126^th Infantry Regiment

The 126th Infantry Regiment, a Michigan National Guard unit in the 32nd Infantry Division, entered federal service on October 15, 1940, and reached Australia in May 1942. It moved to Port Moresby that September and entered the Papuan campaign under Australian operational control. During the Buna-Sanananda fighting, companies of the regiment attacked through swamp and darkness toward Buna's main strip on November 30, 1942, while other elements were drawn into the long fight around Sanananda. The regiment left New Guinea in early 1943 after one of the division's costliest campaigns.

The 126th returned to New Guinea operations from Goodenough Island. It assaulted Saidor on January 2, 1944, then helped close against retreating Japanese forces after a March landing at Yalau Plantation. At Aitape it reinforced PERSECUTION Task Force, initially holding the West Sector and later shifting battalions east as Japanese pressure rose before the Driniumor River battle. Detached from the division, the regiment landed on the Gila Peninsula, Morotai, on September 16, then rejoined the 32nd Division at sea for Leyte.

On Leyte the regiment landed on November 14, 1944 and fought south from Limon along Highway 2. In mid-December its battalions attacked through deeply entrenched Japanese positions south of the Leyte River bridge. During the night of December 13-14, Japanese troops broke into the regimental command post, but the position was restored before dawn; the regiment then continued the slow advance toward Lonoy with the 127th Infantry. On Luzon the 126th first held the San Manuel-Asingan-San Nicolas area, then fought in the river valleys west of Villa Verde Trail. In April it shifted into a northern flanking attack, taking key hills that cut the Salacsac Pass No. 1 line. Attached to the 25th Division in late May, it struck west from Santa Fe and linked with 32nd Division elements near Imugan.