Camp area on Morotai

 crossing over the chasm but it would handle only %-ton the town. Battery A was in position at the LINABO cross-
 vehicles and was used to cross light infantry vehicles, roads supporting the 1st Battalion 124th Infantry in its
 Liaison and forward observer party vehicles were put advance on the town of MAGLAMIN, and later moved to
 across with infantry vehicles. MANIGOK.
 On May 1 the 149th FA battalion succeeded in construct- On May 23 the battalion was placed in direct support of
 ing a cable crossing capable of handling 105mm Howitzers the 3rd Battalion 124th Infantry for its advance east from
 and %-ton vehicles, and by 1800 had put four Howitzers, MALAYBALAY to SILAE. May 27 displacement to the
 one ,-ton truck, 11 /4-ton trucks and nine %-ton trailers east was necessary in order to bring SILAE within artillery
 across. During the night the 4.2 Chemical Mortar Company range. Aitrail skirted the foothills of the mountains and
 was put across. At 0600 in the morning the cable broke, lead through a pass into SILAE valley but even tractors
 dropping one 3-ton truck into the gorge. It was soon re- had great difficulty in traversing the route. Heavy rains
 constructed and until May 3 was the only means of get- hampered the advance but after several days of almost
 ting many critically needed supplies and vehicles forward superhuman effort the howitzers of B Battery were ad-
 to the rapidly advancing infantry, in addition to evacuat- vanced far enough to keep within supporting range of the
 ing casualties to the rear. A total of 172 vehicles were put infantry. Ammunition had to be carried by hand and food
 across by the battalion, was dropped by planes. By utilizing the bed of a mountain
 Other destroyed bridges including a large one across the stream which traversed the valley B Battery was advanced
 MULITA River prevented the artillery from going for- far enough forward on June 1 to bring SILAE within
 ward. The Engineers worked night and day but it was May range. The battery continued to fire in support of the in-
 9 before sufficient construction had been completed and fantry until it reached SILAE and was withdrawn on
 the battalion was allowed to move. Despite the efforts of June 21. Five days of ceaseless work were required to get
 the engineers the road was in terrible condition. The bat- the equipment back out but only one ammunition trailer
 talion's heavy loads required almost continuous use of was abandoned. By May 22 all elements had been relieved
 winches. By-passes had been cleared around the many of their tactical mission and the battalion began the con-
 burned and blown up small bridges but additional pioneer- struction of a Camp area with the remainder of the Division
 ing had to be done practically all the way. Finally at mid- Artillery several miles south of MALABAY. On September
night May 11 the Battalion occupied positions in the vicin- 25 a new camp was established in the vicinity of DEL
ity of KITAOTAO. MONTE airstrip in the old Del Monte Pineapple plantation
 At 0730, May 12 (the 8th day of the battle of COLGAN area where the return to the United States was anxiously
WOODS) the battalion resumed direct support of the 124th awaited. During the MINDANAO Campaign 4398 rounds
Infantry. A total of 721 rounds were placed on Jap posi- were expended. There were no casualties.
tions in the woods, dive bombers dropped an additional 50 The battalion left MINDANAO on the Transport U. S. S.
tons of bombs and the infantry launched a final attack, GENERAL OMAR BUNDY, arriving at the Golden Gate
taking the woods without further opposition, on December 19. San Francisco was overflowing with re-
 The 155th Infantry now passed through the 124th to turning troops and personnel remained aboard ship until
continue the advance north and the 149th FA went into December 23 after which they were transported to Camp
general support. Only light and scattered resistance was Stoneman, California, to await transportation to their re-
encountered. By May 22 MALAYBALAY had been secured spective separation centers. The battalion was inactivated
and the battalion, less Battery A, occupied positions near as of midnight December 21.


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