In mid-November XXIV Corps had the 32nd Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lt. Col. John M. Finn in western Leyte, and 7th Division remnants securing Burauen, but the arrival of the 11th Airborne Division on 22 November allowed Gen. Hodge to move the rest of the 7th Division to the west. On the night of 23 November the 32nd Infantry suddenly came under attack by the Japanese 26th Division along the Palanas River. The regiment's 2nd Battalion was pushed back off Hill 918 to a defensive position along the highway together with their artillery base, which consisted of Batteries A and B of the 49th Field Artillery Battalion and Battery B of the USMC 11th 155mm Gun Battalion. Gen. Arnold earlier had placed the 2nd Battalion, 184th Infantry, as a reserve for just such a counterattack. Also, a platoon of tanks from the 767th Tank Battalion was stationed at Damulaan. Battery C, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, arrived the next day. That night, the night of 24 November, Japanese attacks put four pieces of Battery B out of action. The 2nd Battalion, 184th Infantry was then released by Gen. Arnold to Col. Finn. The defensive battle for 'Shoestring Ridge', so named to reflect the supply situation, continued until 29 November, when US troops were able to take the offensive. During their failed attacks of the previous days, the Japanese under the command of Col. Saito had committed six infantry battalions.
in mid-november xxiv corps had the 32nd infantry regiment under the command of lt col john m finn in western leyte and 7th division remnants securing burauen but the arrival of the 11th airborne division on 22 november allowed gen hodge to move the rest of the 7th division to the west on the night of 23 november the 32nd infantry suddenly came under attack by the japanese 26th division along the palanas river the regiment's 2nd battalion was pushed back off hill 918 to a defensive position along the highway together with their artillery base which consisted of batteries a and b of the 49th field artillery battalion and battery b of the usmc 11th 155mm gun battalion gen arnold earlier had placed the 2nd battalion 184th infantry as a reserve for just such a counterattack also a platoon of tanks from the 767th tank battalion was stationed at damulaan battery c 57th field artillery battalion arrived the next day that night the night of 24 november japanese attacks put four pieces of battery b out of action the 2nd battalion 184th infantry was then released by gen arnold to col finn the defensive battle for 'shoestring ridge' so named to reflect the supply situation continued until 29 november when us troops were able to take the offensive during their failed attacks of the previous days the japanese under the command of col saito had committed six infantry battalions