillery barrage laid down less than a hundred yards to the front. Timed to perfection, the assault, which immediately followed the lifting of the barrage, caught the Japanese in their
488:. B Company had already sent a patrol to secure the town. An interesting incident occurred here. LT Merle Fleenor was assigned with laying telephone wire as soon as the town had been secured. He and his crew arrived and found nobody there. He thought that the patrol had gone through the village and was continuing the advance. Once he installed his phones, he called back to headquarters when the patrol arrived. Fleenor and his two wire section men had arrived ahead of the patrol and had taken over. 1-123 captured three more peaks the following day without the loss of a single man. 2nd Battalion (2-123) advanced up the other flank of
50:
26:
468:
areas to reach its objective. The first man to kill a
Japanese soldier on Luzon was PFC Fay "Tex" Hough, a medic who was attached to C Company. He was attending a wounded man on the front when an enemy soldier popped up a short distance away. Hough finished him off and then completed his aid work. Unlike in Europe, it was common for aid-men to carry weapons in the Pacific Theater because the Japanese did not follow the
132:
480:. Assigned with capturing these rugged peaks, two companies advanced up the slopes. As they approached the top, fierce opposition was encountered from well-concealed Japanese emplacements and the companies were forced to hold their positions. The Japanese were making a valiant defense of this area as it controlled the last water points on the routes leading to
427:. Lieutenant Walter Roper, leading a patrol deep in enemy territory, was the first man in both the regiment and the division to lose his life in combat. CPL Roy Adams, of the Regimental Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, was credited with being the first member of the Regiment to kill a Japanese soldier. Also, the first men in the 33rd Division to receive
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364:, on 11 May 1944 and the units were spread out in bivouac areas. The 123rd set up camp about twelve miles up the coast. Here, the men continued training in the jungle, but despite their infantry role, they were mainly used to unload supply ships in the harbor. On 20 August 1944, the 123rd Infantry was detached for independent operations near
542:. In the race for Baguio, it was rumored that the 33rd and the 37th Divisions erected road blocks to slow up the progress of the other: A patrol of C Company of 1-123 was the first to enter Baguio, but the final glory of taking the Summer Capital of the Philippines was divided between the two beleaguered divisions.
522:. After numerous attacks on the enemy controlled high ground, the 123rd finally dislodged the Japanese from their strongpoints and the "race to Baguio" entered its final phase. F and G Companies of 2-123 performed admirably and were given awards after the mountain fighting. The 33rd Infantry Division and the
576:
The 123rd
Infantry Regiment as a whole took part in some of the longest and bloodiest campaigns of the US Army during World War II and it suffered a total of 96 combat casualties. Its relatively low casualty rate is a testament to the long and intensive training the unit underwent before engaging in
467:
in a direct-fire role, and inflicted heavy losses on the
Japanese in the operations that followed. The first company to send out a patrol was B Company, 1–123. This patrol started out on 18 February and returned on the 24th. Strong enemy positions were encountered, and the patrol bypassed these
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attacks. Now designated as "Task Force
Tornado," the 123rd conducted 258 one-day patrols and 29 two-day patrols, along with the score or more of five-day patrols. Resistance from the Japanese was frequent, and on each of these engagements the enemy was rendered ineffective. By the use of these
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through difficult terrain, and bulldozers followed them to clear the way for support troops. After 30 days of fighting, the regiment advanced 13 miles, but still had 7 miles to go before they reached Baguio. 3-123 relieved 2-123 and began the main effort. During the fighting in the mountains,
572:
Gen. Krueger's estimate of the
Japanese situation dictated the need to make a vertical envelopment of airborne troops to close the trap and prevent the enemy from all possibility of escaping from Aparri. Accordingly, on 21 June, Krueger directed a battalion combat team of the 511th Parachute
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and machine gun fire supported the tanks. In the ensuing skirmish, which lasted all day, all three enemy tanks were knocked out, one of them by a well-aimed bazooka shot fired by
Captain Marchant, and 25 Japanese dead were found laying around the jungle. This upped the total verified enemy
394:, the total number of enemy killed in that sector, including those accounted for by preceding troops, had been swelled to 4,005. The most bitter battle of the Sarmi area took place when Company C of the 1st Battalion (1-123), led by CPT Marchant, encountered heavy resistance at
484:. The Americans were soon relieved by a substantially larger force and the enemy retreated over the mountains. Intelligence reports later disclosed that an entire Japanese battalion had been operating against A Company. Moving by night, 1-123 arrived at San Luis near
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and remained until 6 February 1946, when it was fully demobilized and sent home. At the time the regiment arrived in Japan, their strength was 140 officers and 3,311 enlisted men. About 1,000 of the men were replacements who had joined the
Regiment on Luzon.
