43rd INFANTRY DIVISION

Activated 15 May 1942  •  Entered Combat 28 Mar 1944  •  Days of Combat 175  •  Casualties 133

DIVISION CHRONICLE

An advance party of the 93d Infantry Division arrived at Guadalcanal, 29 January 1944. Other echelons landed 6, 17 February and 5 March, one regiment disembarking at the Russell Islands, 7 February. The bulk of the division engaged in training, labor and security duties on Guadalcanal, the Treasury Islands from 7 June, Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, from 30 October. Component units performed similar duties at Wake Island, 20 January 1945 to 2 October, Finschhafen, 12 October 1944 to 31 March 1945, Los Negros, 29 September 1944 to 16 March 1945, and Blak, 10 October 1944 to 1 October 1945. Combat elements moved to Bougainville Island, 28 March 1944, and were attached to the Americal Division on the 30th. On that date they entered combat, assisting in attacks on the enemy perimeter. These elements, the 25th RCT, reconnoitered across the Laruma River, 2 April, and in the Torokina River Valley, 7 to 12 April 1944. The 25th RCT operated against the Japanese along the Kuma and East-West Trails during May. The combat team left for Green Islands during May and June. The 93d Rcn. Troop attached to the XIV Corps remained to raid, patrol, and maintain perimeter positions. The troop began training 12 September 1944, and moved to Finschhafen, 1 November. Security patrols had scattered contacts with the enemy at Urapas, 3 to 15 January 1945, at Wardo, 6 November-22 December, and at Wari 31 December. The security detachments at Wardo and Wari were withdrawn, 9-10 February 1945. Almost all of the Division occupied Morotai, Dutch New Guinea, 4 April to 21 October 1945. Scattered skirmishes occurred along the northwestern sector of the island. The 93d continued its labor and security missions. It occupied Sansapor, 5 April to 10 July 1945, Middleburg Island, 5 April to 7 October 1945, and Noemfoor Island, 13 April to 7 June 1945. The Division moved to Zamboanga, Philippine Islands, where it remained from 1 July 1945 to 7 January 1946. Patrols encountered light resistance until the end of hostilities, 15 August 1945. Palawan was occupied, 2 July to 5 December 1945, Jolo, 1 July to 2 October 1945, and Sanga-Sanga, 3 July 1945 to 6 January 1946. The Division arrived at Mindanao 9 October 1945, moved to Tacloban, Leyte, 13 January 1946, and left for home, 17 January.