HISTORY

FROM

1 Jan 1942

 

OF

 

 

COMPANY "E", 503d PARACHUTE BATTALION

TO

15 July 1944

 

1 Jan 1942

Nov 3, 1942. Assigned Strength: 7 Off. 119 EM.

1 May 1942

Capt Falcon assigned and assumed Command.

19iAug 1942

Co. departed Cairns, Queensland for Port Moresby, New Guinea by transport plane.

5 Sept 1943

Co. jumped in combat at Nadzab, New Guinea which is located in the Markham Valley. Friendly troops: 503d Prcht Inf. Two days later units of the 7th Australian AIF landed in the Nadzab air strip to take up the fight down the Markham road to Lae. Enemy forces: Units of the 20th Japanese Division and active forces. Assigned strength: 110 EM, 6 Off.

10 Sept 1943

 

1st Lt Millican fately injured by one of our grenade booby-traps. 

16 Sept 1943

Co. returned to Fort Moresby by Air.

27 Oct 1943

1st Lt Smith assigned to Company and assumed Command.

11 Feb 1944

Company left Port Moresby, New Guinea an USS Robert J. Walker for a rest period in Australia.

 

17 Feb 1944

Company disembarked at Dalgity [Dalgetty's] Dock, Brisbane, Australia, and moved to Camp Cable.

5 April 1944

Embarked from Brets [Bretts] Wharf, Brisbane on the USAT Sea Cat.

11 April 1944

Arrived at Port Moresby harbor 1600 hr left 1700 hr.

12 April 1944

Anchored at Milne Bay 1700 hr and left 1700 hr 13 April, 1944.

14 April 1944

 

Co arrived and disembarked at Oro Bay, New Guinea. The company moved to Cape Suddest area to set up camp.

5 June 1944

Departed from Dobodura, New Guinea 06o0 hr by plane and arrived at CycloDrome, Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea 1100 hr. Company took up bivouach in Eberly Plantation

15 June 1944

The company moved from Eberly Plantation by LCT to Hollekany and set up bivouach at Cape Kussoc.

21 June 1944

The Company was movedto Nemo Village to send out combat patrol. The patrol found no live Japs, only dead ones lying along the tracks. We had no casualties.

30 June 1944

Company moved from Cape Kussoc to Eberly Plantation.

9 July 1944

Company left Cyclops Drome (Hollandia) by air 0754 hr and landed on Biak Island 0954 hr.

10 July 1944

2nd Bn departed from Biak Island on four LC2's.

11 July 1944

 

2nd Bn disembarked at Namber Drome, Noemfoor Island. Namber Drome was captured intact and it appeared to be a good coral runway about five thousand feet long.

12 July 1944

The Bn left Namber Drama for Inasi Village by foot on the Inasi track. About a mile out our Company contacted an enemy Carrying party. We killed seven and had no casualties.

13 July 1945

The Bn reached Inasi. D,E and F Co's moved in to Mandori Mission.

14 July 1944

Co. patrolled Cape Insomekon. No enemy contacted.

15 July 1944

 

Co. left Mandori Mission and arrived at Inasi.

 

 

 

HISTORY

FROM

17 July 1944

 

OF

 

 

COMPANY "E", 503d PARACHUTE BATTALION

TO

27 Aug 1944

   

17 July 1944

Co "E" less first Platoon plus one M.G. section from Hq. Co. left Inaai to contact 1st Bn on hill 670. Contacted enemy outpost of ,six Jape and Juki machine gun in vicinity of hill 440. Enemy, killedt4 Our casualitiess Pvt Anker (Hq Co. ) KIA; Lt. Abbott, Pvt Munoz, Pvt Kelly, WIA.

18 July 1944

Co. moved to Inasi trail because Pvt Munoz was badly in need of blood plasma. On the way, three Japs were taken prisoner.

19 July 1944

Company moved back to Inasi.

21 July 1944

First Platoon left Inasi in 3-day patrol. Second Platoon Patroled to Sandao and returned: no opposition. Third Platoon returned to Inasi from Mandori.

22 July 1944

Third Platoon left Inasi to contact first Platoon include had contacted enemy. 1000 yds out hit heavy opposition, apparently a Jap H M G Co. Enemy casualties; undetermined. Our casualties Pvt Finsterwald, Pvt Toupal, KIA.

23 July 1944

First Platoon returned to Inasi. Second platoon left to reinforce third platoon. Second and third platoon returned to Inasi.

24 July 1944

Two plat on with Bn staff moved out of Inasi and made contact with the enemy. Enemy casualties, undetermined.

25 July 1944

Two ambush parties moved out, contacted enemy and returned to base.

29 July 1944

One platoon left to set ambush, contacted enemy and returned.

3l July 1944

One platoon left area to patrol enemy bivouach areas, contacted enemy and returned.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

 

 

HISTORY

FROM

20 September 1944

 

OF

 

 

COMPANY "E", 503d PARACHUTE BATTALION

TO

9 March 1945

 

 

20 September

Company returned to Regimental Combat 503d Area.

30 September

Company inspected by Lieutenant General Krueger.

10 November

Company embarked from Noemfoor Island on APA "CUSTER" at KAMIRI Airdrome area.

18 November

Company disembarked at TERAGONA, LEYTE, PI.

11 December

The regiment broke camp, and loaded on LCI(L) 746. Ws then moved to an assembly area off TACLOBAN, LEYTE.

15 December

Our RCT made the initial landing on MINDORO, PI. "E" Company led the attack and were the first troops in the principality municipality of SAN JOSE.

