Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 02:22, 30 January 2010

143rd Infantry Regiment
143rd Infantry Regiment coat of arms
Active	Constituted October 15, 1917 Restructured March 16, 1959 Reorganized March 1, 1963 Inactivated August 12, 2001 Reactivated September 9, 2008-Present.
Country	USA
Allegiance	Texas
Branch	Army National Guard
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Garrison/HQ	1st Battalion - Texas
Nickname(s)	Third Texas
Motto(s)	Arms Secure Peace
Engagements	Spanish-American War Mexican Border Service World War I World War II Iraq War

The 143rd Infantry Regiment is a Texas Army National Guard unit assigned to the 36th Infantry Division. Currently, only one battalion of the regiment is active.

• 1st Battalion (Airborne) - 143rd Infantry.

Heraldic Information

Coat of Arms

Blazon

• Shield: Azure, a bend wavy argent between an oak tree eradicated and a key fesswise or.
• Crest: On a wreath of the colors argent and azure a mullet argent encircled by a garland of live oak and olive proper.
• Motto: Arms Secure Peace

Symbolism

1. The shield is blue for infantry.
2. The bend wavy represents the regiment's service on the Mexican boarder, along the Rio Grande.
3. It also represents the Aisne River in France, where the unit served in World War I.
4. The oak tree symbolizes the Meuse-Argonne operation, also in World War I.
5. The gold key represents service in the Spanish-American War.

Background

1. The coat of arms was approved on 1926-06-30.

Lineage and Honors

Lineage

The 143rd Infantry regiment was formed on October 15, 1917 from the units of the Third Texas Infantry and the Fifth Texas Infantry at Camp Bowie, Texas.

The lineage of subordinate units is as follows:

• Company A (Rusk) - Originally formed as Company A, Seventh Cavalry (Confederate Army); Rusk Militia 1883-1895; Company F, Third Texas Infantry 1903-1914. "ALSACE" Distinguished Unit Streamer.
• Company B (Mexia) - Originally formed as Company B, Third Infantry, Texas Volunteer Guard, 1879; Company C, Second Texas, United States Volunteers (Spanish-American War); Mexican Border Service, 1916-1917. "ALSACE" Streamer.
• Company D - Independent Blues Militia, 1859; Company K, First Texas Cavalry (Confederate Army); Company A, First Texas, United States Volunteers (Spanish-American War)

On March 3, 1791, Congress added to the Army "The Second Regiment of Infantry" of which today's First Infantry draws its heritage. In September of that year, elements of it and the original 1st Infantry Regiment (today’s 3d United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)), with sizable militia complements, all under command of General Arthur St. Clair, were sent against the Miami Indians. St. Clair served as a Major General in the Revolutionary Army and was now appointed "General in Chief," superseding the first commander of the Regiment, Josiah Hamar. Fighting against the Miamis, St. Clair's Soldiers were untrained, ill equipped, underfed, and sickly. This resulted in a disastrous defeat, at the Battle of the Wabash, in which the entire U.S. Army suffered a loss in killed and wounded of nearly 900 out of a total strength of 1400. It was (and remains) the greatest defeat in the history of the U.S. Army.

Legion of the United States

In 1792, Congress created the Legion of the United States, which was a combined Arms Force of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery under the Command of Major General Anthony Wayne. MG Wayne had become a hero of the Revolutionary War when he led a small force against a larger British Force to regain control of Stony Point, a crucial point on the Hudson River just south of West Point, New York. This Legion in which the Second Infantry became the "Infantry of the Second Sub-Legion," crushed the Miami Nation during 1792 to 1795, and finally defeated the Indians in a decisive manner at Fallen Timbers in the Old Northwest (Ohio) on August 20, 1794.

War of 1812

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.

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 one of its most famous commanders - Colonel Zachary Taylor, who would later become the 12th President of the United States.

War With Mexico

When War broke out with Mexico in 1846 the 1st Infantry Regiment was sent across the border with General Zachary Taylor's Army and participated in the storming of Monterrey where the Regiment fought house to house in savage hand to hand combat. From Monterrey the Regiment was transferred to General Winfield Scott's command and participated in the first modern amphibious landing in American history at Vera Cruz in 1847.

