Page 67 - history-of-military-units-in-columbia-county-fl-(1970)-robert-gary-shields

History of Military Units in Columbia County, FL (1970) Robert Gary Shields

WWII CITATION TO SECOND BATTALION, 124th INFANTRY

The Second Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding

performance of duty in action against the enemy on Mindanao, Philippine
Islands, during the periorl 22 April to 27 June 1945. The battalion landed
at Cotabato, Philippine Islands, on 22’April 1945 and secured the area.

Contact was established and forces committed in direction of Sarangani Bay
and Nuro. The next day, the battalion was withdrawn from this action and

directed to spearhead an infantry division advancing into the interior. This
operation was aimed at securing the Sayre Highway, thereby cutting the main
supply route and line of communications between the two enemy strongholds at

Davao in the south and Cagayan in the north. The battalion embarked from
Cotabato on the enening of 26 April 1945 in J.CM's for Fort Pikit. The

shortage of craft prevented the movement of organic vehicles and all weapons
had to be hand carried. The battalion made a forced march of 16 miles
immediately upon landing, the advance elements crossing the Pulangi River at

its junction with the Sayre Highway during the night. A bridgehead was
established and contact with the enemy was made at once. The entire battalion

closed into the bridgehead at 1500 the same day, moving under adverse weather
conditions and over difficult terrain. After only 3 hours rest, reports were
received of an enemy force advancing south to the critical junction of the

Sayre Highway and Highway #1 near Kabacan, endangering the entire operation.
At 1800, the battalion moved north to contact and destroy the enemy. At
2300, after advancing 10 miles, the battalion met strong^and determined

opposition in a night fire fight. The engagement lasted through the night,
the entire battalion being committed to halt the advance of a strong, fanatica
force determined to destroy the critical bridgehead across the Pulangi River.

The enemy was stopped and driven to’the north by 0530, completely dis-
organized. The battalion had been without sleep for 3 nights, and had made

forced marches by land and. overwater movement by boat over a distance of 71 v
miles. Nevertheless, the reorganized, and at O8OO7 initiated a relentless
pursuit of the enemy for an additional 5 miles. A captured field order

identified the opposing force as a reinforced battalion supported by 75-mm
guns. The enemy was completely disorganized from the fight and the aggressiv
pursuit of the battalion, and were destroyed in detail. The battalion was

relieved on 29 April 1945 after 7 days of continuous fighting and marching
without rest and moved in support of the lead battalion. Three days later,

they were committed to the east on the Kibawe-Talomo Trail, the route of
www.LakeCityHistory.com LCH-UUID: 3F68DC49-DCC7-4643-87B9-3E8A717875EF