6th Infantry Regiment (United States)
6th Infantry Regiment | |
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The 6th Infantry Regiment ("Regulars"[1]) was formed 11 January 1812. Zachary Taylor, later the twelfth President of the United States, was a commander of the unit. The motto, "Regulars, By God!" derives from the Battle of Chippawa, in which British Major General Phineas Riall noticed that the approaching regiment had on the uniforms of militia, which the British had defeated at Queenston Heights. Instead, the Americans pressed the attack. Riall is believed to have said, "Those are Regulars, By God!", though the only source of this was opposing U.S. General Winfield Scott.
History
The regiment participated in the
Two battalions of the 6th Infantry Regiment are currently assigned to the 1st Armored Division; the 1st Battalion with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, and the 4th Battalion with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.[2][3]
Lineage
Pre-World War I
- Lineage
Constituted 11 January 1812 in the Regular Army as the 11th Infantry Regiment.[citation needed]
Organized March–May 1812 in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
Consolidated May–October 1815 with the 25th Infantry (constituted 26 June 1812) and the 27th, 29th, and 37th Infantry (all constituted 29 January 1813) to form the 6th Infantry Regiment. The lineages of the units that made up the 6th Infantry give the regiment campaign credit for the War of 1812.
Consolidated 1 May 1869 with the 42d Infantry Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps (constituted 21 September 1866), and consolidated unit designated as the 6th Infantry Regiment.
- Narrative
The present 6th United States Infantry traces its lineage back to 11 January 1812, when the Congress authorized a strengthening of the regular Army in preparation for the conflict that became known as the War of 1812. The unit was first known as the 11th Infantry Regiment and served as such on the Upper Canada–US border throughout the War of 1812.
In 1831 and 1832, the regiment entered the series of actions to be known as the
- 1848 A Company was sent from Fort Snelling to construct Fort Ripley.
- In 1850 E Company was sent from Fort Snelling to build and garrison Fort Dodge.
- In 1853 E Co. deactivated Fort Dodge and went north to assist Companies C and K build Fort Ridgely. C
- The 6th Infantry Regiment served in the Mexican–American War, participating in Scott's campaign to Mexico City. They fought in the Siege of Veracruz, at Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, Molino del Rey and at Chapultepec.
From late 1860 to mid-1861 detachments of Company B from
At the outset of the Civil War in April 1861, the regiment was directed to hurry eastward from Oregon and California and join the Federal forces. According to one biographer of the time, "Several of the Regiment's best and bravest officers, honest in the mistaken construction of the Constitution and true to their convictions as to their duty, had tendered their resignations and given themselves to the Confederate cause."[4] One of those officers was the regimental commander, Major Lewis Armistead. During the Civil War, the 6th U.S. Infantry Regiment lost 75 men during service; two officers and 29 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and one officer and 43 enlisted men by disease.
For six years after the Civil War, the regiment served at various stations in Georgia and South Carolina.
- Company G would be at Fort Buford, North Dakota 1n 1870.
- It moved to Fort Hays, Kansas, in October 1871. The regiment saw duty on the frontier in Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah.
- In 1872 under Col. William B. Hazen, the regiment was transferred to the Department of Dakota and based out of Fort Buford Dakota Territory, fighting many engagements against hostile Indian forces.
- In 1872 B & C Companies built Fort McKeen, North Dakota which was renamed Fort Abraham Lincoln.
- In 1872 and 1873, the regiment earned campaign streamers NORTH DAKOTA 1872 and NORTH DAKOTA 1873. The next several years saw much action for the regiment during the Indian Wars many of which in Montana Territory, and they were awarded campaign streamers MONTANA 1879, LITTLE BIG HORN, CHEYENNES, and UTES.
- In 1880, the regiment moved to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, where it remained until called to action again in June 1898, in the Spanish–American War. On 1 July 1898, the 6th Regiment took the brunt of the fighting during the charge up San Juan Hill.
The regiment returned to the United States, serving at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from the end of 1898 until late July 1899, when it sailed to the Philippines to help quell the insurgents in the Philippine–American War. The Moro tribe was one of the toughest enemies the 6th had ever faced—every one of them fought to the death, and preferred to do it in hand-to-hand style. The regiment fought over fifty engagements, and it left with campaign streamers for JOLO, NEGROS in 1899, and PANAY in 1900. In March 1905, the regiment returned to the Philippines to fight the Moros again. For three days in 1906, elements of the regiment fought in the First Battle of Bud Dajo, one of the fiercest conflicts of the entire island campaign. The successful ending to the battle broke the Moro strength and ended the fighting in that part of the island.
