Major General H.W. Blakeley, USA, Ret., 32d Infantry Division in World War II
On 18 December, the 126TH Infantry was established on a line that ran east of Highway 2. In front of them, units of the 1st Japanese Division held three main positions that formed a line about 800 yards wide and ran from east to west across Highway 2. The first enemy position was atop a north-south ridge along the east side of Highway 2, from which the Japanese could roll hand grenades down onto the road. The second enemy position was on another north-south ridge about 200 yards further east. The third enemy position was a knoll even further to the east.
The 126TH Infantry commenced their assault (after heavy supporting fires from mortars and tanks) at 1010 on a 2 battalion front, 1ST Battalion on the right and 2D Battalion on the left. The 1ST Battalion objective was the ridge on the east side of the road. After some heavy fighting, during which both sides made liberal use of machine guns, grenades and bayonets, the 1ST Battalion was able to advance the 200 yards to the crest of the ridge by about 1230. Although the fight didn't end then and it was 1800 by the time 1ST Battalion had full control of the top of the ridge.
The 2D Battalion, 126TH Infantry, objective was the strong enemy position on the knoll. The dense vegetation allowed them to advance to within 30 yards of the knoll before the Japanese spotted them and opened fire. The 2D Battalion, supported by machine guns and mortars, was able to seize the knoll after 5 hours of bitter combat. Both the 1ST and 2D Battalions established defensive positions for the night, within 50 yards of the Japanese front line. During the day, “The 3D Battalion of the 126TH Infantry moved south along the road and closed the gap between the 126TH and 127TH Infantry Regiments. (Cannon 341)”