108th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 108th Infantry Regiment is a regiment
of the New York Army National Guard
. It was first formed in 1898 and has been in continuous existence since 1907. As National Guardsmen, Soldiers of the 108th Infantry can be called upon to serve the state
and Federal governments. The 108th has served in the Spanish-American War
, the Mexican Border War, World War I
, World War II
, Iraq, and Afghanistan
.
broke out in April 1898, a new regiment was organized from twelve separate National Guard companies from the 4th Brigade. The 3rd New York, headquartered in Rochester
, mustered into service
on May 17, 1898. They were involved in drilling, provost, and camp duty in Virginia
and Pennsylvania
. The brief war with Spain ended
before the regiment could be sent into action, and the Guardsmen were mustered out of Federal service by companies between November 30 and December 10, 1898. Thirty-three members of the 3rd New York died of disease during its short service, with several more dying afterward of typhoid fever
contracted while on active duty
. The state historian called the 3rd New York Regiment “unquestionably one of the best that New York sent into the service,” noting that not a single member had to be disciplined in its first three months of duty.
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
during rioting caused by a streetcar workers’ strike
. It was also deployed for guard duty at Pharr, Texas
on the Mexican border in 1916 during the U. S. Army's
expedition against the guerilla commander Pancho Villa
.
of the National Guard following America's entry into the Great War
. On October 1, 1917, while training with the 27th "New York" Division at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina
, the 3rd New York Infantry was renamed the 108th Regiment of Infantry. More than 1,600 men were transferred from the 74th (Buffalo
) and 12th (New York City
) Regiments to bring the 108th up to the War Department
-mandated strength of over 3,000. The 108th was placed in the 54th Infantry Brigade of the 27th Division along with the 107th Infantry and the 106th Machine Gun Battalion. The composition of the regiment was essentially the same as in 1898, except that it now included headquarters, machine gun, and supply companies and a sanitary detachment. The 74th New York supplied 1, 350 enlisted men and the 12th New York 293.
By May 31, 1918 the whole regiment had arrived in France. The 27th Division (minus division artillery) was attached to British forces for training and issued British rifles and machine guns
, but ended up fighting alongside the British and Australians
for its entire combat service. The Regimental Scout Officer of the 108th noted that "we were supposed to leave behind the customs and traditions of the U. S. Army, in which we had been so carefully brought up, in order that we might study and adapt ourselves to those of our Allies, the British, with whom our lot had been cast for the duration of the war." This included living on the British Tommy's
relatively scanty rations
.
The 27th Division initially served in the trenches around Ypres
alongside the British from July to September, 1918. In September, the New Yorkers joined the British Fourth Army in the infamous Somme region
, facing the Germans'
formidable Hindenburg Line
. The 54th Brigade attacked as part of the Hundred Days Offensive
on September 29th. German artillery, poison gas
, and machine guns took a heavy toll as the Americans struggled through barbed wire and shell holes to reach the Hindenburg Line. The 108th penetrated the German defenses at Quennemont Farm, although they were stalled by severe casualties and an enemy counterattack, and Australian units were sent in to complete the assault. Many leaderless Americans joined in the Australian attack without orders. This engagement is officially called the Battle of St. Quentin Canal. Private First Class Frank Gaffney
of Company G later received a Medal of Honor for his heroism. The 108th joined in the pursuit of the retreating Germans, engaging them at Jonc de Mer Ridge, the Selle River, and Catillon. The 500 survivors still on duty were pulled out of the line to rest on October 21, three weeks before the Armistice ended the fighting.
The 108th Infantry suffered 1,763 casualties--including 331 dead--in three months of combat out of 3,056 men in the ranks. Most of these casualties occurred in the Hindenburg Line attack. Reasons for the heavy losses included a lack of experienced leadership and the eagerness of the Doughboys, who often made frontal assaults on enemy machine gun nests. Additionally, Allied
artillery did not "soften up" the Germans with a preparatory bombardment before the attack, for fear of hitting Americans lying wounded from an earlier assault. Nevertheless, as 27th Division commander Major General John F. O'Ryan
remarked: "That the 108th Infantry ... should have broken through the maze of wire that existed and in the face of machine guns firing from every trench and nest, lodged one battalion in the main position, now seems an extraordinary feat."
