| 1st Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
_Coat_of_Arms.png) Coat of arms of the 1st Infantry Regiment | |
| Active | 1791–1949 1950–present |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light/mechanized infantry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Garrison/HQ | 1st Bn –West Point, NY 2nd Bn –Joint Base Lewis–McChord,WA |
| Motto(s) | Semper Primus ("Always First") |
| Engagements | |
| 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 | ||||
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The1st Infantry Regiment is aregiment of theUnited States Army that draws its lineage from a line of postAmerican Revolutionary War units and is credited with thirty-ninecampaign streamers. The1st Battalion, 1st Infantry is assigned as support to theUnited States Military Academy atWest Point, New York and to furnish the enlisted garrison for the academy and the Stewart Army Subpost.2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment is an infantry component serving with the2nd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division atJoint Base Lewis–McChord,Washington.
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 original1st Infantry Regiment (today's3rd United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)), with sizable militia complements, all under the command of GeneralArthur St. Clair, were sent to theNorthwest Indian War of theOhio country. St. Clair served as a major general in theContinental Army and was now appointed "General in Chief," superseding the first commander of the regiment,Josiah Harmar. Fighting against the Miamis, St. Clair's soldiers were untrained, ill-equipped, underfed, and sickly. This resulted in adisastrous defeat in which the entire U.S. Army suffered a loss of about 700 killed and some 300 wounded out of a total strength of around 1,700, with some 100 civilians killed and 50 wounded as well.[1]
In 1792, Congress reorganized theUnited States Army into theLegion of the United States, a single formation of infantry, cavalry and artillery units under the command of Major-GeneralAnthony Wayne. The 2nd Infantry Regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Sub-Legion, and participated in the decisive victory over theNorthwestern Confederacy at thebattle of Fallen Timbers on 20 August 1794. In 1796, the Legion of the United States was organized back into the United States Army, and the 2nd Sub-Legion reverted to being the 2nd Infantry Regiment. During theWar of 1812, the 2nd Infantry Regiment as well as the 7th and 44th Infantry Regiments, fought in theBattle of New Orleans under GeneralAndrew Jackson. This gives the regimentcampaign credit for the War of 1812.
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 theBlack Hawk War of 1832 and theSecond Seminole War from 1839 to 1842. During this time the regiment was commanded by many, now famous commanders including, ColonelZachary Taylor, who would later become the 12thPresident of the United States and Second LieutenantJefferson Davis, who would become the President of the Confederate States in the American Civil War.
When War broke out with Mexico in 1846, the 1st Infantry Regiment was sent across the border with GeneralZachary Taylor's Army and participated in the storming ofMonterrey where the regiment fought house to house in savage hand-to-hand combat. From Monterrey, the regiment was transferred to GeneralWinfield Scott's command and participated in the first modern amphibious landing in American history atVera Cruz in 1847.
Following theMexican–American War, the regiment campaigned in theTexas area against theComanches until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
After escaping from rebel forces in Texas the regiment returned to the Mid-west and fought in theMississippi area of operations. The regiment fought in one of the first battles of the Civil War atWilson's Creek, Missouri, in August 1861. The 1st Infantry then campaigned with General Grant againstVicksburg in 1863. The end of the war found the regimentoccupyingNew Orleans, Louisiana.
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 theSioux in the 1870s and 1890s and against theApache, led byGeronimo, from 1882 to 1886.
One member of the regiment was awarded theMedal of Honor for service during this period: 1st Lt.Marion P. Maus, 11 January 1886, Sierra Madre Mountains, Mexico.[2]
After the end of the Indian wars the regiment was occupied with quellinglabor disputes inCalifornia.
War was declared with Spain in 1898 following the sinking of theUSSMaine. The First was quickly sent toFlorida where it embarked on ships and was sent toCuba. While in Cuba the regiment took part in the storming of theSan Juan Heights and the capture ofSantiago.
In 1900, following occupation duty in Cuba, the regiment was preparing for shipment to China to participate in theBoxer Rebellion. Instead, the regiment was detoured to deal with the rebellion on thePhilippine Islands which had also been captured by the United States in the Spanish–American War. The regiment would fight in this guerrilla war in the Philippines from 1900 to 1902 and again from 1906 to 1908.
Subsequently, the regiment was redeployed to garrison duties inOahu,Hawaii and commanded by ColonelGeorge K. McGunnegle.[3]
The 1st Infantry Regiment was assigned on 11 September 1918 to the13th Division atCamp Lewis. However, the 13th Division never left Camp Lewis, and was demobilized there on 8 March 1919 after theArmistice of 11 November 1918; the 1st Infantry Regiment was concurrently relieved from assignment to the 13th Division and resumed its status as a separate regiment.