Second Indian War Period

Following the Mexican-American War, the Regiment campaigned in the Texas area against the Comanches until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.

Civil War

After escaping from rebel forces in Texas the Regiment returned to the Mid-west and fought in the Mississippi area of operations. The Regiment fought in one of the first battles of the Civil War at Wilson's Creek, Missouri, in August 1861. The 1st Infantry then campaigned with General Grant against Vicksburg in 1863. The end of the War found the Regiment occupying New Orleans, Louisiana.

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 September 21, 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 Medal of Honor for service during this period:

• 1st Lt. Marion P. Maus, 11 January 1886, Sierra Madre Mountains, Mexico

California Labor Disputes

After the end of the Indian wars the Regiment was occupied with quelling labor disputes in California.

Spanish-American War

War was declared with Spain in 1898 following the sinking of the USS Maine. The First was quickly sent to Florida where it embarked on ships and was sent to Cuba. While in Cuba the Regiment took part in the storming of the San Juan Heights and the capture of Santiago.

Philippine-American War

In 1900, following occupation duty in Cuba, the Regiment was preparing for shipment to China to participate in the Boxer Rebellion. Instead, the Regiment was detoured to deal with the rebellion on the Philippine 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 1900-1902 and again from 1906-1908.

Subsequently the Regiment was redeployed to garrison duties in Oahu, Hawaii.

World War I

1st Infantry Regiment was Assigned on September 11, 1918 to the 13th Division at Fort Lewis. 13th ID never left Fort Lewis, and demobilized there on March 8, 1919. 1st IR was Relieved on March 8, 1919 from assignment to the 13th Division. and resumed Separate Regiment status. The regiment was again Assigned July 27, 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

The regiment was stationed at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, where it was relieved October 16, 1939 from assignment to the 2nd Division and assigned to the 6th 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 to Fort Benning, Georgia on 1940-04-09 to prepare for a series of maneuvers. The 1st IR participated in the Sabine, Louisiana – Texas Maneuver on 1940-05-09. They then moved to Fort Francis E. Warren, Wyoming on 1940-06-03, and then to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on 1941-04-02, followed by Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on 1941-05-20. They then moved to Tennessee to participate in maneuvers there. This was followed by a training cycle at the Desert Training Center, while billeted at the 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 Milne Bay, New Guinea on 1944-02-07 to participate in the 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 Lingayen Gulf on the Philippine Island of Luzon on 1945-01-09 to participate in the 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 Bagabag, Philippine Islands on 1945-08-14. They then moved to Korea on 1945-10-24, which they Occupied through 1949.

Korean War and Reactivation

On January 10, 1949 1st IR was inactivated in Korea, and then was reactivated on October 4, 1950 at Fort Ord, California as a training regiment for units being sent to the fight in Korea. On April 3, 1956, the Regiment was Relieved from Assignment to the 6th Infantry Division, and then was Assigned on May 15, 1956 to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. On May 15, 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 May 16. 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 February 1, 1962, Service Company was eliminated and its personnel absorbed into Headquarters Company.

On January 1, 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. The 2nd Battalion was then assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia.

Vietnam War

In 1966, 2nd Battalion was deployed to Vietnam with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. The following year, 3rd Battalion was activated at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade. After the 11th Brigade arrived in Vietnam, both became components of the Americal Division. The two battalions earned fourteen campaign streamers for the regiment.

The 11th Brigade returned home in 1971, at which time 3rd Battalion was deactivated. The 196th 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 Lewis, Washington, where it became part of the 9th Infantry Division. In January 1991 the battalion became part of the 199th Infantry Brigade at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where it remained until inactivation in 1994.

Two 1st Infantry soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam:

• Specialist Fourth Class Thomas J. McMahon, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19 January 1969, Quang Tin Province (posthumous)
• Private First Class David F. Winder, HQ & HQ Company, 3rd Battalion, 13 May 1970 (posthumous)

Reactivation

On 16 December 16, 1995 the 2nd Battalion was reactivated at Fort Wainwright as part of the 6th Infantry Division (Light), which was redesignated as the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) in April 1998.