In March 1919 the 27th Division returned to New York and was mustered out of Federal service. The 108th once again became the 3rd New York Infantry, although it was designated the 108th Infantry for a second time in October 1921. In 1925 the 108th adopted a distinctive unit insignia
featuring a fasces
held by two lions.
For over a year, the division took part in training maneuvers across the South. Immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the entire 27th Division transferred to California
in order to reinforce the Philippines. The Japanese captured the islands
before this could happen, however, and the New Yorkers stayed in California. Ironically, the 108th Infantry would take part in the liberation of the Philippines
some three years later.
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
The 27th Division became part of the garrison of Hawaii in April 1942. It was here that the 108th parted ways with the New York Division. An Army-wide reorganization cut divisions from four regiments
to three
, and the 108th Infantry was transferred to the 40th Infantry Division (California National Guard
) on September 1, 1942. The 40th Division remained on Hawaii for fourteen more months.
In January 1944 the division landed on the South Pacific
island of Guadalcanal
, which had been largely secured
by U. S. forces a year earlier. That April they moved to Cape Gloucester
on New Britain
. This was a more active area
where the regiments of the 40th conducted combat patrols, since there were still many Japanese troops on the island. As they did on Guadalcanal, however, the men of the 108th found that their most dangerous enemy on Cape Gloucester was not the Japanese Army but the harsh jungle climate.
On November 28th the 40th Infantry Division was concentrated at Borgen Bay to prepare for the invasion
of Luzon
, the largest and most strategically important of the Philippine Islands. The 108th Regiment was in reserve on S-Day--January 9, 1945, when the Sixth Army landed at Lingayen Gulf
. Japanese resistance intensified as the GIs moved south toward Manila
, and the 108th fought brutal battles for possession of Fort Stotsenburg
, Clark Field, Hill 7, and Sacobia Ridge. The 43rd Infantry Division relieved the 40th on March 2. Six days later the 108th was detached and sent to the island of Leyte
to assist in mopping up defeated
Japanese forces. The regiment's 2nd Battalion also cleared Masbate
and other local islands. On Leyte and Masbate the 108th lost an estimated 19 troops killed and 49 wounded.
On May 10 the 108th joined in the battle for Mindanao
. The regiment made an unopposed landing at Macajalar Bay
and moved south to clear the Sayre Highway
with the assistance of Filipino guerillas. From May 15-18 the 108th fought strongely-emplaced Japanese defenders at the Magima River canyon. The regiment linked up with the 31st Infantry Division coming up from the south on May 23. Securing the Sayre Highway cost the 108th about 15 men killed and 100 wounded.(Non-combat casualties from battle fatigue
, sickness, and heat exhaustion were probably heavier.) The troops then moved east to combat more Japanese resistance. After six weeks of enduring thick jungle, heavy rains, knee-deep mud, and tall, razor-sharp grass--not to mention Japanese resistance--the 108th rejoined the 40th Division on Panay
.
With the war against Japan nearly over
, the 108th Infantry was sent to garrison Korea
on June 29. Their homeward journey began on March 15, 1946, when they left Korea bound for San Francisco. The regiment arrived on April 5 and was deactivated two days later at Camp Stoneman
. The National Guardsmen of the 108th Infantry had been some of the first U. S. troops to deploy after Pearl Harbor, and the 108th was one of the last Guard units to return to the continental United States. Its long, grueling service in the Pacific Theater
earned the 108th Infantry four campaign streamers
and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
in October, 2004. 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, headquartered in Utica
, is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
and has companies and detachments stationed in ten Upstate New York towns.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the New York Army National Guard
New York Army National Guard
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
. It was first formed in 1898 and has been in continuous existence since 1907. As National Guardsmen, Soldiers of the 108th Infantry can be called upon to serve the state
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Federal governments. The 108th has served in the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, the Mexican Border War, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Iraq, and Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
.
