306^th Infantry Regiment

The 306th Infantry Regiment was organized at Fort Jackson on March 25, 1942, assigned to the 77th Infantry Division, and trained in Louisiana, California, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia before sailing for Hawaii in March 1944. It landed on Guam on July 23. Because the division had no assault amphibian tractors for its reserve role, the regiment waded ashore from the reef under difficult conditions, with radios and vehicles damaged in the landing. Its 3rd Battalion entered the line between Mount Alifan and Mount Taene, relieved Marines, and repulsed a small attack. The next day the 2nd Battalion completed relief on the northern part of the line and tied in with the 305th Infantry.

On Leyte, the 306th landed in November, briefly served under the 11th Airborne Division, and joined the Ormoc assault on December 7. Its 2nd Battalion supported the 307th Infantry's drive on Ipil and Camp Downes, while the rest of the regiment arrived on December 9 to hold the beachhead's eastern flank. In the Valencia operation, the 306th drove northeast, reached Highway 2, contacted the 305th, and reached the southern edge of Valencia on December 18. It then moved toward the Palompon road, reached the Togbong River bridge area, and helped secure the junction with Highway 2 before the division closed westward toward Palompon.

In March 1945 the regiment made a sequence of Ryukyus landings: the 1st Battalion took Geruma, the 2nd took Hokaji, other elements landed on Amuro and Tokashiki, and the 2nd Battalion landed on Keise Shima. On Ie Shima the 306th landed April 16, overran the airfield, held the northwestern line near Iegusugu, and helped reduce the Pinnacle area. On Okinawa it fought through the Maeda sector, Chocolate Drop Hill, and the Shuri approaches before departing for Cebu.