DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION, F/123

Company F, 123d Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy on Northern Luzon, Philippine Islands. On 22 April 1945, Company F, 123d Infantry Regiment, was assigned the mission of attacking and seizing a high rugged ridge approximately 1,500 yards north of Mt. Lomboy, Mountain Province, Northern Luzon, Philippine Islands. This ridge provided the enemy with a key defensive position on the road to Baguio, and was so located as to place the enemy in a position which enabled them to cut the supply lines of our advancing regiment. Moving out of its position on Mt. Calugong, the men of Company F advanced their way up and down steep slopes and cliffs. By noon, the men were near exhaustion, water was nearly gone, and there was no means of re-supply. At this point, Company F began to encounter enemy resistance, which increased with mounting ferocity as our troops drew closer to the enemy position. Approximately one-third of the company had become casualties from enemy fire. Realizing the supreme importance of their mission, the men of Company F refused to give up and they gallantly continued pushing on toward their objective. With the knowledge of no artillery support available, because of failure of communications, the men of Company F, completely exhausted, pushed to within 300 yards of their objective. Closing with the enemy, the men of Company F completely annihilated the enemy and seized the ridge. That night at 2200, the full fury and power of the Japanese were again turned on Company F, when the enemy launched a vicious counterattack on the company position, and, killing or wounding all our men on the north side of the company's perimeter, succeeded in penetrating our positions. Men rushed from other sections of the perimeter to attempt to fill the gap and, after 3 hours of the bitterest fighting, the enemy was annihilated. Throughout the remainder of the night, the gallant men of Company F clung tenaciously to their positions, despite continued attacks by the enemy. In the morning, the tired men arose from their foxholes and, in a final concerted effort, wiped out the remaining enemy in the areas, thus reopening the supply lines of the adjacent regiment. The determination, unflinching devotion to duty, and superb courage displayed by each man of Company F, 123d Infantry Regiment, contributed immeasurably to the success of operations in Northern Luzon and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces of the United States.

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