435:. All strategic materials and constructions were destroyed before they departed, to prevent anything falling into enemy hands. The Regiment left Maffin Bay on 26 January 1945, joined other elements of the 33rd Division en route, and departed for
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and
Rosario. The day that 1-123 took the three peaks, 2-123 captured strategic high ground just beyond Pugo. The RCP (Regimental Command Post) was moved to Pugo. The Third Battalion (3-123) operated along the coast towards
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palm swamps. Four Japanese patrols were surprised and five of the enemy killed. However, the real battle would take place the following day. Three enemy tanks had infiltrated behind C Company,s lines, and enemy
249:, the 31st became a depot division, and all the recruits from its regiments were sent out to replace combat casualties in depleted units on the front. In 1946, this unit was reconstituted and reorganized as the
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was kept out of range. The men of the 123rd, even during their "baptism by fire," showed that quality training paid off, and they performed well even against a veteran enemy. When the 123rd took over the
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where they were able to conduct a Ranger course that was attended by members of the regiment. On 25 April 1944, the 33rd Infantry Division's tenure as Hawaiian guards was over, and they set sail for
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it. Thus, the 123rd regiment was attached to the division. Throughout the rest of 1942, and into March 1943, the regiment conducted thorough training at Fort Lewis until they moved to the
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Also of note during the combat at Maffin Bay were the heroics of individual soldiers. SGT Victor Highsmith became the first 123rd man to be awarded a combat medal, the
534:. G Company, sent to protect the regiment's left flank, annihilated two enemy companies as 3-123 neared the city limits. 3-123 nicknamed the brushy area near Baguio "
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area, there were around 2,000 Japanese in the area with 1,400 of them identified as combat troops. When the Regiment left the area for
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398:. On the second morning of their five-day patrol, they were greeted by a burst of enemy shells. The next day, the patrol ran into
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463:. The first shots fired by the 33rd Division on Luzon were by the 123rd's Regimental Cannon Company, which fired 105mm
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were with Task Force Tornado at Maffin Bay. Its mission fulfilled, the 123rd Infantry was relieved by elements of the
511:
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on the far side of Luzon to act as a security force for the installations there. This force was commanded by Major
321:. The regiment was slated for a nine-month tour of duty as Kauai's defence force, taking over from elements of the
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and, along with other soldiers of the 33rd Division, had the distinction of being the first infantry trained in
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277:. The 33rd Division had released regiments to other commands, and now needed another infantry regiment to
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241:, the 123rd Infantry Regiment was organized from previous Alabama militia units, and was assigned to the
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Before the ultimate dash towards Baguio, A Company was designated as a special task force and sent to
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reached the outskirts of Baguio and the 123rd moved out of the mountains and into the valley near
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561:, singlehandedly killed 40 Japanese soldiers in a half hour battle despite being wounded by a
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423:. SGT Winfield Green, later receiving an officer's commission, was the first to earn the
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casualties to 31, with only one member of the 123rd killed. He died from an aerial bomb
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on 10 February 1945, and moved to the front lines three days later. They relieved the
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297:, the 123rd Regiment, with the rest of the 33rd Division, was sent to duty in the
614:. It was organized and its headquarters federally recognized on 29 January 1947.
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patrols, the Japanese were prevented from closing in on the perimeter and their
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and from there moved along a highway to the foothills of Twin Peaks on the
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on 25 September 1945 to conduct occupation duty. They were garrisoned at
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and the victory was achieved without any casualties. 1–123, which was in
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Regimental history, 123rd Infantry; a pictorial history -- World War II
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and often killed Allied medics with indiscretion. 1-123 advanced on
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Smith, Robert Ross (1961). "Chapter 29: Pursuit in Northern Luzon".
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301:. After 10 weeks of training in the Mojave, the regiment left for
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without motorized vehicles. Originally trained in the desert for
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
744:. Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army
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where it received acclaim for its jungle fighting against the
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Infantry regiments of the United States Army in World War II
712:. New York, NY: Random House Publishing Group. p. 160.
