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Discover Our Legacy
History of the 43rd Infantry Division, 169th Infantry Regiment From Mobilization to Munda and Luzon, 1941–1945 The 169th Infantry Regiment was a Connecticut National Guard regiment assigned to the 43rd Infantry Division, known as the “Winged Victory Division.” The 43rd was made up largely of National Guard soldiers from Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The 169th and 102nd Infantry Regiments formed the Connecticut portion of the division’s old 85th Brigade, with Division Headquarters located in Hartford, Connecticut. 1941 — Federal Service and Training Begins On February 24, 1941, the 43rd Infantry Division was ordered into federal service. At the time, the call-up was originally expected to last one year, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the division remained on active duty for the duration of the war. The division first trained at Camp Blanding, Florida, where the men began the hard process of changing from peacetime National Guardsmen into wartime soldiers. The 169th Infantry, filled with Connecticut men, trained in basic infantry skills, weapons handling, field discipline, physical conditioning, and large-unit maneuvers. The men were preparing for war before many of them knew where that war would take them. Later in 1941, the division also took part in large training exercises, including maneuver training in the South. These exercises were meant to toughen the men, test officers and NCOs, and prepare the regiment for modern combat. 1942 — Reorganization and Movement West In February 1942, the 43rd Infantry Division was reorganized under the Army’s “triangular division” structure. The older brigade system was abolished, artillery regiments were broken into battalions, and the division was reshaped around three infantry regiments. The 102nd Infantry was detached, leaving the 43rd built around the 103rd, 169th, and 172nd Infantry Regiments. The division trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and later moved to Fort Ord, California, to prepare for overseas deployment. From Fort Ord, the division shipped out for the South Pacific. The 43rd arrived in New Zealand in October 1942, where the men continued intensive training before moving closer to the combat zone. Late 1942–Early 1943 — New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Guadalcanal After reaching New Zealand, the 43rd continued training and preparation for jungle warfare. In November 1942, the division moved on to New Caledonia. This period was critical because the men were being prepared for the conditions they would soon face: jungle terrain, oppressive heat, disease, mud, poor trails, and an enemy skilled in night infiltration and defensive warfare. By February 1943, the division had moved to Guadalcanal, which served as a staging area for future operations in the Solomon Islands. From there, the division moved to the Russell Islands, where it continued jungle and combat training. 1943 — Operation TOENAILS and the New Georgia Campaign The next major operation was the invasion of the New Georgia island group in the Central Solomons. This operation was code-named Operation TOENAILS. Its purpose was to seize key Japanese-held positions, especially Munda Airfield, which the Japanese had built on New Georgia. Capturing Munda would give Allied forces an important air base for the continued drive up the Solomons toward Bougainville and ultimately toward Rabaul. The U.S. Army Center of Military History describes Operation TOENAILS as beginning on June 30, 1943, when Admiral Halsey’s forces landed at several points in the New Georgia group. The plan involved taking Rendova, Munda, Enogai, Segi, Viru, and Wickham Anchorage, with the 43rd Infantry Division serving as the major ground force for the operation. June 30, 1943 — Rendova and the First 169th Landings On June 30, 1943, the Western Force began the Rendova operation. Before the main landing, two companies of the 169th Infantry landed on two small islands guarding the passage through the coral reef leading toward the future New Georgia landing area. This was part of the opening move toward Munda. The Rendova landing succeeded, but the conditions were miserable. Rain turned roads into mud, supplies became mixed on the beach, vehicles bogged down, and Japanese artillery and air attacks soon struck the beachhead. A Japanese air attack on July 2 killed 30 men and wounded more than 200. July 2, 1943 — Landing on New Georgia The 43rd Infantry Division landed on the southern shore of New Georgia on July 2, 1943, while other Army and Marine forces landed elsewhere on the island. The advance inland quickly became a nightmare. The terrain was dense jungle, the trails were poor, and Japanese resistance was fierce. The heat, disease, exhaustion, and repeated night attacks wore down the men. The 169th Infantry was thrown into some of the hardest early fighting. Japanese night infiltration caused confusion and fear in the dark jungle. One official report about a night attack against the 43rd Division’s 169th Infantry described confusion, close-in fighting, blind grenade throwing, and American casualties caused in the chaos of darkness. This was the brutal reality of Munda: not open-field warfare, but a slow, exhausting fight through jungle, mud, snipers, bunkers, coral-reinforced positions, and sleepless nights. July 1943 — The Drive on Munda Bogged Down The initial drive toward Munda fell behind schedule. The 43rd Division was new to combat, and the 169th paid dearly in fatigue, disease, and casualties. The Japanese used the jungle to their advantage, launching night attacks, infiltrating American lines, and occupying strong defensive positions. By mid-July, the advance had slowed badly. General Oscar Griswold of XIV Corps arrived and recognized that the men needed rest, better supply, and better coordination before the attack could continue successfully. July 25–August 5, 1943 — Final Assault on Munda Airfield A renewed attack began on July 25, 1943. By this point, the 43rd Division was supported by elements of the 25th and 37th Infantry Divisions, Marine tanks, artillery, air strikes, and naval gunfire. The Japanese defenses were extremely tough, often built from coconut logs and coral, with bunkers, tunnels, pillboxes, and carefully concealed firing positions. The Americans slowly improved their coordination. Infantry, tanks, flamethrowers, artillery, and mortars began working together more effectively. The green soldiers who had landed in early July were becoming combat veterans. On