One 6th Infantry soldier received the Medal of Honor for service in the Philippines: Captain Bernard A. Byrne, 19 July 1899, Bobong, Negros
Following service in the Philippines, the 6th returned to the Presidio of San Francisco, California. In May 1914, it entered into service on the Mexican border. In March 1916, it proceeded to San Antonio, Chihuahua, as part of the Punitive Expedition under Brigadier General John J. Pershing. In February 1917, Pershing's force withdrew from Mexico and the regiment moved to Fort Bliss. Because of their action, the regiment was awarded another campaign streamer – MEXICO 1916–1917.
World War I
- Lineage
Assigned 18 November 1917 to the 5th Division
- Narrative
In December 1917, the 6th Regiment was assigned to the 10th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division, and began training stateside. In the latter part of May 1918, the 6th Infantry Regiment was declared ready for introduction to combat and was placed at the disposal of the French for service at the front. In July 1918, a strategic offensive plan was agreed upon by the
Inter-war period
- Lineage
Relieved in August 1921 from assignment to the 5th Division
Assigned 24 March 1923 to the 6th Division
Relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 6th Division
Reorganized 15 July 1940 as the 6th Infantry Regiment (Armored) and assigned to the 1st Armored Division
Redesignated 1 January 1942 as the 6th Armored Infantry Regiment
- Narrative
Between World War I and World War II, the regiment returned to the United States, where they continued to train to in various exercises as the Army began to experiment with mechanized and motorized infantry formations. In 1936, they were designated a mechanized unit by the War Department, and they left the 6th Infantry Division to join the 1st Armored Division on 15 July 1940.
In February 1941, the regiment was stationed at
A few weeks later, on 7 December 1941, war was declared when the
World War II
The 1st Armored Division was one of the first American units to sail across the
Algeria-French Morocco
On 8 November 1942, almost a full year after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Allied American,
Despite this disaster, the other landings of Operation Torch were still scheduled to be underway in the morning, and the vehicles and men of General Lunsford E. Oliver's Task Force Red (TF Red) began landing at Z Beach to the east of Oran in the Gulf of Arzew with the mission of seizing the Tafaraoui airfield. Attached to this TF was E Company, 2nd Battalion-6th Armored Infantry (2-6 IN) under CPT Donald A. Kersting. 1LT R. H. Leed's 1st Platoon, E/2-6 IN was the advance guard for the Task Force, and they managed to reach the airfield by 1100. Attacking alongside elements of the 1st Battalion-1st Armored Regiment, LT Leeb's Platoon rolled onto the airfield from the east while 2nd and 3rd PLTs (under LTs J. F. Sullivan and Jesse E. Frank respectively) blocked off approaches from Oran and managed to capture an enemy ammunition train. TF Red's initial objective had been accomplished.[5]
To the west of Oran, 1st Battalion-6th Armored Infantry (1-6 IN), under the command of LTC William B. Kern, was assigned to TF Green, and they quickly assaulted and captured Y Beach without opposition. B Company was detached from 1-6 IN and joined 1st Battalion-
The Vichy soldiers fought halfheartedly against an erstwhile enemy they didn't hate, but the 6th Armored Infantry Regiment's next enemy would not be so easy.Tunisia
After the Vichy French forces were defeated in Algeria, Allied efforts moved east, toward
LTC Kern's 1-6 Infantry, supported by B and C Bty, 27th Artillery, occupied the most exposed position of the Allied line at Djebel el Guessa and Djebel bou Aoukaz. Between these two hill masses, there lies an east–west pass that enemy forces would need to seize if they were to pierce the Allied line. The Battalion was strung out over five miles and the platoons were separated by deep ravines and would have difficulty supporting each other. On the morning of 5 December, a clear cool day, 1-6 IN came under enemy observation and endured heavy mortar and artillery fire, a sign that the enemy was soon to attack. A Co, under CPT Hoban, spotted enemy digging in to the north of Djebel el Guessa, so LTC Kern moved B Co, under CPT Walter Geyer, onto the ridge behind A Co to gain depth in his defense. After a night of continual illumination from flares, the Germans attacked on the morning of 6 December at roughly 0800. A combined attack from