Iraq War

In August 2005 2nd battalion was deployed, along with the 172nd Stryker Brigade, to Mosul Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion conducted counter insurgency operations aimed at securing the city of Mosul from an insurgency headed by the terrorist organization Al Qaida in Iraq. After 12 months in Mosul 2nd battalion was preparing to return to home station at Fort Wainwright Alaska when their deployment was unexpectedly extended by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The 2nd battalion along with the entire 172nd Stryker Brigade were subsequently sent to Baghdad Iraq to quell rising sectarian violence. The 2nd battalion returned home in December 2006 after 16 months in Iraq.

Notable Awards / Commendations

Private Stephen Sanford, Company C, 2nd Battalion, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for actions in Mosul Iraq during the unit's deployment.

Sergeant First Class Peter Lara, Company C, 2nd Battalion, was awarded the Silver Star for actions in Mosul Iraq during the unit's deployment.

Lineage

• Constituted 1791-03-03 in the Regular Army as the 2d Infantry
• Organized in March 1791 in New England
• Redesignated in 1792 as the Infantry of the 2d Sub-Legion
• Redesignated 1796-10-31 as the 2d Infantry
• Consolidated May-October 1815 with the 3d and 7th Infantry (both constituted 1808-04-12)
  and the 44th Infantry (constituted 1813-01-29) to form the 1st Infantry.
• Consolidated in April 1869 with the 43d Infantry, Veteran Reserve Corps (constituted 1866-09-21),
  and consolidated unit designated as the 1st Infantry
• Assigned 1918-09-11 to the 13th Division
• Relieved 1919-03-08 from assignment to the 13th Division
• Assigned 1921-07-27 to the 2d Division
• Relieved 1939-10-16 from assignment to the 2d Division
  and assigned to the 6th Division (later redesignated as the 6th Infantry Division)
• Inactivated 1949-01-10 in Korea
• Activated 1950-10-04 at Fort Ord, California
• Relieved 1956-04-03 from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division
• Assigned 1956-05-15 to the United States Military Academy
• Relieved 1958-05-15 from assignment to the United States Military Academy
  and reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
• Withdrawn 1985-03-16 from the Combat Arms Regimental System
  and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
• Redesignated 2005-10-01 as the 1st Infantry Regiment

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

• War of 1812:

1. Canada;
2. Lundy's Lane;
3. New Orleans;
4. Alabama 1814;
5. Florida 1814;
6. Alabama 1815;
7. Louisiana 1815

• Mexican-American War:

1. Monterey;
2. Vera Cruz

• Civil War:

1. Mississippi River;
2. Vicksburg;
3. Missouri 1861;
4. Texas 1861;
5. Mississippi 1862

• Indian Wars:

1. Miami;
2. Creeks;
3. Seminoles;
4. Black Hawk;
5. Apaches;
6. Pine Ridge;
7. Texas 1850

• Spanish-American War:

1. Santiago

• Philippine-American War:

1. Samar 1901

• World War II:

1. New Guinea (with arrowhead);
2. Luzon (with arrowhead)

• Vietnam:

1. Counteroffensive, Phase II;
2. Counteroffensive, Phase III;
3. Tet Counteroffensive;
4. Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
5. Counteroffensive, Phase V;
6. Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
7. Tet 69/Counteroffensive;
8. Summer-Fall 1969;
9. Winter-Spring 1970;
10. Sanctuary Counteroffensive;
11. Counteroffensive, Phase VII;
12. Consolidation I;
13. Consolidation II;
14. Cease-Fire

• War on Terrorism:

1. Iraq

Decorations

• Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for MAFFIN BAY
• Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945
• Valorous Unit Award

1. for QUANG TIN PROVINCE
2. for IRAQ 15 AUGUST 2005 TO 15 DECEMBER 2006

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

"Medal of Honor Citations". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 2008-10-29.

Linda D. Kozaryn. "Private Stephen Sanford receives DSC". United States Army. Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-09-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

• Infantry regiments of the United States Army
• Military units and formations of the Philippine–American War
• Military units and formations of the Spanish–American War
• United States Regular Army Civil War regiments