Spanish-American War
The 108th Infantry Regiment was originally called the 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry. When the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
broke out in April 1898, a new regiment was organized from twelve separate National Guard companies from the 4th Brigade. The 3rd New York, headquartered in Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, mustered into service
Muster (military)
The term muster designates the process or event for the of accounting for members in a military unit. Within the United States Army Reserve, it is an annual event used for screening purposes.-Historical:...
on May 17, 1898. They were involved in drilling, provost, and camp duty in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The brief war with Spain ended
Treaty of Paris (1898)
The Treaty of Paris of 1898 was signed on December 10, 1898, at the end of the Spanish-American War, and came into effect on April 11, 1899, when the ratifications were exchanged....
before the regiment could be sent into action, and the Guardsmen were mustered out of Federal service by companies between November 30 and December 10, 1898. Thirty-three members of the 3rd New York died of disease during its short service, with several more dying afterward of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
contracted while on active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
. The state historian called the 3rd New York Regiment “unquestionably one of the best that New York sent into the service,” noting that not a single member had to be disciplined in its first three months of duty.
Composition of the 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry, May 2, 1898
Headquarters — Rochester1st Battalion
- Co. L (formerly 30th Separate Co.): Elmira
- Co. I (43rd): Olean
- Co. K (47th): Hornellsville
- Co. D (48th): Oswego
2nd Battalion
- Co. M (2nd): Auburn
- Co. A (8th): Rochester
- Co. B (34th): Geneva
- Co. C (41st): Syracuse
3rd Battalion
- Co. H (1st): Rochester
- Co. G (25th): Tonawanda
- Co. F (29th): Medina
- Co. E (42nd): Niagara Falls
1898-1917
After the war the 3rd New York was dissolved and the companies returned to the peacetime National Guard duties of drilling and supporting the state and local authorities. The regiment was reformed on March 30, 1907. In April 1913 the 3rd served in BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
during rioting caused by a streetcar workers’ strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
. It was also deployed for guard duty at Pharr, Texas
Pharr, Texas
Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 70,400. Pharr is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas...
on the Mexican border in 1916 during the U. S. Army's
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
expedition against the guerilla commander Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
.
World War I
The New York regiments were called up in the spring of 1917 during the massive mobilizationMobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
of the National Guard following America's entry into the Great War
United States in World War I
The United States was a formal participant in World War I from April 6, 1917 until the war's end in November 1918. Up to that point, the US had remained neutral, though the US had been an important supplier to Britain and other Allied powers...
. On October 1, 1917, while training with the 27th "New York" Division at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, the 3rd New York Infantry was renamed the 108th Regiment of Infantry. More than 1,600 men were transferred from the 74th (Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
) and 12th (New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) Regiments to bring the 108th up to the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
-mandated strength of over 3,000. The 108th was placed in the 54th Infantry Brigade of the 27th Division along with the 107th Infantry and the 106th Machine Gun Battalion. The composition of the regiment was essentially the same as in 1898, except that it now included headquarters, machine gun, and supply companies and a sanitary detachment. The 74th New York supplied 1, 350 enlisted men and the 12th New York 293.
By May 31, 1918 the whole regiment had arrived in France. The 27th Division (minus division artillery) was attached to British forces for training and issued British rifles and machine guns
Lewis Gun
The Lewis Gun is a World War I–era light machine gun of American design that was perfected and widely used by the British Empire. It was first used in combat in World War I, and continued in service with a number of armed forces through to the end of the Korean War...
, but ended up fighting alongside the British and Australians
Military history of Australia during World War I
In Australia, the outbreak of World War I was greeted with considerable enthusiasm. Even before Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, the nation pledged its support for the Empire alongside other Commonwealth nations and almost immediately began preparations to send forces overseas to...
for its entire combat service. The Regimental Scout Officer of the 108th noted that "we were supposed to leave behind the customs and traditions of the U. S. Army, in which we had been so carefully brought up, in order that we might study and adapt ourselves to those of our Allies, the British, with whom our lot had been cast for the duration of the war." This included living on the British Tommy's
Tommy Atkins
Tommy Atkins is a term for a common soldier in the British Army that was already well established in the 19th century, but is particularly associated with World War I. It can be used as a term of reference, or as a form of address. German soldiers would call out to "Tommy" across no man's land if...
relatively scanty rations
Military rations
Military rations are the food served to military personnel. For the controlled distribution of goods or services, see rationing.Types of military rations include:*Garrison rations*Field rations- US-specific :*United States military rations*Iron rations...