Finally, E Co, 2-6 IN arrived at 1117 and forded the Medjerda River but were forced to leave all their vehicles behind. The rest of LTC McGinness' Battalion arrived and forced the river at 1228. With the arrival of these fresh infantrymen and some tanks from 2-13 Armor, the Germans temporarily withdrew, allowing LTC Kern to reorganize his exhausted Battalion on the flat terrain behind the armor. The Americans then counterattacked but were severely defeated by German defensive positions and anti-tank guns, leaving many destroyed M3 Lee tanks behind, burning under the desert sky. The losses of the day had been severe. A Co and B Co had suffered heavily, and CPT Geyer had been wounded. C Co's Commander, CPT Miller, had been killed, and the company had lost many men and much of its equipment. Despite this, 1st Battalion-6th Armored Infantry Regiment had performed bravely in their defense against superior enemy armored units, and their exploits would go down in 1st Armored Division history.[5]
Italy
They landed in Italy on 28 October 1943. The regiment remained there until it was reorganized on 20 July 1944 and its elements were redesignated as elements of the 1st Armored Division as follows:
- 6th Armored Infantry Regiment (less 2d and 3d Battalions) as the 6th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 2d Battalion as the 11th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 3d Battalion as the 14th Armored Infantry Battalion
One soldier of the 6th Armored Infantry Regiment and its successor battalions received the Medal of Honor for service during World War II; Private
After the war, the above units underwent changes as follows:
- 6th Armored Infantry Battalion converted and redesignated 1 May 1946 as the 12th Constabulary Squadron; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 1st Constabulary Regiment. Inactivated 20 September 1947 in Germany. Converted and redesignated 10 October 1950 as the 6th Infantry (less 2d and 3d Battalions) and relieved from assignment to the 1st Constabulary Regiment
- 11th Armored Infantry Battalion converted and redesignated 1 May 1946 as the 11th Constabulary Squadron; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 1st Constabulary Regiment. Inactivated 20 September 1947 in Germany Converted and redesignated 7 April 1949 as the 11th Armored Infantry Battalion and relieved from assignment the 1st Constabulary Regiment. Redesignated 10 October 1950 as the 2d Battalion, 6th Infantry
- 14th Armored Infantry Battalion converted and redesignated 1 May 1946 as the 14th Constabulary Squadron; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 15th Constabulary Regiment. Inactivated 20 December 1948 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 15th Constabulary Regiment; concurrently converted and redesignated as the 14th Armored Infantry Battalion and assigned to the 1st Armored Division Redesignated 10 December 1950 as the 3d Battalion, 6th Infantry, and relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division
Post World War II
- Lineage
6th Infantry activated 16 October 1950 in Germany.
Reorganized 1 June 1958 as a parent regiment under the
Withdrawn 16 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the
- Narrative
In October 1950 the 6th Infantry was reconstituted as a regular infantry regiment forming the U.S. garrison in West Berlin, designated as Berlin Command. The existing garrison units, the 16th Constabulary Squadron and the 3rd Battalion, 16th Infantry, were reflagged as the 1st and 3rd Battalions, 6th Infantry. The 2nd Battalion was assembled from troops in West Germany.
In 1958 Berlin Command was reorganized as a Pentomic unit. The 6th Regiment was reorganized as the 2nd and 3rd Battle Groups, 6th Infantry. The 1st Battalion (1st Battle Group) was changed to 1st Armored Rifle Battalion. On 1 December 1961 the occupation forces were designated Berlin Brigade. In 1964, Berlin Brigade was reorganized again. 2nd and 3rd Battle Groups were redesignated 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 6th Infantry, and 4th Battalion was also formed from cadre of the two battle groups.
Vietnam War
On 17 May 1967, the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry was reorganized as a standard Infantry Battalion and was assigned to the
1–6th Infantry participated in Task Force Oregon, Task Force Miracle, Operation Wheeler/Wallowa, Operation Burlington Trail, and had the mission of protecting Americal Division Headquarters and Chu Lai Defense Command from enemy ground mortar and rocket attacks. The 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry was awarded the Valorous Unit Citation for its victory at the Battle of Lo Giang, 7–11 February 1968. Task Force Miracle was formed in February 1968 during the enemy's Tet Offensive when the city of Da Nang was threatened by the 60th Main Force Viet Cong Battalion. The 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry and 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry assisted the Marines in the fighting. After four days of fierce fighting, the threat to Da Nang was obliterated and the task force was deactivated and returned to the Americal area of operation. During the Vietnam War, the Sixth was awarded streamers – COUNTEROFFENSIVE PHASE III, TET COUNTEROFFENSIVE, COUNTEROFFENSIVE PHASE IV, COUNTEROFFENSIVE PHASE V, COUNTEROFFENSIVE PHASE VI, TET 69 / COUNTEROFFENSIVE, SUMMER-FALL 1969, WINTER-SPRING 1970, SANCTUARY COUNTEROFFENSIVE, COUNTEROFFENSIVE PHASE VII, and CONSOLIDATION I.
