The 105th Infantry Regiment, formerly the 2nd New York Infantry was a New York State National Guard Regiment that saw action in a number of conflicts, including the Civil War, the Spanish-America War, the Mexican Border dispute of 1916, World War I, and finally World War II. It was officially re-designated the 105th Infantry in September of 1917. For service in World War II, the Regiment was organized into twelve companies, which initially drew their membership from a number of towns in the capital region. Companies A, C, and D were recruited from Troy. Company B was recruited from Cohoes. Companies E, F, and H were recruited from Schenectady. Companies G, I, K, L, and M were recruited from Amsterdam, Malone, Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs, and Gloversville respectively. Additional regimental troops came from Hoosick Falls, Whitehall, and Saranac Lake.

The 105th was inducted into federal service and assigned to the 27th Infantry Division on October 15th 1940. Following its induction, the Regiment was moved to Fort McClellan, AL. on October 25th 1940. The 106th departed for Hawaii March 10th 1942 and arrived on March 17th 1942. The Regiment’s 3rd Battalion landed on Butaritari Island, the principal island of the Makin Atoll on November 20th 1943. It formed a Special Landings Group, which preceded the main landing craft in amtracs (Amphibious Tanks) and cleared the beaches for the subsequent landing waves. The Battalion fought with the 165th Infantry for the remainder of the battle and on November 24th 1943 left the atoll for Hawaii, where they arrived on December 2nd 1943. The Regiment left Hawaii on May 31st and landed on Saipan on the 17th of June 1944, where it fought with the rest of the 27th Division for the first time. The 105th Regiment was initially responsible for clearing the hilly and well fortified southern point of Saipan, which was later found to have been held by over 1,200 Japanese defenders. Following this, the Regiment joined the rest of the 27th Division and the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions for what would be an extremely bloody assault on Mount Tapotchau, the island’s key defensive position. Near the end of the battle, the 105th also bore the brunt of the largest Banzai charge of the entire war, its 1st and 2nd Battalions killing by actual count 2,295 Japanese. As a result of this grisly fighting, three soldiers of the 105th were posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The 105th was detached to Army Garrison Force 244 on Saipan between the 15th and 30th of July. The 105th arrived at Espiritu Santo on September 4th 1944 for rest and re-supply, and departed on March 25th 1945. The 3rd Battalion assaulted Tsugen Shima off Okinawa on April 10th 1945 to safeguard the landing beaches on Okinawa itself. The 105th landed on Okinawa on April 12th and 13th 1945 and was heavily engaged in an area known as the Kakazu pocket, which centered on a well-fortified ridge system. The Regiment’s action in Okinawa was its last serious duty. On September 12th 1945 the 105th arrived in Japan for garrison duties. It was deactivated on December 12th 1945, following its return to the states.