August 3, American troops reached and encircled the airfield perimeter. On August 4, Bibilo Hill fell. On August 5, 1943, American forces overran Munda, with 43rd Division infantry killing or driving the remaining Japanese from bunkers, tunnels, and pillboxes. General Wing reported, “Munda is yours at 1410 today.” The 6,000-foot runway was operational within two weeks and became one of the most heavily used airfields in the Solomons. August–September 1943 — Baanga and Arundel The fall of Munda did not end the campaign. Japanese forces remained on nearby islands, including Baanga and Arundel. On August 11, 1943, the 169th Infantry moved onto Baanga, where Japanese 120mm guns had been shelling Munda Point. Japanese resistance was strong, and the 172nd Infantry was also committed. The two regiments spent ten days clearing the southern part of Baanga, suffering 52 killed, 110 wounded, and 486 nonbattle casualties. The 169th later joined operations on Arundel, where the terrain and Japanese resistance again proved extremely difficult. One 43rd Division battalion commander later described fighting on Arundel as “the most bitter combat of the New Georgia campaign.” Late 1943–1944 — Rest, Replacements, and New Guinea After the New Georgia campaign, the 43rd returned to New Zealand in December 1943 and January 1944 for rest, refit, replacements, and further training. The men had been through a savage introduction to jungle combat. In July 1944, the division moved into the New Guinea campaign at Aitape, helping prevent Japanese forces from reinforcing along the Drinimour River. This campaign helped prepare the division for the coming invasion of the Philippines. 1945 — Luzon and the Return to the Philippines On January 9, 1945, the 43rd Infantry Division landed at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, as part of the American return to the Philippines. The 169th Infantry fought on the left flank of the 43rd Division’s advance. The terrain of Luzon was very different from New Georgia but no less deadly. Instead of jungle trails and coconut-log bunkers, the regiment faced ridges, open slopes, caves, tunnels, artillery, machine guns, and deeply dug Japanese defenses. In January 1945, the 43rd Division was ordered to secure the junction of Routes 3 and 11, an important road network on Sixth Army’s northern flank. General Leonard F. Wing directed the 103rd and 169th Infantry Regiments to drive north along Route 3 from Pozorrubio. The 169th fought for key terrain including Mt. Alava, Hill 355, Question Mark Hill, and Benchmark Hill. On January 18–19, the 2nd Battalion, 169th Infantry, was hit hard by Japanese fire and counterattack. By January 20, the battalion had only about 650 effectives left from a landing strength of over 1,000 men. Its casualties on January 18–19 were about 35 killed and 165 wounded, with heat also taking a heavy toll. The regiment captured Mt. Alava on January 20–21, then turned toward Hill 355, making slow and costly gains. By January 24, the 169th had cleared most of the hill and killed nearly 500 Japanese defenders from the 1st Battalion, 64th Infantry and attached units. By the end of January, both the 103rd and 169th had been badly reduced by combat, heat, and the difficulty of attacking exposed hills under Japanese fire. The official Army history notes that each regiment’s infantry battalions were down to little more than half strength and badly needed rest and rehabilitation. Legacy From 1941 to 1945, the men of the 169th Infantry went from Connecticut armories to Florida training fields, from New Zealand and New Caledonia to Guadalcanal, New Georgia, New Guinea, Luzon, and finally Japan. They endured jungle warfare, disease, mud, heat, night attacks, artillery, fortified ridges, and some of the hardest fighting of the Pacific War. The 43rd Infantry Division suffered heavy losses during its wartime service: 1,561 killed in action and 6,049 wounded in action. The division earned a proud combat record across the Pacific and became one of the first American divisions to occupy Japan after the surrender. For the Connecticut men of the 169th Infantry Regiment, the road from Camp Blanding to Munda and Luzon was one of sacrifice, endurance, and duty. Their story remains a vital part of Connecticut military history and the legacy we work to preserve today. Honor the Past. Educate the Future.
Our Story
The 43rd Infantry Division, known as the “Winged Victory Division,” was a National Guard formation made up largely of citizen-soldiers from New England, including Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island. Federalized in 1941, the division trained in the United States before deploying to the Pacific Theater in late 1942. There, it faced some of the most unforgiving conditions of the war—thick jungle, relentless heat, disease, and a determined enemy—earning its reputation through perseverance rather than headlines. A central part of the division’s story is the 169th Infantry Regiment, a Connecticut National Guard unit with deep local roots. The 169th saw intense combat during the New Georgia Campaign in 1943, playing a major role in the hard-fought advance toward and capture of Munda Airfield. Fighting along narrow jungle trails and entrenched enemy positions, the regiment demonstrated determination and discipline under extreme conditions. Today, we portray the soldiers of the 169th Infantry—ordinary men from Connecticut who endured extraordinary hardship and helped drive the Allied advance across the South Pacific through courage, teamwork, and resolve.
Campaigns
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Battles
Bravery on Display
Our campaigns aim to bring historical battles to life through carefully curated narratives. Each campaign tells a unique story, offering readers a glimpse into the challenges faced during wartime.
Honors
Recognizing Valor
Join us in honoring the brave soldiers who demonstrated exceptional valor and sacrifice. Our tributes cover a wide range of achievements, paying homage to the heroes of our division.
Commemorations
Remembering Sacrifice
Participate in our commemorations to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by soldiers. These events are designed to remember the fallen and honor their contributions to the Allied advance.
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A Glimpse Into the Past
Explore Our Legacy
Immerse yourself in the rich history of our division. Plan a visit to discover our campaigns, honor the brave soldiers, and participate in commemorations.
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