134^th Infantry Regiment

The 134th Infantry Regiment was a Nebraska National Guard regiment of the 35th Infantry Division. Federalized on December 23, 1940, it trained in Arkansas, California, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina before sailing from New York on May 12, 1944. The regiment reached England on May 25 and landed in France on July 5. It entered combat in Normandy during the 35th Division's drive toward St. Lo. On July 15 the regiment gained the north slopes of Hill 122, close to the city, and after St. Lo fell it relieved elements of the 29th Division inside the battered town.

After the breakout, the 134th fought across France with the division and entered the Lorraine battles around Nancy. It entered the Lorey Bridgehead on September 15 and fought for Agincourt six days later. In November, during the drive toward Morhange, the regiment attacked through snow, mud, and fortified villages. Its battalions fought for Rougemont, Achain, Hilsprich, and the approaches to the Maderbach, often in close cooperation with armored units. Early in December the regiment crossed the Maderbach and helped take Puttelange, then entered the Sarreguemines battle. The regiment crossed the Saar and then the Blies, where its fight at Habkirchen became one of its sharpest actions of the war. Company C and the 2nd Platoon of Company D later received Distinguished Unit Citations for that battle.

The German Ardennes offensive pulled the 35th Division north. East of the Arlon highway, the 134th fought through snow and exposed ground around Lutrebois, helping block German pressure near the Bastogne corridor. After rehabilitation, it returned to the Rhineland, crossed the Roer with the division, and pushed toward the Rhine. In March it seized Fort Blucher near Wesel, crossed the Rhine east of Rheinberg, and advanced through the Ruhr fighting toward Gelsenkirchen. The regiment ended the war in Germany and returned to the United States in September 1945.