.
The 27th Division initially served in the trenches around Ypres
Ypres Salient
The Ypres Salient is the area around Ypres in Belgium which was the scene of some of the biggest battles in World War I.In military terms, a salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. Therefore, the salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops...
alongside the British from July to September, 1918. In September, the New Yorkers joined the British Fourth Army in the infamous Somme region
Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
During the First World War, the Second Battle of the Somme of 1918 was fought on the Western Front from the end of the summer, in the basin of the Somme River...
, facing the Germans'
History of Germany during World War I
During World War I, the German Empire was one of the Central Powers that ultimately lost the war. It began participation with the conflict after the declaration of war against Serbia by its ally, Austria-Hungary...
formidable Hindenburg Line
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in northeastern France during World War I. It was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916–17. The line stretched from Lens to beyond Verdun...
. The 54th Brigade attacked as part of the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
on September 29th. German artillery, poison gas
Poison gas in World War I
The use of chemical weapons in World War I ranged from disabling chemicals, such as tear gas and the severe mustard gas, to lethal agents like phosgene and chlorine. This chemical warfare was a major component of the first global war and first total war of the 20th century. The killing capacity of...
, and machine guns took a heavy toll as the Americans struggled through barbed wire and shell holes to reach the Hindenburg Line. The 108th penetrated the German defenses at Quennemont Farm, although they were stalled by severe casualties and an enemy counterattack, and Australian units were sent in to complete the assault. Many leaderless Americans joined in the Australian attack without orders. This engagement is officially called the Battle of St. Quentin Canal. Private First Class Frank Gaffney
Frank Gaffney (Medal of Honor)
Frank J. Gaffney was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the World War I. He was considered "the second bravest man in the U. S. Army."-Biography:...
of Company G later received a Medal of Honor for his heroism. The 108th joined in the pursuit of the retreating Germans, engaging them at Jonc de Mer Ridge, the Selle River, and Catillon. The 500 survivors still on duty were pulled out of the line to rest on October 21, three weeks before the Armistice ended the fighting.
The 108th Infantry suffered 1,763 casualties--including 331 dead--in three months of combat out of 3,056 men in the ranks. Most of these casualties occurred in the Hindenburg Line attack. Reasons for the heavy losses included a lack of experienced leadership and the eagerness of the Doughboys, who often made frontal assaults on enemy machine gun nests. Additionally, Allied
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
artillery did not "soften up" the Germans with a preparatory bombardment before the attack, for fear of hitting Americans lying wounded from an earlier assault. Nevertheless, as 27th Division commander Major General John F. O'Ryan
John F. O'Ryan
John Francis O'Ryan was Commanding General of the 27th Division during World War I.-Career:During the mid 1920s O'Ryan was New York State Transit Commissioner, and was also involved in the early passenger aviation industry.He briefly held the position of New York City Police Commissioner from...
remarked: "That the 108th Infantry ... should have broken through the maze of wire that existed and in the face of machine guns firing from every trench and nest, lodged one battalion in the main position, now seems an extraordinary feat."
In March 1919 the 27th Division returned to New York and was mustered out of Federal service. The 108th once again became the 3rd New York Infantry, although it was designated the 108th Infantry for a second time in October 1921. In 1925 the 108th adopted a distinctive unit insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
A Distinctive Unit Insignia is a metal heraldic device worn by soldiers in the United States Army. The DUI design is derived from the coat of arms authorized for a unit...
featuring a fasces
Fasces
Fasces are a bundle of wooden sticks with an axe blade emerging from the center, which is an image that traditionally symbolizes summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through unity"...
held by two lions.
