34^th Infantry Regiment

The 34th Infantry Regiment was activated at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, on July 1, 1940, originally with the 8th Division. It reached Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in December 1941 and was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division on June 12, 1943. After movement to Australia and Goodenough Island, the regiment served as reserve for the Hollandia operation. It landed in New Guinea on April 22, 1944 and shifted to Humboldt Bay, then was detached to Biak in June. There it reinforced HURRICANE Task Force, seized Borokoe and Sorido airdromes on June 20, and helped secure the island's airfield complex before returning to the 24th Division.

On October 20, 1944, the 34th Infantry landed on Leyte on the right of the 24th Division's Red Beach assault. Part of the 3d Battalion landed north of its assigned zone and came under heavy fire, but the regiment fought inland through pillboxes, swamp, and beach defenses, crossed Highway 1, and tied in with the 1st Cavalry Division and 19th Infantry. It met a strong counterattack on October 21 and later fought into Leyte Valley. Under attachment to the 32nd Infantry Division, 1st Battalion held Kilay Ridge west of Highway 2, where supply depended on airdrops and Filipino carrying parties. In February 1945, 3d Battalion joined the Corregidor assault.

The regiment rejoined the 24th Division's final campaign on Mindanao. Landing at Parang, it reinforced the inland drive, reached Fort Pikit and Kabacan, and then led the fast push southeast toward Digos. After Digos fell, elements pursued Japanese troops toward Mount Apo while the division turned toward Davao. In May the 34th fought around Guma, Hill 550, and the Bancal-Mintal road, then worked with the 21st Infantry to clear the Talomo River Valley. Company F later landed on Balut Island during the Sarangani Bay operation.