130^th Infantry Regiment

The 130th Infantry Regiment, an Illinois National Guard unit, entered federal service on March 5, 1941, and served with the 33rd Infantry Division through stateside, Hawaiian, New Guinea, and Morotai training and staging. It reached Luzon at Lingayen Gulf on February 10, 1945 and soon entered the 33rd Division's campaign toward Baguio. The regiment's early Luzon operations developed along the west-coast and Route 9 approaches. On March 7, its 1st Battalion took Aringay and the Aringay bridge without opposition, then probed toward Mount Magabang; Company C secured Mount Magabang the next day.

The regiment then helped open the coastal flank north of Bauang. On March 21, elements of the 130th linked with Filipino guerrillas near San Fernando, while Company F found Naguilian and its airstrip undefended. As the division shifted from reconnaissance to the Baguio drive, the 130th became central to the Galiano-Asin approach. It captured Asin on April 12 but was stopped by Japanese tunnel and hill defenses near the road leading toward Baguio. The regiment renewed its attacks after bombardment and began reducing the tunnel line by close assault.

The Route 9 breakthrough by the 37th Division changed the fight. Two 130th battalions redeployed to the Yagyagan trail junction, coordinated with the battalion left west of Asin, and opened the Galiano road by April 23. The Japanese 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry, was largely destroyed in the action. On April 25 the regiment moved against the hills around Baguio and took Mount Mirador, helping secure the western edge of the city as 33rd and 37th Division columns converged. After Baguio fell, the 130th continued northward clearing. In June it reached KP 21 and pushed east along the Baguio-Aritao supply road toward Ambuclao as the campaign shifted into pursuit.