27^th Infantry Regiment

The 27th Infantry Regiment was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and passed from the Hawaiian Division to the 25th Infantry Division on August 26, 1941. After the Pearl Harbor attack it helped defend Oahu, then sailed for the Solomons in December 1942. The regiment landed on Guadalcanal on January 1, 1943 and entered combat during the campaign's final offensive. On January 10 it attacked the Galloping Horse hill mass while the 35th Infantry fought on Sea Horse Hill. It advanced through Hill 90 and Hill 98, helped break the Japanese defensive system west of Mount Austen, and entered Kokumbona during the pursuit toward Cape Esperance.

In the Northern Solomons, the 27th landed on Sasavele Island on August 1, 1943 and on New Georgia the next day. It moved through difficult jungle and swamp toward Piru Plantation, captured Zieta on August 15, and joined the capture of Bairoko Harbor on August 25. The regiment then reinforced the 43rd Infantry Division on Arundel, where its battalions fought around Sagekarasa and toward Stima Peninsula. After Japanese withdrawal, elements made an unopposed landing on Kolombangara on October 6. The regiment reassembled with the division and trained in New Zealand and New Caledonia before moving to the Philippines.

On January 11, 1945, the 27th landed at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon. It helped clear the central plain, taking Umingan on February 2, then turned into the Caraballo Mountains. In the drive on Balete Pass, the regiment fought along Highway 5, Mount Myoko, Wolfhound Ridge, and Kapintalan Ridge, where cave defenses and steep terrain slowed every advance. After the pass was opened, the regiment pushed toward Santa Fe and entered the town on May 27, closing its combat service before occupation duty in Japan.