UNIT CITATION
By direction of
the-President under the
provisions of Executive
Order No. 9396 (Sec I,
Bulletin 22, WD, 1943)
superseding Executive
Order-No.-9075 (Sec III,
Bulletin 2, WD, 1942), and
of Section IV, Circular No.
333, WD, 1943, the following
unit is cited by the
Commanding General, United
States Army Forces in the
Far East:
The 503d Parachute Infantry
Regiment, with the following
attached units:
462d Field Artillery
Battalion
3d Battalion, 34th Infantry
Regiment
Company C, 161st Airborne
Engineer Battalion
(Now 161st Airborne Engineer Company)
18th Portable Surgical
Hospital (Reinforced)
3d Platoon; Anti�Tank
Company, 34.th Infantry
Regiment
3d Platoon; Cannon Company,
34th Infantry Regiment
3d Platoon, Company C, 3d
Engineer Battalion
Company A, 34th Infantry
Regiment
3d Platoon; Company C, 24th
Medical Battalion
Detachment, Service Company,
34th Infantry Regiment
Battery A, 950th AAA (AW)
Battalion
174th Ordnance Service
Detachment (Bomb Disposal
Squad)
Detachment; 592d Engineer
Boat and Shore Regiment
Detachment; 98th Signal
Battalion
Detachment; 1st Platoon,
603d Tank Company
Detachment; 592d Joint
Assault Signal Company
Detachment; 6th Support Air
Party
Combat Photo Unit A; GHQ
Signal Section
Combat Photo Unit Q, GHQ
Signal Section
These units, organized as a
task force, distinguished
themselves by extraordinary
heroism and outstanding
performance of duty in
action against the enemy
from 16 to 28 February 1945.
This force was directed to
seize the enemy--held island
fortress of Corregidor, one
of the most difficult
missions of the Pacific War.
A long prepared and
fanatical enemy, strongly
intrenched in numerous
tunnels, caves, dugouts and
crevices, awaited the
assault in commanding and
extensively fortified
positions. The small
dropping area for
parachutists was bordered
extensively by sheer cliffs,
with resultant variable air
currents and eddies; and
previous bombings and naval
gunfire had cut trees and
shrubs close above ground,
creating hazardous stakes
which threatened to impale
descending troops. The
approach by sea, through
shallow water known to be
mined, led to a beach
protected by land mines. At
0830 on 16 February, the
initial assault was made by
parachute drop on terrain
littered with debris and
rubble. Heavy casualties
were sustained. Two hours
later the amphibious
elements advanced by sea
through the mine field to
the beach; and, though many
lives wore lost and much
equipment destroyed by
exploding mines, this
element moved rapidly inland
and under heavy enemy fire
seized Malinta Hill.
Meanwhile,
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