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Note: WWII service number 37-243-872 served Nov. 27, 1942 to Dec. 20, 1945 New Guinea, Luzon 6th Infantry 63rd Regiment 3rd Battalion Company M internet by Thomas E. Price the 6th Infantry holds the unchallenged record for consecutive days of continuous combat in the Pacific Theater, 219 days. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- wikipedia info World War II Activated: 12 October 1939 Overseas: 21 July 1943 Campaigns: Luzon, New Guinea Days of combat: 306 Distinguished Unit Citations: 7 Awards: MH-2, DSC-10, DSM-3, SS-697, LM-18, DFC-3, SM-94, BSM-3, 797, AM-45. Subrdinate Units: 1st Infantry Regiment 20th Infantry Regiment 63d Infantry Regiment 1st Field Artillery Battalion 51st Field Artillery Battalion 53rd Field Artillery Battalion 80th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) 6th Signal Company 706th Ordnance Company 6th Quartermaster Company 6th Reconnaissance Troop 6th Engineer Battalion 6th Medical Battalion 6th Counter Intelligence Detachment Nickname: "Sightseeing Sixth" Inactivated: 10 January 1949 in Korea ============================================ this is a booklet found at www.6thinfantry.com concerning the 63rd Mabuhay Forward The complete Regimental Coat of Arms of the 63rd Infantry is shown on the cover. The Shield was approved for the Regiment by the War Department not long after the end of World War I. Recommendations have been made to the War Department for the approval of the Crest and Motto which are based on the fighting record of the 63rd Infantry in World War II. The Crest, consisting of a Malayan tiger at bay symbolizes the Regiment’s bitterest fighting, when troops of the Japanese 14th Area Army under the command of General Tomayuki Yamashita, commonly known as the “Tiger of Malaya,” were engaged and defeated throughout Luzon, Philippine Islands. At the time of the cease fire order on 15 August 1945, the 63rd infantry was actively driving towards General Yamashita’s Headquarters in the Mountain Province of Northern Luzon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Motto consists of the word “Mabuhay” in blue letters on a silver scroll. The word “ Mabuhay” is a Tagalog word meaning “Long Live.” It was spontaneously adopted as a victory cry by the men of the Regiment while fighting with the help of Filipino guerrillas during the Luzon Campaign. Regimental Day On 12 July 1945, troops of the 63rd Infantry Regiment captured Kiangan, high in the wild and mountainous Ifugao Province in Northern Luzon, P.I. The capture of the town climaxed a sustained 30 days drive against bitter Japanese Resistance. Kiangan was the last great enemy stronghold to fall on Luzon, and for months previously had been the Headquarters of General Yamashito, Supreme Japanese Commander in the Philippines. To the men of the 63rd Infantry, the fall of Kiangan marked the end of the blody, but victorious campaign, to Yamashita it spelled final and utter defeat. In order to commemorate the Regiment’s brilliant combat record on Luzon, the twelfth day of July was designated as Regimental Day. Brief History of the 63rd Infantry Regiment (1 June 1917 to 1 January 1946) Let us go back to the year 1917. The 63rd Infantry, a World War I unit of the 11th Division was organized at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, on 1 June, 1917. A cadre from the 12th Infantry formed the nucleus of the new Regiment. It did not see duty overseas during the First World War, and after seeing some service in California and New York, was subsequently demobilized at Plattsburg Barracks, New York, on 31 July 1922. On 6 May 1941, a cadre consisting of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry, arrived at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- and became the reactivated 63rd Infantry on 1 June 1941. Two months later, the Regiment participated in the Louisiana maneuvers, returning to Fort Leonard Wood in early October. When World War II was declared, the 63rd Infantry furnished two full Regimental cadres to the expanding Army of the United States. In September 1942, the Regiment left for two months of maneuvers in Tennessee. In December 1942, a permanent change of station was made to the Desert Training Center, located in the Great Imperial Desert of California. After a few months of desert training, the Regiment underwent an intensive and rigorous training schedule prior to going overseas. On 21 July 1943, the 63rd Infantry left California for the Island of Oahu Territory of Hawaii. The Regiment stayed 6 months in Hawaii. While there, each man went through a vigorous course in jungle tactics at the Jungle Training School which the Regiment constructed. This school drew a commendation from the War Department. The Regiment embarked at Honolulu Harbor on 18 January 1944. For the next twelve days the Regiment was alone on the Pacific Ocean aboard the S. S. Monterey. On 30 January, two destroyer escorts jointed the ship and conducted her through the Coral Sea to a safe anchorage in Milne Bay, New Guinea. On 8 June, the Regiment moved again, this time into the combat zone of Maffin Bay, Dutch New Guinea - near Wadke Island. It was at this time that the names of Lone Tree Hill, Hill 225 and Hill 265 were engraved in the history of the 63rd. It was here that the Regiment assisted in the defeat of the crack 36th Japanese Infantry Division. As