40^th Infantry Division

The 40th Infantry Division first gained combat experience in New Britain, where the 185th Infantry Regiment arrived at Cape Gloucester on April 23, 1944, and the rest of the division followed on April 28, relieving Marine units. Cape Hoskins airdrome was occupied without opposition on May 7, and operations consisted largely of patrols and security missions through November 1944, giving the division experience in jungle and amphibious operations.

In January 1945, the 160th Infantry Regiment and 185th Infantry landed at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon and advanced into the Bamban Hills and the Zambales Mountains. The 160th Infantry forced a bridgehead at Bamban on January 23 and encountered the main Japanese lines there, with the 108th Infantry Regiment committed to assist. The 160th Infantry moved up Storm King Mountain against strong opposition on February 6, the 185th Infantry attacked Snake Hill and gained Hill 1500 on February 15, and the 108th Infantry took Hill 7 on February 16 before the division was relieved and staged for the southern Philippines.

In March, the 185th Infantry landed on Panay Island on March 18, advanced rapidly, and took Iloilo on March 20. The division then shifted to Negros Island, where the 160th Infantry and 185th Infantry conducted offensive operations in difficult interior terrain against persistent resistance. The 185th Infantry stormed Virgine Ridge on May 2 and the 160th Infantry finally won contested Hill 3155 on May 23 before organized resistance ended.

By the end of the war, the division had served across multiple island campaigns — from New Britain to Luzon and the Visayas — reflecting the dispersed and mobile nature of late-war Pacific operations.