108^th Infantry Regiment

The 108th Infantry Regiment was a New York National Guard regiment federalized at Syracuse on October 15, 1940. It first belonged to the 27th Division, moved to Hawaii in April 1942, and was reassigned to the 40th Infantry Division on September 1, 1942. After Pacific training it moved to Guadalcanal and then Cape Gloucester, New Britain, where it joined the division in security and patrol duties after the relief of Marine forces. The regiment landed at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, on January 10, 1945.

On Luzon the 108th entered the battle after the 40th Division reached the Japanese defenses west of Bamban and Clark Field. It helped clear the northern and western approaches to the Bamban Hills while the 160th fought along the main route and the 185th moved against the northern flank. The regiment cleared Hill 5 and Thrall Hill, then pushed west from the Top of the World area against a line of fortified knobs protected by bunkers, foxholes, mortars, and automatic weapons. After several days of close fighting, direct fire from tanks, tank destroyers, and self-propelled guns helped the regiment finish the enemy strongpoints. Its capture of Hill 7 on February 16 helped turn the right of the Japanese main line. Later in February, the 108th joined the renewed attack that helped secure Sacobia Ridge and the high ground threatening Clark Field.

Detached from the division in March, the regiment moved to Leyte for mop-up, reconnaissance, and island-security missions, then joined the Mindanao campaign. On May 10 it landed unopposed at Macajalar Bay and advanced inland with Filipino guerrilla support. At the Magima River canyon it encountered a Japanese delaying force astride Sayre Highway and cleared the position after several days of fighting. On May 23 the 108th met the 155th Infantry near Impalutao, opening Sayre Highway from Macajalar Bay to the forces advancing from the south.