World War II
The 108th was next mobilized into Federal service on October 10, 1940. The 27th Division was shipped to Fort McClellan, Alabama.Fort McClellan
Fort McClellan, originally Camp McClellan, was a United States Army post located adjacent to the city of Anniston, Alabama. During World War II, it was one of the largest U.S. Army installations, training an estimated half-million troops...
For over a year, the division took part in training maneuvers across the South. Immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the entire 27th Division transferred to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in order to reinforce the Philippines. The Japanese captured the islands
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
before this could happen, however, and the New Yorkers stayed in California. Ironically, the 108th Infantry would take part in the liberation of the Philippines
Philippines campaign (1944-45)
The Philippines campaign of 1944–45, the Battle of the Philippines 1944–45, or the Liberation of the Philippines was the American and Filipino campaign to defeat and expel the Imperial Japanese forces occupying the Philippines, during World War II. The Japanese Army had overrun all of the...
some three years later.
Composition of the 108th Infantry in 1940
1st Battalion- Co. A: Watertown
- Co. B: Geneva
- Co. C: Syracuse
- Co. D: Oswego
2nd Battalion
- Cos. E, G, and H: Rochester
- Co. F: Medina
3rd Battalion
- Co. I: Auburn
- Co. K: Hornell
- Co. L: Elmira
- Co. M: Ogdensburg
The 27th Division became part of the garrison of Hawaii in April 1942. It was here that the 108th parted ways with the New York Division. An Army-wide reorganization cut divisions from four regiments
Square division
A square division is a designation given to the way military divisions are organized. In a square organization, the division's main body is composed of four regimental elements. Since a regiment could be split into separate battalions for tactical purposes, the natural division within a division...
to three
Triangular division
A triangular division is a designation given to the way divisions are organized. In a triangular organization, the division's main body is composed of three regimental maneuver elements. These regiments may be controlled by a brigade headquarters or directly subordinated to the division commander...
, and the 108th Infantry was transferred to the 40th Infantry Division (California National Guard
California Army National Guard
The California Army National Guard is the land force component of the California National Guard, one of the reserve component United States Army and is part of the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers...
) on September 1, 1942. The 40th Division remained on Hawaii for fourteen more months.
In January 1944 the division landed on the South Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
island of Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
, which had been largely secured
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
by U. S. forces a year earlier. That April they moved to Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester is a headland, in the northwest of the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, at . During World War II, the Japanese captured New Britain, and had driven most of Cape Gloucester's native population out to construct two airfields...
on New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
. This was a more active area
Battle of Cape Gloucester
The Battle of Cape Gloucester was a battle in the Pacific theater of World War II, which took place between late December 1943 and April 1944, on the island of New Britain, part of the Territory of New Guinea....
where the regiments of the 40th conducted combat patrols, since there were still many Japanese troops on the island. As they did on Guadalcanal, however, the men of the 108th found that their most dangerous enemy on Cape Gloucester was not the Japanese Army but the harsh jungle climate.
On November 28th the 40th Infantry Division was concentrated at Borgen Bay to prepare for the invasion
Battle of Luzon
The Battle of Luzon was a land battle fought as part of the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II by the Allied forces of the U.S., its colony The Philippines, and Mexico against forces of the Empire of Japan. The battle resulted in a U.S. and Filipino victory...
of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, the largest and most strategically important of the Philippine Islands. The 108th Regiment was in reserve on S-Day--January 9, 1945, when the Sixth Army landed at Lingayen Gulf
Invasion of Lingayen Gulf
The Liberation of Lingayen Gulf was an Allied amphibious operation in the Philippines during World War II. In the early morning of 9 January 1945, an Allied force commanded by Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf began approaching the shores of Lingayen. U.S...
. Japanese resistance intensified as the GIs moved south toward Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, and the 108th fought brutal battles for possession of Fort Stotsenburg
Fort Stotsenburg
Fort Stotsenburg, during the World War II era, was the location of the Philippine Department's 26th Cavalry Regiment, 86th Field Artillery Regiment, and 88th Field Artillery Regiment; along with the Philippine Division's 23rd and 24th Field Artillery Regiments...
