▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁man ▁to ▁be ▁awarded ▁a ▁combat ▁medal , ▁the ▁Bron ze ▁Star . ▁ ▁S GT ▁Win field ▁Green , ▁later ▁receiving ▁an ▁officer ' s ▁commission , ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁to ▁ear n ▁the ▁Silver ▁Star . ▁Lieutenant ▁Walter ▁R oper , ▁leading ▁a ▁pat rol ▁deep ▁in ▁enemy ▁territory , ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁man ▁in ▁both ▁the ▁regiment ▁and ▁the ▁division ▁to ▁lose ▁his ▁life ▁in ▁combat . ▁ ▁C PL ▁Roy ▁Adams , ▁of ▁the ▁Regiment al ▁Int elligence ▁and ▁Re con na issance ▁Pl ato on , ▁was ▁cred ited ▁with ▁being ▁the ▁first ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Regiment ▁to ▁kill ▁a ▁Japanese ▁soldier . ▁Also , ▁the ▁first ▁men ▁in ▁the ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Division ▁to ▁receive ▁Pur ple ▁He arts ▁were ▁with ▁Task ▁Force ▁T orn ado ▁at ▁Ma ff in ▁Bay . ▁ ▁Its ▁mission ▁ful filled , ▁the ▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁was ▁rel ieved ▁by ▁elements ▁of ▁the ▁ 9 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁Division . ▁ ▁All ▁strateg ic ▁materials ▁and ▁constru ctions ▁were ▁destroyed ▁before ▁they ▁depart ed , ▁to ▁prevent ▁anything ▁falling ▁into ▁enemy ▁hands . ▁ ▁The ▁Regiment ▁left ▁Ma ff in ▁Bay ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁joined ▁other ▁elements ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Division ▁en ▁route , ▁and ▁depart ed ▁for ▁Lu zon ▁in ▁the ▁Philippines . ▁ ▁Lu zon ▁Camp aign ▁The ▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁land ed ▁at ▁L ing