The Saber and Scroll
sualties , nearly half their remaining strength . Non-battle casualties suffered from heat exhaustion , sickness , and combat fatigue . The Regimental medical assets could not hope to deal with this massive number of non-battle casualties . No psychologists were available and all the 127 th ’ s Regimental Surgeon seemed to get was exasperation from commanders that so many were sick . Any concerns for the problem were ignored , the Surgeon noting : “ As usual however , no suggestion on how to combat these problems were forthcoming , nor was any credence placed in the explanation of the medical officers immediately concerned with the problem .” 15 The 127 th was mercifully pulled off the line . The 126 th and 128 th Infantry Regiments fared little better . 16
Reinforcements were needed . General Gill asked his immediate superior , I Corps Commander General Innis Swift , for help . Swift ’ s answer was straightforward and simple : “… there were no reinforcements available either in the Corps or in General Krueger ’ s army .” 17 General Gill was infuriated by this situation and the unrealistic expectations heaped upon his men to accomplish their mission as understrength as the 32 nd was , noting :
It ’ s all well and good to sit back and say that ( accomplish the mission without reinforcements ) … But there are casualties other than battle casualties , particularly after a long period of hard fighting and exposure to the elements , to the diseases and all the things that go to reduce the capabilities of fighting men . For example , we had all sorts of dysentery and malaria cases , the weather was bad … Those things contributed a great deal to the lessening of our fighting abilities . 18
The 32 nd did receive replacements as the battle progressed , 238 officers and 6,661 enlisted men , a seemingly impressive number . Those men did not come in bulk and a replacement needs time to be integrated into a unit , especially a green , recent graduate of basic training . That is difficult under normal circumstances , in combat it is foolhardy . 214 officers and 5,747 enlisted men also returned throughout the campaign from the hospital . They were far from stellar upon their return . The Division ’ s AAR even stated these returning men “… should be assigned directly to some service installations .” Between replacements and returning troops you had nearly 13,000 men yet the Division never approached full strength . Losses , especially non-battle casualties , exceeded any returning men . 19
For the campaign to progress Salacsac Pass # 2 , the ravine between Hills 504 and 505 , had to be taken . After Hill 504 was finally secured the 128 th IR attacked Hill 505 . Defended by approximately 1,800 Japanese soldiers it mattered little how much American firepower hit that hill . Every attack was thrown back . Caves and bunkers just gave the defenders too much of an advantage . Assault teams with their bazookas , demolitions , and flamethrowers could never get close enough
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