a reward for their exemplary conduct in action against the enemy, the men and officers of the Regiment were awarded the Combat Infantry Badge. On 16 July, the 63rd Infantry was relieved by the 167th Infantry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a brief rest, the Regiment embarked for Sansapor , Dutch New Guinea. For one month the doughboys patrolled the beaches and the interior, successfully cutting off elements of the Jap 35th Infantry Division attempting to retreat from Manokwari to Serong. The Regiment then underwent a rigorous training program for the M-1 operation - namely the invasion of Luzon, the largest of the Philippine Islands. The 63rd Infantry in I Corps reserve landed on White Beach, Lingayen Gulf, on 10 January 1945 and assembled at Alacan, in the initial struggle to enlarge the army beachhead, the Regiment got its first taste of enemy artillery and fought one of the bloodiest actions of the Pacific War. After capturing the key heights southeast of Rosario, the Regimental Commander received the following from Major General Innis (Bull) Swift, Commanding General I Corps. “Please express to each officer and each enlisted man of your command my sincere personal appreciation for the excellent manner in which they have performed a most difficult task. Your precarious advance over open terrain and the scaling of hill masses, commanded by enemy forces on the summits, in the face of intense small arm, mortar and artillery fire, was a magnificent display of courage and determination. The aggressiveness, skill, and gallantry displayed deserve only the highest praise. I know that you are proud of your command and that each individual in the command is proud of it and determined that in the future the high standards which they have attained in this operation will be exceed, if that is possible.” The 6 Infantry Division commander at this time, Major General Edwin D. Patrick, who was later killed during the Shimbu Line fighting had this to say. “ The aggressive and determined spirit shown by the officers and men of the 63rd are worthy of high praise and testify to the fine spirit (sic) de corps of our troops. I too wish to add my commendation for your gallant action.” After the savage battle for Rosario during which the --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- bulk of the Jap 58th IMB and 23rd Infantry Division were wiped out, the Regiment took part in the Munoz-Abar II-San Jose battle which was climaxed by the complete annihilation of a reinforced tank Regiment of the Jap 2nd Armored Division. The Regiment then went on to capture Rizal and drive east to Baler Bay on the eastern coast of Luzon, to complete the isolation of Jap troops in Northern Luzon from those to the south. After a brief rest, the Regiment moved in February to the vicinity of Novaliches, northeast of Manila, in preparation for the next operation. East of the Regiment lay the Sierra Madre Mountains. Here Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita, “Tiger of Malaya”, had set up an elaborate defense, later known as the Shimbu Line. From 21 February to the end of April, the Regiment hammered the Shimbu Line, capturing Montalban, Burgos, Keams Knob, and Hill 400 in the center of the line, and holding them despite constant artillery and heavy mortar fire and fanatical counter-attacks by a desperate foe. The Regiment also captured the key strong hold of Mount Metaba and the bloody crest of Objectives “A”, “B” and “X”, and assisted in the capture of the great hill mass, Mount Paoawagan, Another laurel was added to the wreath of the 63rd when the newspapers released their headlines “63rd Infantry cracks vaunted Shimbu Line.” On 30 April, the Regiment was relieved in this sector and given the mission of mopping up in the hills west of Fort Stetsenburg and Clark Field, on Corregidor Island, and on the Bataan Peninsula. After a breathing spell of comparatively light action, the Regiment was assigned to the mission of taking Kiangan, high in the mountains of Northern Luzon, where General Yamashita, Supreme Commander of the Philippines, was making his last stand. On 14 June, leading elements of the Regiment left the town of Bagabag in the Cagayan Valley, moving north along Highway ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 and crossing the Lamut River. Determined resistance was encountered during the advance into the mountains. Early in July, the Regiment reached Lanes Ridge, the enemy’s main defensive position on the road to Kiangan. This razor-back ridge was taken only after a prolonged and savage hand to hand struggle, during which the remainder of the combat effectiveness of the Jap 105th Infantry Division were eliminated. Here is what the Commanding General of the 6th Infantry Division had to say. “Your Regiment has just completed a difficult task - the seizure of Kiangan which until recently was the headquarters of the Japanese 14th Army commanded by General Yamashita, Supreme Commander of the Japanese troops in the Philippines. The 25 mile drive of the 63rd Infantry from the Lamut River to Kiangan was made in 26 days over torturous mountain terrain against a tenacious, and determined foe who died to the last man. The fortitude, determination and skill displayed by your command during this advance deserves high praise. I therefore wish to commend the officers and men of the 63rd infantry for their gallant