The battalion was inducted into federal service at Coeur d’Alene as an element of the 41st Division on 16 September 1940. It arrived 23 September 1940 at Camp Murray, Washington and moved 20 March 1941 to Fort Lewis, Washington. Ordered to the Pacific the regiment, less one battalion, embarked on 22 November 1941 at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation for the Philippines. With the Pensacola Convoy the regiment was diverted to Australia arriving Brisbane on 22 December where, after reloading, the "Holbrook" departed with the regiment on 28 December in a failed attempt to make the Philippines to reinforce forces there getting no further than Darwin where the regiment was broken up. One battalion and the headquarters unit were ordered to defend Kupang, Timor sailing in convoy 15 February from Darwin aboard and but had to turn back to Darwin under heavy air attack. The convoy arrived Darwin on 18 February, the day before the port was heavily bombed and many ships lost.