1st Infantry Regiment (United States)
| 1st Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
War in Afghanistan | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | 1st Bn – LTC Thomas M. Bischof 2nd Bn – LTC John "Rocky" Rhodes |
| Notable commanders | Josiah Harmar Arthur St. Clair James Wilkinson Zachary Taylor William Weigel Benjamin A. Poore |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
| U.S. Infantry Regiments | ||||
|
The 1st Infantry Regiment is a
History
Origins
On 3 March 1791, Congress added to the Army "The Second Regiment of Infantry" from which today's First Infantry draws its heritage. In September of that year, elements of it and the original
Early history
In 1792, Congress created the
In the War of 1812, the 2nd Infantry Regiment as well as the 7th and 44th Infantry Regiments, fought in the southern theater to include the Battle of New Orleans with General Andrew Jackson. This gives the regiment campaign credit for the War of 1812.
First Indian War period
The 2nd Infantry was consolidated May–October 1815 with the 3rd and 7th Infantry (both constituted 12 April 1808), and 44th Infantry (constituted 29 January 1813) to form the 1st Infantry Regiment. In the ensuing years the regiment was primarily concerned with Indian conflicts and the 1st was involved in the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Second Seminole War from 1839 to 1842. During this time the regiment was commanded by many, now famous commanders including, Colonel Zachary Taylor, who would later become the 12th President of the United States and Second Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, who would become the President of the Confederate States in the American Civil War.
War with Mexico
When War broke out with Mexico in 1846, the 1st Infantry Regiment was sent across the border with General
Second Indian War period
Following the
Civil War
After escaping from rebel forces in Texas the regiment returned to the Mid-west and fought in the
Third Indian War period
After the Civil War the regiment was sent West to fight the Indians once again. The 1st Infantry was consolidated in April 1869 with the 43d Infantry Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps (constituted 21 September 1865) and consolidated unit designated as the 1st Infantry Regiment. 1st Infantry Regiment campaigned against the Sioux in the 1870s and 1890s and against the Apache, led by Geronimo, from 1882 to 1886.
One member of the regiment was awarded the
After the end of the Indian wars the regiment was occupied with quelling
Spanish–American War
War was declared with Spain in 1898 following the sinking of the
Philippine–American War
In 1900, following occupation duty in Cuba, the regiment was preparing for shipment to China to participate in the
Subsequently, the regiment was redeployed to garrison duties in Oahu, Hawaii and commanded by Colonel George K. McGunnegle.[3]
World War I
1st Infantry Regiment was assigned on 11 September 1918 to the 13th Division at Fort Lewis. 13th ID never left Fort Lewis, and demobilized there on 8 March 1919. 1st IR was relieved on 8 March 1919 from assignment to the 13th Division and resumed separate regiment status. The regiment was again assigned 27 July 1921, this time to the 2nd Division, which was headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, and assigned to the U.S. VIII Corps.
World War II
6th Infantry Division (1942–1945) | |
|---|---|
| Parent unit | Camp Young billeting area from 1942-12-10. The regiment then staged at Camp San Luis Obispo, California on 1943-03-23.
The regiment departed from the San Francisco, California Port of Embarkation on 1943-09-19, and arrived in Hawaii on 1943-09-26.
The 1st IR departed Hawaii on 1944-01-26, and arrived at New Guinea Campaign .
1st IR departed Milne Bay on 1944-06-01, and arrived at Toem on 1944-06-14. 1st IR assaulted Sansapor on 1944-07-30, and left New Guinea on 1944-12-26 with the end of the New Guinea Campaign taking place on 1944-12-31.
The 1st IR won a Presidential Unit Citation for its action at Milne Bay .
1st IR assaulted Luzon Campaign .
1st IR moved to Sixth Army Reserve status from 1945-02-10 to 1945-02-23, when they returned to the Luzon Campaign .
1st IR attached to 38th Infantry Division from 1945-04-28 to 1945-05-01, and then was attached to the XI Corps from 1945-06-10 to 1945-06-25, when they returned to 6th Infantry Division Control. The Luzon Campaign concluded on 1945-07-04. 1st IR was located at Philippine Islands on 1945-08-14. They then moved to Korea on 1945-10-24, which they Occupied through 1949, with garrisons in Taegu and Pusan.
