242nd Infantry Regiment (United States)

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242nd Infantry Regiment
Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 242nd Infantry Regiment
Active1943–1947
1975–1984
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
TypeInfantry
Motto(s)Valor and Force
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Colonel Burns Beall
Colonel Norman C. Caum

The 242nd Infantry Regiment was a formation of the

Vito R. Bertoldo, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat near Hatten, France
, in January 1945.

Formation

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 42nd Infantry Division

In June 1943, the United States Department of War issued orders reactivating the 42nd Infantry Division for service in World War II.[1] The division's task organization included the 222nd, 232nd, and 242nd Infantry Regiments.[1]

The cadre of experienced officers and noncommissioned officers around which the 242nd Infantry formed had recently returned from overseas service in

Fort Benning, Georgia and Camp Maxey, Texas prior to relocating to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma.[1] The 242nd Infantry was activated at Camp Gruber on July 14, 1943.[1]

Recruits, draftees, and soldiers reassigned to the 242nd Infantry began arriving at Camp Gruber in August 1943.[1] At the end of October, the 242nd Infantry Regiment reached 100 percent of its authorized strength.[1]

The regiment's first commander was Colonel Burns Beall.[1] He was subsequently assigned as the division chief of staff, and was succeeded by Colonel Norman C. Caum in October 1944.[2]

Task organization

The 242nd Infantry Regiment's World War II task organization included:[3]

  • Regimental headquarters
  • Headquarters Company
  • Anti-Tank Company
  • Cannon Company
  • Service Company
  • Medical Detachment
  • 1st Battalion
  • Headquarters Company
  • Company A
  • Company B
  • Company C
  • Company D
  • 2nd Battalion
  • Headquarters Company
  • Company E
  • Company F
  • Company G
  • Company H
  • 3rd Battalion
  • Headquarters Company
  • Company I
  • Company K
  • Company L
  • Company M

Combat history

Following training at Camp Gruber and transport to Europe, the 42nd Infantry Division's three infantry regiments and a detachment of the division headquarters arrived at

36th Infantry Division on December 24, 1944.[5]

While defending a 31-mile sector along the

Vito R. Bertoldo waged a 48-hour defense of the battalion command post, for which he received the Medal of Honor.[7]

In February 1945, the full 42nd Division entered combat and took up defensive positions near

Third Army created and expanded bridgeheads across the Rhine.[9]

The 42nd Division moved across the Rhine on March 31, captured

Nürnberg, put up fanatical resistance, but were defeated after combat on 18 and 19 April.[12]

On April 25, the 42nd Infantry Division captured Donauwörth on the Danube.[13] On April 29, soldiers of the 222nd Infantry under Linden's command liberated approximately 30,000 prisoners at Dachau concentration camp.[14]

The 42nd Division ended World War II on occupation duty in Austria. While serving on occupation duty, the regiment’s 1st Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (United States) for their stand at Hatten in January 1945.[15]The regiment was inactivated in January 1947.[16]

Campaign participation credit

The 242nd Infantry Regiment's campaign participation credit included:[17]

Post-World War II

In April 1975, the New York Army National Guard's 142nd Tank Battalion was converted to Infantry and re-designated 1st Battalion, 242nd Infantry Regiment, a unit of New York's 42nd Division.[18][19] This unit was inactivated in April 1984.[19]

References

Sources

Books

Internet