The 132nd Infantry Regiment was an Illinois National Guard regiment federalized at Chicago on March 5, 1941. After training with the 33rd Division, it was released to Task Force 6814 in January 1942, sailed through Australia to New Caledonia, and became part of the Americal Division in May. The regiment reached Guadalcanal on December 8, after the 164th and 182nd Infantry had already fought on the island.
Its first major combat came on Mount Austen. Beginning December 17, 1942, the 132nd attacked into rough ridges, ravines, and jungle against Japanese positions later identified as the Gifu strong point. From December 24 to January 9 the regiment fought concealed pillboxes, machine-gun lanes, difficult evacuation routes, and a supply line that depended on jeeps and hand-carrying parties. It did not end the Gifu battle alone, but it fixed and wore down the position before the 25th Division took over. In February the reinforced 2nd Battalion landed at Verahue, advanced through Titi, Marovovo, and Kamimbo Bay, and joined the 161st Infantry at Tenaro on February 9, marking the end of organized resistance on Guadalcanal.
After recovery in Fiji, the regiment entered the Bougainville line in January 1944 and served through the Torokina perimeter fighting, including efforts connected to Hill 260 during the March counterattack. In 1945 it moved to Leyte, then detached its 1st Battalion to Burias and Ticao before the Cebu landing. On March 26 the regiment landed near Talisay, pushed through Basak, secured Cebu City's water sources, and fought into the hill defenses north of the city. It later helped pursue Japanese forces into northern Cebu, then trained for the planned invasion of Japan before occupation duty began in September 1945.
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