41st INFANTRY DIVISION - Jungleers

Activated 16 Sep 1940  •  Entered Combat 2 Jan 1943  •  Days of Combat 380  •  Casualties 4,260

DIVISION CHRONICLE

The 41st Infantry Division arrived in Australia, 7 April 1942, and underwent intensive training. The 163d Regiment entered the struggle for the defense of Port Moresby, New Guinea, at Dobadura, 2 January 1943, and fought continuously along the Sanananda track until the 22d. A period of patrolling and training followed while elements of the Regiment advanced against stiff resistance to the Kumisi River in February. The 163d left for Australia, 15 July 1943. The 162d Regiment relieved the 163d in the Sanananda-Killerton-Gona area and the outpost area at the mouth of the Kumisi River, February 1943, leapfrogged along the coast in the Morobe area, and fought the long Salamaua campaign, 29 June 1943 to 12 September 1943. On 22 April 1944, the 163d Regiment landed at Aitape while the remainder of the Division came ashore at Humboldt Bay near Hollandia. Hollandia and the Cyclops and Sentani Airdromes fell after ineffectual resistance, and the Division patrolled and moppedup until relieved on 4 May. The 163d landed against slight opposition at Arara, 17 May, and consolidated the Arara and Toem area. Wakde Island was taken, 1820 May. Biak Island was invaded, 27 May, and a period of harsh jungle fighting followed. Elements landed at Korim Bay and Wardo, 17 August, to prevent an enemy escape, and the Division was occupied with patrols and training until 8 February 1945. On that date, it arrived at Mindoro, Philippine Islands. On 28 February, the 186th landed on Palawan Island, completing the occupation by 8 March. The rest of the 41st landed at Zamboanga, Mindanao, 10 March, against light initial resistance. The enemy fought fiercely until opposition was dissipated early in April. Elements took Basilan Island unopposed, 16 to 30 March, Sanga-Sanga, 2 April, and Jolo, 9 April. While elements fought northwest of Davao, the rest of the Division continued patrolling and mopping up activities in the Southern Philippines until VJday. Occupational duty followed in Japan until inactivation.