126th Infantry Regiment (126th IR)
32nd Infantry Division (32nd ID) "Red Arrow Division"
U.S. Army (USA)

Background
The 126th Infantry Regiment (126th IR) was a National Guard unit in the 32nd Infantry Division (32nd ID) "Red Arrow Division" in the U.S. Army. During World War II, the 126th Infantry Regiment had a over 2,600 dead and missing in the Pacific during 1942–1945. During World War II, the 126th Infantry Regiment had a total of 92 soldiers Missing In Action (MIA). Of that total, 68 were MIA between November 1942–January 1943 during the Battle of Buna. The other 76 went missing in other locations.

Wartime History
During 1942, the 126th Infantry Regiment (less company E) temporary bivouac along Bootless Inlet before moving to Kapa Kapa (Gabagaba).

Kapa Kapa Trail
On October 6, 1942 2nd Battalion began walking on the Kapa Kapa Trail over the mountains of New Guinea bound for the north coast. The soldiers were expected to march two miles per day in arduous terrain and conditions. On Between October 20, 1942 to October 28, 1942 exhusted soldiers reached Jaure. By late October 1942 to early November 1942 126th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion under the command of Major Smith arrived at Bofu and were forced to wait Bofu and Natunga until November 12, 1942 for supplies to be air dropped to them before continuing their advance to the north coast.

Huggins Road Block
On November 30, 1942 by 6:30pm 126th Infantry Regiment's I Company under the command of 1st Lt. Hershel G. Horton plus the Anti-Tank Company under the command of Captain John Shirley reached a blocking position on the trail to Sanananda and established a road block to prevent the Japanese from advancing and enveloping their forward positions.

On December 1, 1942 at Huggins Road Block, while outside the perimeter 1st Lt. Hershel G. Horton C.O. I Company was wounded. On December 2, 1942 Sgt Bernard F. Clarke and another Sergeant volunteered to go outside the lines to rescue Horton. They reached him and returned with a medical aid while attempting to return to friendly lines, they were spotted by the Japanese who opened fire with riles and threw hand grenades, fatally wounding Sgt Bernard F. Clarke, 36155586 (died December 9, 1942) and Sgt. Leland L. Sharp (died December 28, 1942). Learning of the losses, higher headquarters forbid any further attempts to rescue him. Meanwhile, Horton kept a diary until he died December 15, 1942.

The Triangle
On December 17, 1942 the 126th Infantry Regiment attacked The Triangle and found concealed bunkers made of coconut logs and trenches. Two days later, the attack halted due to stiff resistance and fierce crossfire. Due to the American casualties sustained, the area was dubbed "Bloody Triangle" or "Bloody Triangle" by the Americans and bypassed on December 20, 1942.

Saidor
On January 2, 1944 the 126th Regimental Combat Team (126th RCT) under the command of General Martin with the 120th Field Artillery plus other elements land at Sawoi (Suai) without opposition and capture the Saidor and Saidor Airfield area.

Leyte
On December 5, 1944 during a Japanese counter attack Pfc William A. McWhorter earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously on Leyte.

References
U.S. Army in World War II The War in the Pacific Victory in Papua Chapter XIX The Victory pages 369-378
Red Arrow Across the Pacific: The Thirty-Second Infantry Division during World War II (2024) by Mark D. Van Ells

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