▁Through out ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁and ▁into ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁the ▁regiment ▁conducted ▁thorough ▁training ▁at ▁Fort ▁Lewis ▁until ▁they ▁moved ▁to ▁the ▁M oj ave ▁Des ert ▁in ▁early ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁ ▁They ▁b iv ou ack ed ▁near ▁the ▁C li pper ▁Mountains ▁and , ▁along ▁with ▁other ▁soldiers ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Division , ▁had ▁the ▁distinction ▁of ▁being ▁the ▁first ▁inf antry ▁trained ▁in ▁desert ▁war fare ▁without ▁motor ized ▁vehicles . ▁ ▁Origin ally ▁trained ▁in ▁the ▁desert ▁for ▁combat ▁in ▁North ▁Africa , ▁the ▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁Regiment , ▁with ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Division , ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁duty ▁in ▁the ▁Pacific . ▁ ▁After ▁ 1 0 ▁weeks ▁of ▁training ▁in ▁the ▁M oj ave , ▁the ▁regiment ▁left ▁for ▁Camp ▁St on eman , ▁CA , ▁near ▁San ▁Francisco . ▁ ▁The ▁regiment ▁depart ed ▁California ▁on ▁ 7 ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁and ▁arrived ▁in ▁Hawai i ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁July , ▁where ▁the ▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁was ▁station ed ▁on ▁the ▁island ▁of ▁K au ai . ▁ ▁The ▁regiment ▁was ▁sl ated ▁for ▁a ▁nine - month ▁tour ▁of ▁duty ▁as ▁K au ai ' s ▁defence ▁force , ▁taking ▁over ▁from ▁elements ▁of ▁the ▁ 4 0 th ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁California ▁Army ▁National ▁Guard , ▁and ▁began ▁training . ▁ ▁They