15^th Infantry Regiment

The 15th Infantry Regiment entered World War II as part of the 3rd Infantry Division and trained at Fort Lewis, Fort Ord, and Camp Pickett before sailing from Hampton Roads in October 1942. It assaulted Fedala on November 8 in the Casablanca operation, then landed at Licata on July 10, 1943. In Sicily the regiment formed part of the division's pincer plan, fought through Campobello, Delia, and Sommatino, and later met severe resistance at the Furiano River and San Fratello line. Its 3rd Battalion received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the August fighting.

After landing in Italy on September 18, 1943, the regiment moved with the division through the mountains beyond Salerno. At the Volturno River, the 15th Infantry crossed on the division right, captured Monticello and Monte Mesarinolo, and helped secure Monte Caruso. In the Winter Line fighting it served on Monte Lungo before being relieved at the end of December. The regiment assaulted Anzio on January 22, 1944, held positions along the west branch of the Mussolini Canal, and attacked toward Cisterna. During the breakout it fought in the Valmontone area, reached Highway 6, and covered the division's right flank before the entry into Rome.

On August 15, 1944, the 15th Infantry landed at Alpha Yellow in southern France, cleared the St. Tropez peninsula, and advanced through La Roquebrussanne, St. Maximin, and Trets as the division pushed toward Toulon and the Rhone. In the Vosges it reduced a quarry strongpoint near Cleurie and seized Etival during the Meurthe River advance. In the Colmar Pocket, the regiment restored the Maison Rouge bridgehead after the 30th Infantry had been thrown back and then drove through Riedwihr, Holtzwihr, and the Colmar Canal line. It entered Germany in March 1945, briefly served with the 12th Armored Division in April, helped capture Augsburg, and ended the war in Austria.