142^nd Infantry Regiment

The 142nd Infantry Regiment was a Texas National Guard regiment assigned to the 36th Infantry Division. Federalized at Fort Worth on November 25, 1940, it trained in Texas, Florida, the Carolinas, Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey before sailing from New York on April 2, 1943. The regiment arrived in North Africa on April 13 and entered combat at Salerno on September 9, where it helped lead the 36th Division's landing at Paestum. It took Altavilla on September 11 but was forced from the town during the German counterattacks that threatened the beachhead.

Through late 1943 and early 1944 the regiment fought in the Winter Line and Cassino battles. It attacked Monte Maggiore and Monte Lungo in December, then operated in the Cassino sector while attached to the 34th Infantry Division. The 2nd Battalion overran Manna Farm on January 31, 1944, and the regiment later suffered heavy losses in close combat toward Albaneta Farm. During the Anzio breakout and Rome-Arno advance, the 142nd fought near the Velletri-Nemi road and helped the division move into Rome and up the Italian coast.

The regiment landed again on August 15, 1944 in southern France. After being shifted from its planned beach, it moved inland and overran Frejus and Puget. At Montelimar it held part of the Roubion River line and was temporarily separated from the 141st by a German attack. In the Vosges and Alsace, the 142nd fought through Bruyeres, St. Croix-aux-Mines, Selestat, and the approaches to the Colmar Pocket. In February 1945 it fought the Battle of Oberhoffen, then crossed the Zintzel at Mertzwiller in March as the division broke through toward the Rhine. The regiment entered Germany, fought through the final Rhineland and Central Europe operations, crossed the Lech with the 141st on April 29, and entered Austria before hostilities ended.