12^th Infantry Regiment

The 12th Infantry Regiment entered the 4th Infantry Division after earlier service with the 8th Division and a period in the 4th Motorized Division. It trained at Fort Howard, Fort Dix, Fort Benning, Camp Gordon, Camp Gordon Johnston, and Fort Jackson, then staged at Camp Kilmer and sailed from New York on January 18, 1944. The regiment reached England on January 29 and landed at Utah Beach on June 6. After moving inland to the Beuzeville-au-Plain area, it joined the division's drive across the Cotentin toward Cherbourg.

The regiment fought at Edmondeville, Montebourg, and the main Cherbourg defenses. During the final assault it made the 4th Division's principal effort toward Tourlaville, advancing with tank support and later with a battalion of the 22nd Infantry attached. After Tourlaville fell, all three battalions entered Cherbourg and cleared the eastern part of the city. In July, the 12th Infantry made the division's main effort toward Periers but was checked by hedgerows, marshy ground, and determined German resistance. After the breakout it served briefly with the 30th Infantry Division, then led the 4th Division into Paris on August 25.

The regiment crossed Belgium on September 6 and entered Germany on September 11. In the Schnee Eifel it fought costly West Wall attacks, then endured the Huertgen Forest battle, where a German counterattack cut off elements of the regiment before the division front was restored. In December, the 12th Infantry held the Sauer sector around Echternach, Berdorf, Lauterborn, Osweiler, and Dickweiler, absorbing the main blow against the 4th Division during the Ardennes counteroffensive. It later helped recover Echternach and returned to Germany in February 1945. During the final campaign it fought through Nieder Pruem, Rommersheim, the Pruem bridgehead, the Main crossings, Koenigshofen, and Rothenburg, then advanced into Bavaria toward the Loisach, Isar, Tegernsee, and Miesbach areas.