action and to express my appreciation for a job well done.” Signed, Charles E. Hurdis, Major General, U. S. Army. On 15 August, 1945, the World War II ended; that day found elements of the 63rd Infantry still up in the front line. The bloody Luzon campaign was over. The 63rd had earned a fighting reputation and had a made a glorious combat record. The cost of these laurels were not light, however, as the Regiment had almost 1400 battle casualties on Luzon, including 303 dead. Early in September, the Regiment moved again, this time to San Fernando, La Union, Philippine Islands, where preparations for the move to Korea were started. On 5 October, loading began, and on 10 October, the Regiment sailed from San Fernando Harbor. During the voyage, the Regiment had a few -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- days of rough seas caused by the typhoon that hit, Okinawa, 14 October 1945. On 18 October, the Regiment landed at Inchon, Korea, and immediately entrained for the trip to Cholla Pukto Province where the “Fighting 63rd” began its first occupation mission. The entire province of Cholla Pukto (North) was assigned to the 63rd as its zone of occupation. The 1st Battalion took over the Iri-Chonju-Chinan-Namwon sector, the 2nd Battalion, the Chongup-Kochang-Puan sector, and the 3rd Battalion, the Kunsan-Kumje sector. Initially the Regimental Command Post was established at Kunsan, but was later moved to Chonju, the capital of the province. Anti-tank and Cannon Companies and the Regimental Medical Detachment also were stationed at Kunsan, while Service Company set up their installations at Iri. First priority mission of the Regiment was to disarm and evacuate to Japan all Japanese army and navy forces in its zone. This important job was done rapidly and efficiently and was completed by November. Thousands of Jap Troops, including the bulk of the 150th and 160th Jap Infantry Divisions were disarmed and evacuated from the Province. At the same time the Regiment took over the job of guarding vast stores of Japanese army supplies and equipment, including everything from airplane engines to horse shoe nails. After inventorying these stores, the 63rd began the difficult task of destroying all war like materials and converting to civilian use all supplies and equipment suitable for peacetime pursuits. Another important mission assigned the Regiment was the handling of all displaced persons in its zone. By 10 December 1945, 98% of the 30,000 Japanese civilians residing in the Regimental zone had been evacuated to Japan. The Regiment also fell heir to the task of guarding the large amount of Japanese private and government-owned property in the area, ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pending its final disposition. Early in December, the port of Kunsan was designated as a main port of entry for Korean repatriates, returning from Japan and China, and by 31 December, operations were in full swing, over 35,000 Koreans having been processed through the port up to that date. Probably the most difficult mission assigned the Regiment in Korea was the establishment of Military Government. For this purpose, specially trained Military Government units were attached to the 63rd Infantry to operate the government of the Province and its 14 Guns (Counties) which totaled 1,674,692 in population. By the end of the year, Military Government with the backing of the 63rd was firmly established in Cholla North Province and the Regiment was well on the way towards the goal of preparing the Korean people for self-government. UNIT CITATIONS By Paragraph 5 War Department GO 11, dated 30 January 1946, the 2nd Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy on Lanes Ridge (on road to Kiangan) Luzon, Philippine Islands, 23 June-7 July 1945. By Paragraph 7 War Department GO 45 dated 15 May 1946, the 3rd Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy northeast of Montalban, Rizal Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 23 February-1 March 1945. The Commanding General, 6th Infantry Division, cited other units of the 63rd Infantry for distinguished performance of duty in the actions listed below, and has recommended to the War Department that these units be awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unit Cited Action 63rd Infantry Regiment Lingayen Gulf - Rosario Luzon, P.I., 14-29 January 1945 1st Battalion Mt. Mataba (Shimbu Line), Luzon, P.I., I 10-17 April 1945 Decorations Members of the Regiment earned the following awards during World War II: Distinguished Service Cross 2 Silver Star 160 Oak Leaf Cluster to Silver Star 4 Bronze Star Medal 762 Oak Leaf Cluster to Bronze Star Medal 42 Soldiers Medal 2 Air Medal 2 In Memoriam The Regiment suffered the following battle casualties in World War II Dead Wounded New Guinea 30 119 Luzon, P.I. 303 1087 333 1206 May those brave souls buried on New Guinea and Luzon, and at sea, rest forever in peace. Finis Prepared and Reproduced by 69th Engr. Topo Co. - XXIV Corps --------------------- second marriage to Lola Mae Racy SSI death index First Name: Curtis Middle Name: Last Name: Wingfield Name Suffix: Birth Date: 26 June 1922 Social Security Number: 494-16-3280 Place of Issuance: Missouri Last Residence: Sumter, South Carolina Zip Code of Last Residence: 29150 Death Date: May 1980 Estimated Age at Death: 58
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