US Army 37th Infantry "Buckeye" Division Returns to the United States

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Date: Thursday, 6 December 1945
Place: San Francisco, California, United States of America
Photographer: Unknown

The 37th Infantry (Ohio National Guard "Buckeye") Division returns to the United States on USS General William Mitchell (AP-114). The 37th arrived in the Fiji Islands in June 1942 to fortify the islands against possible invasion. The division moved to Guadalcanal in April 1943. Two battalions joined the Marines on Munda, New Georgia, July 5, 1943, while the remainder of the division landed, July 22, and assisted the 43d Infantry Division in taking Munda airfield in heavy fighting. After mopping up on New Georgia, the division returned to Guadalcanal, September 9, 1943, for rest and rehabilitation. Relieving Marine units on Bougainville, November 8-19, 1943, the 37th took over the perimeter defense of the area, constructed roads and bridges and engaged in extensive patrol activity. In March 1944, two Japanese divisions made eight major attacks, but division lines held. In April patrols cleared the Laruma Valley area of major enemy units. The division remained on Bougainville and trained for the Luzon campaign. Landing with the Sixth Army on the beaches of Lingayen Gulf, January 9, 1945, the 37th raced inland against slight resistance to Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg where fierce resistance delayed capture of those objectives until January 31. The division continued to drive to Manila against small delaying forces, and entered the city's outskirts, February 4. Upon crossing the Pasig River, it ran into bitter Japanese opposition, and it took heavy street fighting to clear the city by March 3, 1945. After garrison duty in Manila, March 5-26, the division shifted to the hills of Northwest Luzon, where heavy fighting culminated in the capture of Baguio on April 26. Rest and rehabilitation during May were followed by action in June in the Cagayan Valley against deteriorating Japanese resistance. With the end of hostilities on August 15, the division was concerned with the collection and processing of prisoners of war, leaving November 1945 for the States and demobilization on December 18. 

Source:

http://www.libraries.wright.edu/special/ddn_archive/2011/11/10/veterans-day/

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1149