322nd Infantry Regiment

PVT Henry E. Reid and SGT Frank J. Becker applying compress to head of PVT Ned Simmons

First Aid Class, Company L, 322nd Infantry (Feb 1944)

PFC Julice Dixon Plunkett, 34278617, served in the I&R Platoon, HQ & HQ CO, 322nd Infantry Regiment.

He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, PTO Medal, and Purple Heart (for wounds received in action on 23 September 1944, Angaur Island). He was the only enlisted member of HQ & HQ Company, 322nd Infantry, to be wounded in action. This is not to be confused with the HQ Company of the Battalions. Photograph from Kristen Ables Stevens (granddaughter).

PVT Lloyd G. Chinn, 37188288, KIA

PVT Chinn served in Company F, 322nd Infantry Regiment. He was KIA on 13 October 1944 on Angaur Island. He was shot in the head by Japanese sniper fire and died almost instantly. The company was on the west side of Suicide Hill trying to take the ridge and get into the bowl from the west. His awards include: CIB, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, PTO Medal with arrowhead and one Bronze Campaign Star.
Photograph is from Find a Grave (Elton Gibb)

PFC Donald R. Amicon, 35621950, KIA

PFC Amicon served in Company L, 322nd Infantry Regiment. He enlisted on 15 January 1943. He was KIA on 30 September 1944 on Angaur Island. His platoon had been ordered to attack a heavily fortified position in the Northwest portion of the island and had reached their objective when the enemy launched a determined counterattack. PFC Amicon, a BAR man, went into position firing at the enemy until he was hit in head and instantly killed. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. PFC Amicon, an automatic rifleman, was accompanying his platoon in an attack against a strong position held by the enemy. The attack was halted by heavy fire from enemy automatic weapons and rifles and subsequently the enemy counterattacked. With complete disregard for his personal safety, PFC Amicon held his position and fired on the advancing enemy until, in the hand to hand combat, he was killed by a grenade.

Photograph from HonorStates website.

PFC Leon A. Vaughn, 37187351, KIA

PFC Vaughn served in Company D, 322nd Infantry Regiment. On October 18, 1944 on Angaur Island, his company was fighting through a maze of jagged coral cliffs which required slow movement and the protection of the advance scouts to keep large groups of men from being ambushed by the enemy. PFC Vaughn, acting on his own initiative, climbed a high crag in order to observe for his platoon. During this hazardous mission he was killed by an enemy sniper. The advance which his action aided was shortly afterward able to destroy the last enemy resistance.

1st LT James H. Rodgers, O1302352, DOW

1st LT Rodgers was wounded 6 October and died 14 October from wounded received while sitting in the Battalion CP that was located on the west rim of the bowel near the Northwest Corner of Angaur Island. LT Rogers had just finished checking the Battalion Communication for the night defense and was repeating conditions to the Battalion CO when a sniper fired one shot from the ridge north of his location hitting LT Rogers in the back, penetrating his right lung. First Aid was given and he was sent through the Battalion Aid Station to a Field Hospital. 7 October he was transferred to a hospital ship for movement to a base hospital. During this trip LT. Rodgers died and was buried at sea.

TSGT Vernon E. Bertrand, 16072247, KIA

TSGT Bertrand served in Company L, 322nd Infantry Regiment. We was KIA on Angaur Island, 30 September 1944. As acting platoon leader, he was ordered to attack a heavily fortified enemy position in the Northwest portion of the island. In the process of the attack his platoon was completely cut in two by withering enemy machine gun and sniper fire, this action cutting off and pinning down the forward elements of the platoon. In the initial action TSGT Bertrand, who was with the forward elements of his platoon, received a wound in the shoulder. He attempted to attack the hill silencing one machine gun, after he was hit but was killed by another bullet in the head.