143^rd Infantry Regiment

The 143rd Infantry Regiment was a Texas National Guard regiment assigned to the 36th Infantry Division. Federalized at Waco on November 25, 1940, it trained at Camp Bowie, Camp Blanding, the Carolina Maneuver Area, and Camp Edwards before sailing from New York on April 1, 1943. The regiment reached North Africa on April 13 and entered combat at Salerno on September 9. In the beachhead it was committed during the Altavilla crisis and helped stabilize the division front during the German counterattacks.

The regiment's Italian service continued through the Mignano Gap, San Pietro, Cassino, Anzio, and Rome-Arno operations. In December 1943 it fought on Monte Sammucro and attacked San Pietro while the 142nd attacked Monte Lungo. In January 1944 it joined the 141st in the Rapido River crossing south of Cassino; the bridgehead was destroyed after two days of heavy fire, floods, mines, and failed bridging. After rehabilitation and further service in the Cassino sector, the regiment entered the Anzio perimeter and pressed below Velletri during the breakout toward Rome.

On August 15, 1944, the 143rd landed in southern France behind the 141st and cleared St. Raphael. It fought in the Montelimar operation, helped plug the Roubion gap after German counterattacks, contributed to the isolation of Loriol, and reached the Drome-Rhone junction as the battle ended. In September it forced the Doubs at Avanne before the division took Vesoul and moved into the Vosges. During the Bruyeres operation, the regiment advanced from the south through Laval, fought toward Biffontaine, and helped clear the town. It later crossed the Meurthe at St. Leonard, broke through Ste. Marie Pass, and fought in Alsace around Selestat and the Colmar approaches. In 1945 it held the Rohrweiler-Weyersheim sector, pursued through the Bieberbach and Wissembourg Gap, entered Germany in March, and reached Austria in May.