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ion of the 124th in the battles along the Driniumor River sion's activities on Morotai concerned defeating Japa-
earned it a Distinguished Unit Citation, the first of two nese reinforcements sent to the island at night. While
awarded battalions of the 124th. the Morotai operation continued, elements of the Divi-
 While the 124th and attached support units fought sion were used to secure American positions in the
the Japanese at Aitape, the remainder of the Division Mapia and Asia Islands, and at Sansapor on the ex-
helped establish beachheads and defensive perimeters treme tip of Netherlands New Guinea.
at Maffin Bay, Netherlands New Guinea and on Wakde The greatest, and as it proved, the final combat test
Island off the coast. After the 124th had rejoined it, for the Division came in the invasion and months-long
the Division was employed in assaulting, securing, battle to liberate Mindanao, the southernmost of the
and defending Morotai Island in the Halmahera Group, Philippine Islands. The first elements of the 31st Divi-
northwest of New Guinea. sion reached Mindanao in late April, 1945, with the en-
 As the Japanese had expected the Americans to tire Division actively engaged within the following two
land on the principal island of Halmahera itself and had weeks. Its mission was to drive the Japanese back into
disposed their defenses accordingly, much of the Divi- the interior of the island, preventing them from inter-



 173