Cold WarKorean War and reactivationOn 10 January 1949, 1st IR was inactivated in Korea, and then was reactivated on 4 October 1950 at Fort Ord, California as a training regiment for units being sent to the fight in Korea. On 3 April 1956, the regiment was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division, and then was assigned on 15 May 1956 to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. On 15 May 1958 the regiment was reorganized under the Combat Arms Regimental System as HHC, 1st Battle Group, 1st Infantry Regiment. In 1960, the 1st Battle Group, 1st Infantry was reorganized under a concept that provided sufficient tactics instructors in the permanent party for continuity, but called for outside augmentation for the summer training program. This left the battle group with a Headquarters, Headquarters and Training Company, Service Company, Airborne Detachment, the 2nd Aviation Detachment, the USMA Band, Detachment 1 and 2 United States Army Hospital, and saw the attachment of the 50th Engineer Battalion (Construction) and the 57th Military Police Company. The old Military Police Detachment personnel formed the nucleus of the newly attached 57th Military Police Company. On 16 May 1961, the mission of providing tactical instruction for the Corps of Cadets along with the personnel involved, was transferred to a newly created Office of Military Instruction in the Department of Tactics. All enlisted personnel remained assigned to the battle group. On 1 February 1962, Service Company was eliminated and its personnel absorbed into Headquarters Company. On 1 January 1965, the 1st Battle Group, 1st Infantry was redesigned as the 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry. With the exception of transferring tactical instruction to the Office of Military Instruction (now DMI) in 1961, its mission was essentially unchanged. The 2nd Battalion was then assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia .
Vietnam WarIn 1966, the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Vietnam with the Kentucky. The battalions at Fort Campbell were relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 21 July 1969.
The 11th Infantry Brigade returned home in 1971, at which time 3rd Battalion was deactivated. On 11 April 1972 the 2nd Battalion was flown into Danang to provide base security. On 12 April 1972 approximately 50 men from Company C, 2nd Battalion refused to go on a combat patrol in the hills west of Phu Bai, but eventually undertook the patrol.[4] The 2nd Battalion commander Lieutenant colonel Frederick P. Mitchell blamed television newsmen and journalists for inciting the combat refusal.[5]
The 196th Light Infantry Brigade was the last combat brigade to leave Vietnam in June 1972. Following its tour of duty in Vietnam the 2nd Battalion was sent to Fort Polk , Louisiana, where it remained until inactivation in 1994.
1st Infantry soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam:
Recent history (1994–present)ReactivationOn 16 December 1994 the 2nd Battalion was reactivated at Fort Wainwright as part of the 6th Infantry Division (Light), which was reduced in size and reflagged as the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) in April 1998. Iraq WarIn August 2005 2nd Battalion was deployed, along with the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry.[7]
War in AfghanistanThe battalion was reactivated on 17 April 2007 as part of the 5th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis. On 17 February 2009, President Afghanistan, along with 8,000 Marines. The deployment came as a result of the then-worsening situation in the Afghan war. These soldiers were to be deployed in the southeast, on the Afghan border. The brigade was scheduled to return to Joint Base Lewis–McChord in July 2010.[8] After it returned, on 22 July, the 5th BCT was reflagged as the 2nd BCT of the 2nd ID and the battalion continued to serve with the latter.[9]
From June 2009 to June 2010, a group of U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Infantry Regiment based in FOB RAMROD perpetrated the murders of at least three Afghan civilians. Body parts of the victims, such as finger bones and a skull were collected by the soldiers as war trophies.[10][11] HonorsCampaign participation credit
Decorations
Notable awards / commendationsCorporal (R) Stephen Sanford, Company C, 2nd Battalion, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for actions in Mosul Iraq during the unit's deployment.[12]
Sergeant First Class Peter Lara, Company C, 2nd Battalion, was awarded the Silver Star for actions in Mosul Iraq during the unit's deployment.
HeraldryCoat of armsBlazon
Symbolism
Background
Distinctive unit insigniaDescription
Symbolism
Background
See alsoReferences
External links |