On 15 February 1969, the battalion was released from the 198th Light Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 23rd Infantry Division, Americal Division.
Cold War
On 13 September 1972 was reassigned to the 1st Armored Division, and was posted at Stork Barracks in Illesheim, West Germany.
During 1st Armored Division's closing months at Ft. Hood, Texas in 1970-71 prior to the division's assignment to Germany, 5th Battalion, 6th Infantry was the 1st Brigade's mechanized infantry battalion.
In 1974, the regiment was split again, this time between Germany and the United States. The 1st Battalion was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Illesheim, Germany. The 2nd Battalion was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Erlangen, Germany, a three tank battalion brigade with 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry as the brigade's mechanized infantry.
Post-Cold War
In 1990, the 6th and 7th Battalions were called on to participate in the regiment's tenth war,
In 1993, the 5th Infantry Division was deactivated, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th Battalions were re-flagged under the
War on Terrorism
In April 2003, the 1st infantry regiment deployed to Iraq for 17 months.
In November 2005, the 1st and 2nd Battalion's 6th Infantry Regiment deployed to Kuwait where they remained assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1AD, and served as part of the regional quick reaction force (QRF) stationed at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. By Spring 2006 the situation in Iraq deteriorated, leading to the call forward of the regional (QRF) in Kuwait. From there, Bravo Company 2-6 IN "Death Dealers" were sent to Ramadi, Iraq (via TQ Air Base) and operationally assigned to Task Force 1-35 Armor, Commanded by LTC Tony Deane. Bravo, 2-6 IN 'Death Dealers' or "Team Dealer" were assigned the hotly contested Al Tamim District of Ramadi's West side. Nearly a city unto itself, Tamim was 25 Sq Miles of mostly AQI controlled city. The Team Dealer Mission was to destroy enemy forces, and recapture territory seized by the enemy (AQI, a precursor to ISIL), while securing the local population helping to rebuilding relationships with local leaders.
During that time the Regulars operated out of the four main U.S. bases in the area: Camp Ramadi, Blue Diamond, Corregidor, and COP Dealer. These three bases provided the Regulars a triangle-shaped perimeter from which to launch operations into the center of the city of Ramadi. Instead of a Fallujah-style sweep, the combat outpost style of fighting was used where the Regulars created patrol bases deep inside various neighborhoods of the city form which to stage operations, pull security, and draw contact. The soldiers split their time between operating out of the combat outposts and re-fitting and operating from the main bases.
B Company 2-6 IN "Team Dealer" owned and controlled it Battlespace, Ta'meem. The regulars of Team Dealer were never attached to the command of other units. All units planning operations in Ta'mem, including NSW (SEALs) and other SOF or OGA unit always reported to Team Dealer to before planning ops in Tameem. And Team Dealer leadership had command and controlled of all operations in Tameem. Team Dealer respectfully and gratefully partnered with many other tactical units in Ramadi—Enablers such as NSW, Navy SEALs, EOD, Marine Anglico and dog teams. At no point was there a question who was in operational control while on patrol. In fact Team Dealer ran its own separate Tactical Operations Center, separate from that of the Battalion Task Force. Tameem belong to Dealer, because it's Soldiers patrolled it every day and expertly knew the battlefield and their enemy. It was precisely because Team Dealer brought so much fire power to the fight that they made all final operational decisions.
Time magazine called Ramadi the most dangerous place on the planet at that time.[6][7] The Regulars served alongside the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, "Red Currahee," Seal Team Three, and many other units. One Navy SEAL, Michael Monsoor, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of several of his team members during intense fighting in Ramadi.[8] The Regulars were awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation as part of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division for their actions in Ramadi.[9]
In 2009 the 4th Battalion, assigned to 4th HBCT, 1st Armored Division deployed in support of Operation Iraq Freedom. Following a deployment to Maysan Province the 4th Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
In August, 2011 4th Battalion, again with 4th HBCT 1st Armored deployed to Iraq. Alpha, Delta and Headquarters company were assigned to Al Asad airbase. Bravo and Charlie companies were sent to Forward Operating Base Hammer. The battalion returned home in December 2011, one of the last Army ground forces to leave Iraq at the end of Operation New Dawn.
