382^nd Infantry Regiment

The 382nd Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Adair, Oregon, on August 15, 1942, and trained with the 96th Infantry Division before sailing from San Francisco in July 1944. After staging in Hawaii and across the Central Pacific, it assaulted Leyte on October 20, 1944. Landing on the division's left, it moved inland through swamp and rice-paddy terrain, seized Tigbao, Anibung, Hindang, Aslom, and Kanmonhag, and then fought for Tabontabon, a Japanese 16th Division supply center. From October 26 to October 28 its battalions crossed the shoulder-deep Guinarona River, battled through houses, trenches, and machine-gun positions, and finally cleared the town. In November the regiment relieved 7th Division elements near Dagami and attacked Bloody Ridge. The 1st Battalion was badly mauled in swampy paddies west of town, but the regiment renewed the attack, repelled night counterattacks, used tanks and flamethrowers against pillboxes, and completed the ridge's occupation by November 10.

The 382nd landed on Okinawa on April 2, 1945. In the approach to Shuri it advanced east of the Ginowan road, was checked at Tombstone Ridge and Nishibaru, and took part in the late-April reduction of the Nishibaru-Tanabaru high ground, including temporary attachment of its 2nd Battalion to the 383rd. After the division returned to line in May, the regiment relieved 7th Division elements and fought across Zebra, the Dick Hill mass, and Oboe. On Oboe its 1st Battalion endured a company-size Japanese night assault on May 24, held part of the crest, and reorganized after severe losses. The regiment then helped clear Hen Hill on May 30 and, in June, relieved exhausted elements near Yuza Peak. It pushed onto Yuza-Dake's northern slope and continued the final assault until organized resistance collapsed on southern Okinawa.