The regiment was transferred on 27 July 1921 toFort Sam Houston, Texas, and assigned to the newly-organized 4th Infantry Brigade,2nd Division. The regiment was transferred with its brigade on 28 June 1927 to Fort D.A. Russell,Wyoming (later redesignatedFort Francis E. Warren). In April 1933, the regiment assumed command and control of parts of the South DakotaCivilian Conservation Corps District. Assigned Reserve officers conducted summer training with the regiment at Fort Warren. When the 2nd Division was converted from a "square" to a "triangular" organization, the 1st Infantry Regiment was relieved from the 2nd Division on 16 October 1939 and assigned to the reactivated 6th Division at Fort Lewis, Washington, being shortly thereafter transferred toFort Jackson, South Carolina. After maneuvers in Louisiana in May 1940, the division was transferred toFort Snelling,Minnesota. The division participated in the Second Army Maneuvers at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, in August 1940, in the Second Army Maneuvers inArkansas in August 1941, and in the GHQ Maneuvers inLouisiana in September–October 1941. After the GHQ Maneuvers the 6th Division was moved toFort Leonard Wood,Missouri, for permanent station and arrived there on 10 October 1941.[4]
The regiment was stationed atCamp Jackson,South Carolina, where it was relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 2nd Division and assigned to the6th Division. The 6th Division arrived at Fort Jackson on 1939-11-09, and the 1st IR traveled with the division from that point forward. The 1st IR moved toFort Benning,Georgia on 1940-04-09 to prepare for a series of maneuvers. The 1st IR participated in theSabine, Louisiana –Texas Maneuver on 1940-05-09. They then moved toFort Francis E. Warren,Wyoming on 1940-06-03, and then toFort Leavenworth,Kansas on 1941-04-02, followed byFort Leonard Wood,Missouri on 1941-05-20. They then moved toTennessee to participate in maneuvers there. This was followed by a training cycle at the Desert Training Center, while billeted at theCamp Young billeting area from 1942-12-10. The regiment then staged atCamp San Luis Obispo,California on 1943-03-23.
The regiment departed from theSan Francisco, California Port of Embarkation on 1943-09-19, and arrived inHawaii on 1943-09-26.
The 1st IR departed Hawaii on 1944-01-26, and arrived atMilne Bay,New Guinea on 1944-02-07 to participate in theNew Guinea Campaign.
1st IR departed Milne Bay on 1944-06-01, and arrived at Toem on 1944-06-14.
1st IR assaultedSansapor 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 aPresidential Unit Citation for its action atMilne Bay.
1st IR assaultedLingayen Gulf on the Philippine Island ofLuzon on 1945-01-09 to participate in theLuzon Campaign.
1st IR moved to Sixth Army Reserve status from 1945-02-10 to 1945-02-23, when they returned to theLuzon Campaign.
1st IR attached to38th Infantry Division from 1945-04-28 to 1945-05-01, and then was attached to theXI 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 atBagabag,Philippine Islands on 1945-08-14. They then moved toKorea on 1945-10-24, which they Occupied through 1949, with garrisons in Taegu and Pusan.
On 10 January 1949, 1st IR was inactivated in Korea, and then was reactivated on 4 October 1950 atFort 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 theUnited States Military Academy atWest 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, the2nd Aviation Detachment, the USMA Band, Detachment 1 and 2 United States Army Hospital, and saw the attachment of the50th Engineer Battalion (Construction) and the57th 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 toFort Benning,Georgia.
In 1966, the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Vietnam with the196th Light Infantry Brigade (196th LIB). In 1967 the 3rd Battalion was activated atSchofield Barracks,Hawaii as part of the11th Infantry Brigade. After the 11th Brigade arrived in Vietnam, both battalions became components of theAmerical Division. These two battalions earned fourteen campaign streamers for the regiment during the war in Vietnam. Also in 1967, the 4th, 5th, and 6th Battalions were activated on 24 November and assigned to the6th Infantry Division atFort Campbell,Kentucky. The battalions atFort Campbell were relieved from assignment to the6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 21 July 1969.
The11th Infantry Brigade returned home in 1971, at which time 3rd Battalion was deactivated.
On 11 April 1972 the 2nd Battalion was flown intoPhu Bai Combat Base fromDanang 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.[5] The 2nd Battalion commanderLieutenant colonel Frederick P. Mitchell blamed television newsmen and journalists for inciting the combat refusal.[6]
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 toFort Lewis,Washington, where it became part of the9th Infantry Division. In January 1991 the battalion became part of the199th Infantry Brigade atFort Polk, Louisiana, where it remained until inactivation in 1994.
1st Infantry soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam:
On 16 December 1994 the 2nd Battalion was reactivated atFort Wainwright as part of the 6th Infantry Division (Light), which was reduced in size and reflagged as the172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) in April 1998.
In August 2005 2nd Battalion was deployed, along with the172nd Stryker Brigade, toMosul Iraq in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion conducted counter insurgency operations aimed at securing the city of Mosul from an insurgency headed by the terrorist organization al-Qaeda in Iraq. After 12 months in Mosul 2nd Battalion was preparing to return to home station atFort Wainwright, Alaska when their deployment was unexpectedly extended by Secretary of DefenseDonald Rumsfeld. The 2nd Battalion, along with the entire 172nd Infantry Brigade, was subsequently sent toBaghdad, Iraq to quell rising sectarian violence. The 2nd Battalion returned home in December 2006 after 16 months in Iraq. It was inactivated on 16 December when the 172nd was reflagged as the1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, and the 2-1st Infantry was reflagged as the1st Battalion, 24th Infantry.[8]
The 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, PresidentObama ordered 4,000 soldiers of 5thStrykerBrigade Combat Team toAfghanistan, along with 8,000Marines. 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 theAfghan border. The brigade was scheduled to return toJoint Base Lewis–McChord in July 2010.[9] 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.[10]
From June 2009 to June 2010, a group of U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Infantry Regiment based inFOB RAMROD perpetratedthe murders of at least three Afghan civilians. Body parts of the victims, such as finger bones and a skull were collected by the soldiers aswar trophies.[11][12]
Corporal (R) Stephen Sanford, Company C, 2nd Battalion, was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross for actions in Mosul Iraq during the unit's deployment.[13]
Sergeant First Class Peter Lara, Company C, 2nd Battalion, was awarded theSilver Star for actions in Mosul Iraq during the unit's deployment.
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromLineage and Honors 1st Infantry.United States Army Center of Military History.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
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