Shortly after their return to Fort Bliss, Texas, members of 4th Battalion were advised of an imminent deployment as security forces advise and assist teams (SFAAT) to Afghanistan. The first SFAAT teams deployed in June 2012, only 10 months after their deployment to Iraq.
Honors
Campaign participation credit
- War of 1812
- Canada
- Chippawa
- Lundy's Lane
- Mexican–American War
- Vera Cruz
- Cerro Gordo
- Churubusco
- Molino del Rey
- Chapultepec
- Civil War
- Peninsula
- Manassas
- Antietam
- Fredericksburg
- Chancellorsville
- Gettysburg
- Virginia 1862
- Indian Wars
- Seminoles
- Black Hawk
- Little Big Horn
- Cheyennes
- Utes
- South Dakota 1823
- Kansas 1829
- Nebraska 1855
- Kansas 1857
- North Dakota 1872
- North Dakota 1873
- Montana 1879
- Spanish–American War
- Philippine–American War
- Mexican Expedition
- World War I
- St. Mihiel
- Meuse-Argonne
- Alsace 1918
- Lorraine 1918
- World War II
- Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead)
- Tunisia
- Naples-Foggia
- Anzio
- Rome-Arno
- North Apennines
- Po Valley
- Vietnam
- Counteroffensive, Phase III
- Tet Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase IV
- Counteroffensive, Phase V
- Counteroffensive, Phase VI
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive
- Summer-Fall 1969
- Winter-Spring 1970
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase VII
- Consolidation I
- Armed Forces Expeditions
- Southwest Asia
- Defense of Saudi Arabia
- Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
- Cease-Fire
Decorations
- Presidential Unit Citation(Army) for ORAN, ALGERIA
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for MT. PORCHIA
- Valorous Unit Award for LO GIANG
- Valorous Unit Award for PANAMA
- Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ
- Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT
- Army Superior Unit Award(5-6 INF) Operation Nimrod Dancer for 1989[10]
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award (1–6 INF) (Army) 1994 Macedonia for Operation Able Sentry
- Presidential Unit Citation(Army) for Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Meritorious Unit Commendation(1-6 INF) OIF 05-06 [11]
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (2-6 INF) OIF 05-06 [11]
- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation(1-6 INF) OIF 06 [12]
- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (A, B 2-6 INF) OIF 06 [12]
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (2–6 INF, Company HHC, A, and C) OIF 08-09
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (4–6 INF) OIF 09-10
Notable members
- 2nd Lt. Richard B. Garnett
- Carter F. Ham
- Platoon Sgt. Finnis D. McCleery
- Regimental commander John Frank Morrison
- Norman Schwarzkopf
See also
- Grattan Massacre
- List of United States Regular Army Civil War units
References
- ^ a b "Special Unit Designations". United States Army Center of Military History. 21 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ "2nd BCT, 1st Armored Division :: Fort Bliss, Texas". home.army.mil. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "3rd BCT, 1st Armored Division :: Fort Bliss, Texas". home.army.mil. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ Pike, John. "1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 9 February 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Howe, George (1954). The Battle History of the 1st Armored Division. Washington, D. C.: Combat Forces Press.
- ^ Michael Ware, "The Most Dangerous Place," Time, 21 May 2006
- ^ Jim Michaels, A Chance in Hell: The Men Who Triumphed Over Iraq's Deadliest City and Turned the Tide of War
- ^ Bush awards Medal of Honor to Navy SEAL, http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-08-medal-honor_N.htm
- ^ Permanent Orders 365-27, for the period 7 NOV 2005 – 15 NOV 2006, available at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/assets/awards/GWOT_Approved_Unit_Awards.xlsx Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "General Orders" (PDF). 10 October 1990. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ a b Army General Orders 2013-56, for the period 7 NOV 2005 – 25 MAY 2006, available at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/ASSETS/Awards/2014/New2014Awards/2013-56.pdf
- ^ a b Army General Orders 2014-09, for the period 26 MAY 2006 – 23 OCT 2006, available at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/ASSETS/Awards/2014/New2014Awards/2014-09.pdf
- This article incorporates public domain material from 6th Infantry Lineage and Honors. United States Army Center of Military History.
External links
- "Medal of Honor Citations". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
- "Western Allies Berlin; Berlin Brigade History". Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
- "West Alliierte in Berlin". The history of the three Western Allied Forces and their civilian employees in Berlin from 1945 – 1994.
- The short film Big Picture: First Sergeant is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.