321^st Infantry Regiment

The 321st Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Rucker, Alabama, on June 15, 1942, and assigned to the 81st Infantry Division. After training in Tennessee and California, it staged through Camp Stoneman, sailed from San Francisco on July 1, 1944, reached Hawaii on July 8, and moved through Guadalcanal before the Palau operation. On September 17 the regiment landed on Angaur's Blue Beach, secured the beachhead from Cape Ngariois to Rocky Point, and drove through southern Angaur. By September 20 it had reached the south end of the island and begun mopping up scattered Japanese positions.

The regiment then shifted to Peleliu, arriving September 23 and serving under the 1st Marine Division until October 20. It advanced along the western coast through Garekoru, pushed the lateral route that became known as the 321st Infantry Trail, and helped cut off Japanese forces in the Umurbrogol Mountains. After attacks on the central high ground, it relieved Marine units on Ngesebus and Kongauro Islands, finished fighting around Amiangal Mountain, and seized Garakayo Island on October 9. On October 16 it took over the renewed assault against the Umurbrogol Pocket.

From October 16 to 25 the 321st fought through the broken ridges, ravines, cave positions, and sandbag lines around Hill 140, Five Brothers Ridge, Mortimer Valley, Walt Ridge, Wildcat Bowl, and Death Valley. The regiment gained ground slowly, often by yards, with tanks, flame throwers, mortars, pack howitzers, and close air support. It lost 146 killed and 469 wounded on Peleliu before the 323rd Infantry relieved its leading battalions. Elements later searched nearby Fais Island in January 1945. The regiment left Peleliu in February, rehabilitated in New Caledonia, reached Leyte in May, conducted construction, training, and mop-up duty, and went to Japan for occupation service.