, Clark Field, Hill 7, and Sacobia Ridge. The 43rd Infantry Division relieved the 40th on March 2. Six days later the 108th was detached and sent to the island of Leyte
Leyte Island
Leyte is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines.The island measures about 180 km north-south and about 65 km at its widest point. In the north it nearly joins Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 km in some places...
to assist in mopping up defeated
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
Japanese forces. The regiment's 2nd Battalion also cleared Masbate
Masbate
Masbate is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. Its capital is Masbate City and consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.-History:...
and other local islands. On Leyte and Masbate the 108th lost an estimated 19 troops killed and 49 wounded.
On May 10 the 108th joined in the battle for Mindanao
Battle of Mindanao
The Battle of Mindanao was fought by United States forces and allied Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese from 10 March-15 August 1945 at Mindanao island in the Philippine Archipelago, in a series of actions officially designated as Operation VICTOR V, and part of the campaign for the...
. The regiment made an unopposed landing at Macajalar Bay
Macajalar Bay
Macajalar Bay is a deep water bay located north of the Province of Misamis Oriental on the Mindanao island, southern part the Philippines. Cagayan de Oro City, being the regional center of Northern Mindanao , is located in one of its deep-water harbor...
and moved south to clear the Sayre Highway
Sayre Highway
Sayre Highway is the portion of the Philippine national highway that starts from Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City to Kabacan, North Cotabato. It traverses the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and North Cotabato....
with the assistance of Filipino guerillas. From May 15-18 the 108th fought strongely-emplaced Japanese defenders at the Magima River canyon. The regiment linked up with the 31st Infantry Division coming up from the south on May 23. Securing the Sayre Highway cost the 108th about 15 men killed and 100 wounded.(Non-combat casualties from battle fatigue
Combat stress reaction
Combat stress reaction , in the past commonly known as shell shock or battle fatigue, is a range of behaviours resulting from the stress of battle which decrease the combatant's fighting efficiency. The most common symptoms are fatigue, slower reaction times, indecision, disconnection from one's...
, sickness, and heat exhaustion were probably heavier.) The troops then moved east to combat more Japanese resistance. After six weeks of enduring thick jungle, heavy rains, knee-deep mud, and tall, razor-sharp grass--not to mention Japanese resistance--the 108th rejoined the 40th Division on Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
.
With the war against Japan nearly over
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
, the 108th Infantry was sent to garrison Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
on June 29. Their homeward journey began on March 15, 1946, when they left Korea bound for San Francisco. The regiment arrived on April 5 and was deactivated two days later at Camp Stoneman
Camp Stoneman
Camp Stoneman was a United States Army military facility located in Pittsburg, California. It served as a major staging area for the Army in World War II and the Korean War....
. The National Guardsmen of the 108th Infantry had been some of the first U. S. troops to deploy after Pearl Harbor, and the 108th was one of the last Guard units to return to the continental United States. Its long, grueling service in the Pacific Theater
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
earned the 108th Infantry four campaign streamers
Campaign streamer
Campaign streamers are decorations attached to military flags to recognize particular achievements or events of a military unit or service. Attached to the headpiece of the assigned flag, the streamer often is an inscribed ribbon with the name and date denoting participation in a particular battle,...
and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Recent history
Only the 2nd Battalion of the 108th Infantry is still in existence. In recent years it has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The battalion played an instrumental role in the Battle of SamarraSamarra
Sāmarrā is a city in Iraq. It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Salah ad-Din Governorate, north of Baghdad and, in 2003, had an estimated population of 348,700....
in October, 2004. 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, headquartered in Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
The 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an Infantry brigade of the New York Army National Guard, one of the brigades that make up the 42nd Infantry Division.-Mission:...
and has companies and detachments stationed in ten Upstate New York towns.
See also
- Frank Gaffney (Medal of Honor)Frank Gaffney (Medal of Honor)Frank J. Gaffney was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the World War I. He was considered "the second bravest man in the U. S. Army."-Biography:...
- 27th Infantry Division (United States)
- 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)The 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an Infantry brigade of the New York Army National Guard, one of the brigades that make up the 42nd Infantry Division.-Mission:...
- 40th Infantry Division (United States)