184^th Infantry Regiment

The 184th Infantry Regiment was a California National Guard regiment inducted in March 1941. Initially assigned to the 40th Division, it later served under Western Defense Command, was attached to the 7th Infantry Division in January 1943, and became part of the division in the Aleutians. It landed on Kiska with the 17th Infantry on August 15, 1943, but the Japanese garrison had already evacuated. The regiment then moved to Hawaii for amphibious training before the Marshalls operation.

At Kwajalein the 184th Infantry assaulted the left side of Kwajalein Island while the 32nd Infantry attacked on the right. Its battalions fought through ruined buildings, shelters, and blockhouses along the lagoon side. On February 3, the 1st Battalion and Company B encountered some of the heaviest fighting in the Admiralty area, where delayed tank support and bypassed positions complicated the advance. By February 4 the regiment had mopped up to Green Beach 4 and Nob Pier, and the 3rd Battalion soon assisted the 17th Infantry in clearing another islet.

On Leyte the 184th landed south of the 32nd Infantry on October 20, 1944, helped secure Dulag airstrip, and advanced inland. Its 2nd Battalion reinforced the 17th Infantry during the drive toward San Pablo, Burauen, and Dagami. In late November the regiment became crucial at Shoestring Ridge, reinforcing and then relieving the hard-pressed 32nd Infantry while clearing Japanese forces from bamboo thickets. In December it attacked north from the Damulaan area, crossed difficult ridges, reached the Tabgas River, and helped close the gap toward Ormoc and Ipil.

On Okinawa the 184th Infantry landed on April 1, 1945. It reduced the Pinnacle after repeated attacks, took Tomb Hill, relieved the 32nd Infantry, and fought around Gaja Ridge during the Japanese counteroffensive. In the final drive it moved through the Chinen Peninsula area, reached the southeast coast, and fought against the Hill 95 ridge system before the campaign ended.