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Infantry regiments of the United States Army National Guard
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on 13 July, where the 123rd was stationed on the island of
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The 123rd Infantry Regiment was activated for service in
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In 1942, the 123rd was reactivated as a component of the
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
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906:Military units and formations established in 1917
585:The main units of the 123rd Infantry arrived in
402:fire after trudging though the thick mud of the
285:in early April 1943. They bivouacked near the
602:On 5 July 1946, the 123rd was assigned to the
518:reserve, rejoined the fight and attacked near
8:
891:Infantry regiments of the United States Army
741:US Army in WWII: Triumph in the Philippines
685:. 33rdinfantrydivision.org. Archived from
492:in order to seize the high ground between
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24:
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639:United States Department of the Army 1953
565:strike to the head. He was awarded the
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328:, and began training. They trained on
872:. Vol. II: Infantry. Washington:
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265:on 29 September 1942, and joined the
7:
864:United States Department of the Army
340:, and certain men were selected for
807:. pp. 195–214. Archived from
198:The designation was first used in
14:
834:"123rd Infantry Regt. Casualties"
683:"123rd Infantry Regiment History"
754:
130:
48:
798:Carlson, Stanley Waldo (1946).
313:on 7 July 1943, and arrived in
326:California Army National Guard
1:
451:The 123rd Infantry landed at
457:158th Regimental Combat Team
356:The 33rd Division landed at
215:Illinois Army National Guard
76:Illinois Army National Guard
461:Arizona Army National Guard
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368:, and relieved the entire
501:. 2-123 advanced toward
309:. The regiment departed
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127:Distinctive unit insignia
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581:Japan and Demobilization
528:Ohio Army National Guard
608:Illinois National Guard
182:123rd Infantry Regiment
169:124th Infantry Regiment
164:122nd Infantry Regiment
146:U.S. Infantry Regiments
19:123rd Infantry Regiment
710:The Deadly Brotherhood
708:McManus, John (1998).
604:44th Infantry Division
524:37th Infantry Division
433:93rd Infantry Division
372:in order to guard the
370:31st Infantry Division
323:40th Infantry Division
295:combat in North Africa
267:33rd Infantry Division
243:31st Infantry Division
204:Alabama National Guard
869:The Army Lineage Book
610:with headquarters at
553:and was called the "
109:Battle of New Guinea
39:1917-1919, 1942-1946
555:Connolly Task Force
352:New Guinea Campaign
338:amphibious assaults
245:. Upon arrival in
598:After World War II
551:Robert V. Connolly
470:Geneva Conventions
416:on the first day.
193:United States Army
507:Mount Santo Tomas
287:Clipper Mountains
206:unit part of the
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503:Mount Calugong
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842:. Retrieved
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547:Dingalen Bay
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499:San Fernando
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104:World War II
30:Coat of arms
612:Springfield
478:Kennon Road
441:Philippines
425:Silver Star
421:Bronze Star
400:machine-gun
358:Finschhafen
332:, usage of
305:, CA, near
237:During the
233:World War I
200:World War I
100:Engagements
95:1, 2, 3 Go!
885:Categories
784:2019-05-07
618:References
591:Takarazuka
414:booby-trap
388:Toem-Sarmi
366:Maffin Bay
362:New Guinea
346:New Guinea
311:California
275:Washington
271:Fort Lewis
62:Allegiance
623:Citations
526:from the
383:artillery
866:(1953).
577:combat.
512:foxholes
494:Damortis
378:Japanese
223:Japanese
189:regiment
186:infantry
155:Previous
122:Insignia
92:Motto(s)
86:Infantry
66:Illinois
606:of the
520:Galiano
516:I Corps
474:Rosario
459:of the
439:in the
299:Pacific
225:in the
202:for an
191:of the
184:was an
44:Country
844:24 May
818:24 May
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693:24 May
563:katana
482:Baguio
409:mortar
315:Hawaii
247:France
72:Branch
53:
36:Active
812:(PDF)
805:(PDF)
748:8 May
587:Japan
540:tanks
437:Luzon
374:Wakde
319:Kauai
846:2022
820:2022
750:2019
714:ISBN
695:2022
532:Tuba
505:and
490:Pugo
486:Pugo
404:Sago
180:The
158:Next
82:Type
874:GPO
269:at
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