17 December

The Second Batallion has the perimeter position along the BUGSANGA RIVER which is next to the airstrip under construction.

15 January 45

The RCT now is assembled lin a camp area.

16 February

The second and third BN's jumped on the famous Corregidor Island, P.I.. When the second Bn. jumped we were under small arms fire and Knee Mortar fire. Our casualties were:
Five men MIA-   S/Sgt's Gulsvick, Ledoux
                     Pfc's   High, Musolino, and Rovolis and 21 men injured on the jump on the worst jumpfield in history.

18 February

The first platoon on patrol to James Ravine met heavy resistance from rifle and MG fire coming from the underground barracks. Pfc's Segobia, Redfield, and Redding KIA.

23 February

The company took over the job of cleaning out the area between Searchlight and Wheeler Points. Although we could not clean out all the resistance because of an ammunition shortage, we killed approximately 120 Japs. 2nd Lt. Ball, Pfc's Robinson and Jandros KIA. Pfc Brown, W.A. was wounded and later died of those wounds.

8 March

Company loaded on LCI(L) 645.

9 March

We disembarked at San Jose, Mindoro, and moved back to old camp area.

8 March

The 503d Parachute Regiment received very flattering official commendations. The first commendation was from Leutenant General Krueger and and endorsed by Major General Hall. General Hall of XI Corp also sent e commendation of his own. Lieutenant General Eichelberger indorsed the latter commendation. According to General Hall, our outfit received the Presidential Citation although we have not seen the official order as yet.

 

 

 

HISTORY

FROM

7 April 1945

 

OF

 

 

COMPANY "E", 503d PARACHUTE BATTALION

TO

9 July 1945

   
 

 

7 April

Company broke camp and departed for San Jose Airstrip. Emplaned and traveled to Iloilo, Panay. Loaded on LCI and moved to Palu Pandan, Negros.

8 April

Moved by truck to Patog River area, on NW side of Island. Company is being held in reserve for 3rd BN.

13 April

Company with a company of Guriellas attchd. moved to Sinaypanan. One squad of 3rd Platt. on patrol encountered small group of Nips. Pfc. Kirkpatrick KIA, Pfc. Walter WIA.

20 April

Company rejoined  BN. 1st Platt. Attacked Hill 458. Met heavy resistance 4 men WIA, 14 Nips KIA.

    April

Received enemy Mortar fire. Pfc. Surwald, Pfc. Jandras, and Pfc. Showstead KIA. 4 men WIA.

25 April

Company assaulted hill 500yds. to the front of Hill 458. S/Sgt. Wilson KIA. 3 men WIA.

26 April

Pre-dawn attack by Nips. 4.attchd. personnel wounded. Nips killed numbered 23.

27 April

One man WIA by sniper fire. 2Nips K.I.A.

28 April

Company assaulted 900 yds. to the front, Sgt. Butch and P.F.C. Perrault KIA. 6men W.I.A. Estimated 30 Nips Killed.

29 April

S/Sgt Holder K.I.A. and 1 man W.I.A. by sniper fire.

5 May

Company moved forward 500 yde,recieved enemy mortar fire 01 Douglas L.I.A. 2 men W.I.A.

10 May

Patrol from 1st Platt. patrolled Malago River,two Nips KIA., two Nips capt.

12 May

Company moved by truck by way of Silay and Bacolod to the right flank of 169th Inf.Regt. 20 mile east of Bacolod.

12 May
to
9 June

Company did patrol work in vicinity of Hills 4055 and  3055. Pvt. Dahill and Pvt. Sullivan K.I.A. 10 Men W.I.A.

10 June

Company moved by truck to a point 10 miles eest of Talisay into a bivouac area.

17 June

Company moved by truck to Talisay and bivouaced in a Hacienda owned by the Sugar Central.

20 June

Company moved by truck to Fabrica at the North end of Island, and set up camp in house owned by Insular Lumber Co. We are being held here as security for the lumber mill which is being repaired by the engineers.

 

 
CAMPAIGNS PARTICIPATED IN BY CO. "E"

 
 
NAME DURATION PURPOSE AUTHORITY
(Unofficial)
       
New Guinea 23 Jan 43 Recapturing N.G. USAFFE HQ.
Dutch, N.G. 30 April 44 Recapturing of
Dutch N.G.
 
Philippine   Liberation of
the Philippine Is.
 

 

********************************************************************************************

NAME PLACE DATES CAMPAIGNS ENEMY FORCES RESULTS
           
Nadzab New Guinea 5 Sept 43-16 Sept 43 N.G. 20th Jap Div other units Capture of Nadzab airdrome
Hollikong Dutch N.G. 29 May 44-25 June 44 Dutch N.G. Remements Patrol duties
Noemfoor Isl"   " "

26 June 44-31 Aug 44

 

  "     " " 219 Inf Reg
222  "    "
  8 Indep Bn
MG Co.
47 Airdrome Bn
Capture of Noemfoor Isl
Mindoro Philippine Is. 15 Dec 44-31 Jan 45 Philippine Miscelanious ground plus much air corp and some Navy forces Liberation of San Jose and estab. an important air base
Corregidor  "     " l6 Feb-2 Mar 45

   "       "

6000 unident.
Japanese Imperial Marine units.
Annilation of troops

 

[remainder of page is blank...indicating preparation of this document occurred prior to the Negros Campaign - Ed.]

 

 

 

   

 

 

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Last Updated: 06-12-09