As part of a piecemeal transfer of the Americal Division, the 182d was deployed to combat in the Battle of Guadalcanal on 12 November 1942, where the regiment's 3rd Battalion participated in an operation to capture the Japanese defensive works atop the Sea Horse, a prominent terrain feature on the island. Maintaining contact with elements of other U.S. Army regiments in the assault, the 3rd Battalion began its ascent, and by 30 December was in action against Japanese forces atop the Sea Horse. The fighting was so intense that some of the Americans could not be removed after being killed, and were buried where they fell. In 2008, the remains of Lt. Raymond S. Woods of the 182nd Infantry Regiment, who was killed in action on 30 December 1942 in fighting atop the Sea Horse Ridge, were located and transferred to JPAC. The 182d later fought in the Bougainville campaign, the Northern Solomons, and later in the Battle of Leyte.