63^rd Infantry Regiment

The 63rd Infantry Regiment was activated at Fort Leonard Wood on June 1, 1941, and entered the 6th Infantry Division as its wartime third regiment. Briefly designated motorized in 1942-43, it trained at Camp Young and Camp San Luis Obispo, sailed from San Francisco in July 1943, and reached Hawaii before moving to Milne Bay, New Guinea, in January 1944. It landed in the Toem area on June 14. During the Lone Tree Hill operation the 20th Infantry made the main assault and the 1st Infantry outflanked by sea; by June 27 the 63rd was mopping up Japanese forces in the hill vicinity, helping secure Maffin Bay.

At Sansapor on July 30, the regiment furnished a small rifle detachment from the 1st Battalion for the unopposed landings on Middleburg and Amsterdam Islands with reconnaissance troops. Its later patrols ranged through the Kor-Cape Waimak area, where the regiment cleared scattered Japanese parties while the division protected airfield development along the Vogelkop coast.

On Luzon the 63rd landed one day after the main Lingayen assault and immediately fought under attached control. In the 43rd Division sector it took Hill 363 on January 14, fought near Amlang, seized Blue Ridge on January 21, and helped clear Benchmark Hill and Hill 1500 during the drive toward the Routes 3-11 junction. Rejoining the 6th Division northeast of Manila, it seized Montalban, climbed Mount Pacawagan, was thrown from the crest, and held exposed slopes during the early Shimbu Line battle. In April it relieved the 20th Infantry in the Mount Mataba attack, forced its way to the summit on April 10, and cleared the position by April 17, later supporting the final Pacawagan reduction by fire from Mataba. In northern Luzon it pushed toward Kiangan, reached the town in July, captured supplies, and then patrolled amid rain-blocked trails until the Japanese surrender.