305^th Infantry Regiment

The 305th Infantry Regiment was organized at Fort Jackson on March 25, 1942, assigned to the 77th Infantry Division, and trained across the United States before sailing from San Francisco on March 27, 1944. After a short period in Hawaii, it landed on Guam on July 21 attached to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. Its battalions waded ashore across the reef, fought their first close action during the Japanese counterattack that night, and on July 22 pushed through the Marine line toward Maanot Pass and the high ground near Mount Alifan. The regiment advanced rapidly on July 23, blocked Harmon Road, helped secure the heights overlooking Orote, and on July 28 Company A reached Mount Tenjo before relief by the 2nd Battalion, 307th Infantry.

On Leyte the 305th landed with the division in November and assaulted below Ormoc on December 7. It seized Bagonbon River crossings, protected the southern flank while the division drove on Ipil, Camp Downes, and Ormoc, then led the northward movement through Cogon and up Highway 2 toward Valencia. In the Palompon Road fighting the 2nd and 3rd Battalions crossed the Togbong River, fought through Matagob, repulsed night penetrations, and by December 31 linked with the Provisional Mountain Force. That action secured the overland route from Highway 2 to Palompon and tightened the division's exposed flank on Leyte.

In the Ryukyus, the regiment landed elements on Aka and Zamami on March 26, 1945, then assaulted Ie Shima on April 16. Its battalions fought through mines, caves, and counterattacks around Ie, leaving garrisons there and on Zamami before rejoining the division on Okinawa. The 305th later pushed along Route 5 toward Shuri, plugged the gap between corps, served briefly with the 96th Division, and closed the war on Cebu.