161^st Infantry Regiment

The 161st Infantry Regiment was a Washington National Guard regiment inducted into federal service on September 16, 1940 and originally assigned to the 41st Infantry Division. It reached Hawaii on December 21, 1941 and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division on August 3, 1942. The regiment landed on Guadalcanal on January 4, 1943, after the division's first two regiments were already committed. Its most important role came during the final pursuit. Passing through the 147th Infantry on February 6, it reached the Umasani River, crossed on February 7, advanced through Bunina and Doma Cove, and entered Tenaro on February 9, where contact with the 132nd Infantry ended organized resistance on the island.

The 161st next fought in the Central Solomons. Landing on Rendova on July 20, 1943, it was attached to the 37th Infantry Division and moved into the New Georgia campaign. The regiment helped push toward Munda and fought for Bartley Ridge, a contested position on the approach to the airfield. After Munda fell, it returned to Guadalcanal and later trained in New Zealand and New Caledonia with the 25th Division.

On January 11, 1945, the 161st landed at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon. It advanced through the central plain, cleared Binalonan, fought hard for San Manuel, and seized San Isidro on February 4, helping split Japanese forces on Luzon. The regiment then entered the Caraballo Mountains. It captured Bryant Hill northwest of Puncan, attacked along Highway 5, and fought through Crump Hill and Lone Tree Hill during the approach to Balete Pass. In May, the regiment fought for Kembu Plateau and Mount Haruna and made contact with the 27th Infantry in the Balete region. After the pass was opened, it continued mopping-up and occupation duties before inactivation in Japan.