165^th Infantry Regiment

The 165th Infantry Regiment was a New York National Guard regiment inducted at New York City on October 15, 1941 and assigned to the 27th Infantry Division. After training in Alabama and California, it departed San Francisco on March 30, 1942 and reached Hawaii on April 8. Briefly assigned to the 40th Infantry Division, it returned to the 27th before entering combat. On November 10, 1943, the regiment left Hawaii as the core of the Makin assault force. Landing on Butaritari Island on November 20 with elements of the 105th Infantry and tanks attached, the 165th helped end organized resistance by November 23. Most of the regiment returned to Hawaii in December, while its 3d Battalion followed in January 1944.

The 165th next sailed for the Marianas and landed on Saipan during the night of June 16-17, 1944 under 4th Marine Division control. Supported by artillery and naval gunfire, it captured Aslito Airfield and nearby high ground on June 18. The regiment then joined the attack toward Nafutan Point before the 27th Division shifted into the central island fight. On June 23, the 165th fought along Purple Heart Ridge while the 106th Infantry attacked Death Valley. It remained engaged in reducing cave and ridge positions, then moved north toward Tanapag. When the July 7 Japanese counterattack struck the 105th, the 165th helped block the penetration and later cleared Harakiri Gulch.

After rest and training at Espiritu Santo, the regiment departed for Okinawa and landed on April 9, 1945. Initially under XXIV Corps, it joined the 27th Division's effort against the outer Shuri defenses. From April 20 to April 27 the 165th fought the Item Pocket north of Gusukuma, a compact defensive position that delayed the division's west-flank advance. After the pocket was reduced, the regiment patrolled near Kuwan Inlet south of Machinato Airfield. It remained on Okinawa through the campaign and moved to Japan in September.