163rd Infantry Regiment (163rd IR)
41st Infantry Division (41st ID) "The Jungleers"
U.S. Army (USA)

Background
On May 1, 1922 reorganized as the 163rd Infantry Regiment (163rd IR) replacing the 2nd Infantry, Montana National Guard organized the year before. Company B formed in Poplar, Montana, entirely with Native American personnel from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. On January 20, 1924 the regimental headquarters was federally recognized at Bozeman, Montana. On March 9, 1925 moved to Helena, Montana. On December 29, 1939 moves to Billings, Montana. During October 1935, elements were called up for disaster relief duties in Helena after an earthquake until November 1935

On September 16, 1940 the 163rd Infantry Regiment was federalized in the U.S. Army. The regiment had a total of 1,735 personnel stationed at various locations across Montana. 1st Battalion at Sidney, Poplar, Bozeman, Harlowton and Whitehall. 2nd Battalion at Culbertson/Wolf Point, Kalispell, Glasgow and Billings. 3rd Battalion at Great Falls, Lewistown, Billings and Chinook, with medical at Whitefish and the service company at Bozeman. On September 23, 1940 arrives at Camp Murray in Washington State. On March 20, 1941 moves to Fort Lewis in Washington State.

Wartime History
On December 20, 1942 advance elements of 163d Inf (1st Bn and HQ), U.S. 91st Div, are flown from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield and Popondetta Airfield. On January 2, 1943 1st Bn and Hq, U.S. 163d Inf, take responsibility for Huggins Roadblock and Kano Roadblock on trail to Sanananda and began relieving Australian Army soldiers over the next several days. The Japanese counterattacked twice and the 163rd suffered their first casualties with six Killed In Action (KIA). On January 9, 1943 1st Lt. Harold R. Fisk led his platoon was killed 300 yards northeast of the Kano Roadblock. Later, his partially cannibalized body was recovered and Kano was renamed Fisk Roadblock in his honor.

2-4 January. Huggins is renamed Musket. On January 7, 1943 2d Bn, 163d Inf, arrives on Sanananda front. On January 8, 1943 163d Inf begins offensive to clear road to Sanananda: 1st Bn attacks 2 enemy perimeters located between Musket and Kano, making limited progress. On January 9, 1943 while 1st Bn, 163d Inf, continues efforts to reduce the 2 enemy pockets between Musket and Kano, 2d Bn establishes position, called Rankin after Capt Pinkney R. Rankin, astride Killerton Trail west of Musket, isolating enemy in track junction. On January 12, 1943 in support of the Allied advance by 18th Brig, with M3 Stuart tanks on Buna Airfield, 163d Inf supports assault with feints from Musket and Rankin.


On April 22, 1944 Operation Persecution the 163rd lands at Blue Beach at Tadji on the north coast of New Guinea and captures Tadji Airfield.

On May 15, 1944 "Operation Straight Line" amphibious landing on Wakde by 163rd Regimental Combat Team (163rd RCT) with the 3rd Engineer Special Brigade, 593rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment (593rd EBSR). After three days of bitter fighting and moping up, the island was declared secured on May 18, 1944. The battle resulted in 40 KIA and 107 WIA Americans. Nearly all Japanese were killed including 759 KIA. Four Japanese POWs were captured.

On April 9, 1945 at 8:45am three destroyers with U.S. Marine Corps air cover support the U.S. Army, 41st Infantry Division (41st ID), 163rd Regimental Combat Team (163rd RCT) less the 2nd Battalion amphibious landing on the north coast of Jolo Island and met no resistance and occupy Jolo Town. By April 11, 1945 they had advanced to the south to clear Japanese off the heights south and southwest of Jolo Town and secure Jolo Airfield.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Colonel Jens Doe (June 1942–June 18, 1944)

References
Also listed as the 163d Infantry Regiment.
ABMC (ABMC) - 1Lt Harold R Fisk
FindAGrave - 1Lt Harold R Fisk (grave photos)
Daily Montana "Sanananda: Montana's 163rd Infantry in the Jungle Sanananda: Montana's 163rd Infantry in the Jungle Hell of New Guinea Hell of New Guinea" (2025) by Colonel (Retired) John B. Driscoll

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