[Homer_J_Simpson]

On 23 December, the 127TH and 128TH Infantry dispatched patrols westward and at 0800 on Christmas Eve both regiments began their arduous march toward the coast. Along the way, they met little effective opposition from the small groups of Japanese they ran into. However, the torrential rain, thick vegetation, and steep hills were a formidable obstacle.

“The commanding officer of the 127TH Infantry [COL Stofft] said of the hills encountered on 24 December:
“The morning was spent in climbing to the top of a mountain ridge. The climbing was difficult but as we later found out, the descent was much worse. The trail led almost perpendicular down the side. After reaching the bottom, another ridge was encountered, this almost straight up, everyone had to use hand holds to pull themselves up. All in all there were seven ridges from the bottom of the first descent to the first possible bivouac area.” (Cannon 356)

32nd Division history in World War II

[Homer_J_Simpson]

“We are not the forgotten front.” (1:07) Lord Mountbatten on BBC

Lord Louis Mountbatten