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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Soldiers who served together in battle more than 70 years ago are meeting in Mandan this weekend for an annual reunion.

In February, 1941, the 164th Infantry Regiment, North Dakota Army National Guard, mobilized for what was to be a year of training in Louisiana. By October, 1942, they were making history as the first US Army unit to offensively engage the Japanese and reinforce the Marines at Guadalcanal. 

Current president of the 164th Infantry Association Vern Fetch says the regiment had about 1700 men throughout North Dakota including men from Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Harvey, Lisbon, Carrington, Valley City, Jamestown, Edgeley, and Wahpeton.  

The first casualty of the war for the 164th was a soldier from Grand Forks who was killed by Japanese naval artillery the day the regiment landed on Guadalcanal. 11 days later, the 1st Marine Division was having difficulty defending the line on Edson’s Ridge and requested reinforcements.  Their support came in the form of the 3rd Battalion of the 164th Infantry.

Marine battalion commander Lt. Col. Chesty Puller and the Commander of the 164th Third Battalion, Lt. Col. Robert K. Hall from Jamestown, worked together to place soldiers in foxholes along with Marines to bolster the defense. The 164th helped turn the tide during the second Battle for Henderson Field. 

The second night of this action became known as the Battle of Coffin Corner, so named for the thousands of Japanese infantry killed in the banzai attack on the perimeter. The soldiers earned the respect of the Marines and the Army regiment was awarded the Navy Presidential Unit Citation.  

The North Dakota National Guard’s 188th Army Band will be in Mandan this weekend when members of the 164th Infantry Regiment gather for the unit’s 69th Annual Reunion. The concert starts at 2pm Saturday in Dykshoorn Park.