359th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 359th Infantry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army. It was active in Europe as part of the 90th Infantry Division during World War I and World War II, and components of the regiment were later part of the United States Army Reserve.
359th Infantry Regiment | |
---|---|
Active | 1917–1918 1921-1945 1947-present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Army
|
Type | Infantry |
Motto(s) | Carry On |
Engagements | World War I World War II Global War on Terrorism |
History
World War I
The 359th Infantry Regiment was constituted for World War I at Camp Travis, Texas[lower-alpha 1] on August 5, 1917 as a unit of the National Army.[2] It was organized in September and assigned to the 180th Infantry Brigade, a unit of the 90th Division.[3] After completing individual and collective training, the regiment served in France during the war, including duty in the Villers-en-Haye, Battle of Saint-Mihiel, duty in the Puvenelle Sector of Lorraine, and the Meuse–Argonne offensive.[3] The regiment remained in Europe for post-war occupation duty following the Armistice of November 11, 1918 and was demobilized at Camp Bowie, Texas on June 24, 1919.[2]
Post-World War I
On June 24, 1921, the regiment was reconstituted in the Organized Reserves with headquarters in Dallas and assigned to the 90th Infantry Division.[2] On March 25, 1942, the 359th was called to active service for participation in World War II and was organized and trained at Camp Barkeley, Texas.[2]
World War II
During World War II, the 359th Infantry served in Europe as part of the 90th Infantry Division.[2] It took part in several campaigns, including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes Alsace, and Central Europe.[2] The 359th Infantry Regiment returned to the United States at the end of the war and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on December 26, 1945.[2]
Post-World War II
The 359th Infantry was reactivated on March 24, 1947 as a unit of the Organized Reserve Corps (ORC).[2] Its headquarters was again located in Dallas.[2] In 1952, the ORC was redesignated the United States Army Reserve.[2] On April 1, 1959, the regiment was reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System to consist of 1st Battle Group, a subordinate unit of the 90th Infantry Division.[2]
A reorganization on March 15, 1963 resulted in the 359th Infantry consisting of two battalions, the 1st and 2nd, which remained part of the 90th Infantry Division.[2] 1st and 2d Battalions were inactivated on December 31, 1965 and relieved from assignment to the 90th Infantry Division.[2]
On October 17, 1999, the regiment was reorganized as 1st Battalion, 359th Regiment.[2] 1st Battalion was then allocated to the Army Reserve's 91st Division (Training Support).[2]
Global War on Terrorism
1st Battalion, 359th Regiment was subsequently reallocated from the Army Reserve to the Regular Army.[2] In 2014, the battalion was commended for its contributions to the Global War on Terrorism between June 2004 and January 2005.[2]
Distinctive unit insignia
The 359th Infantry Regiment's distinctive unit insignia (DUI) depicts an oak tree between two fleur-de-lis on a blue field.[4] Blue signifies the Infantry branch.[4] The oak tree signifies the Forest of Argonne and the regiment's participation in the Meuse–Argonne offensive.[4] The fleur-de-lis represent the regiment's participation in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and battles that took place in Lorraine.[4] The DUI also incorporates the regiment's motto, "Carry On".[4] The regiment's coat of arms incorporates the oak tree and fleur-de-lis.[4]
Campaign participation credit
The 359th Infantry Regiment's campaign participation credit includes:[2]
World War I
- St. Mihiel
- Meuse-Argonne
- Lorraine 1918
World War II
- Normandy (with arrowhead)
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes Alsace
- Central Europe
Decorations
Decorations to which the 359th Infantry Regiment is entitled include:[2][4][5]
World War II
- French Croix de Guerre with Palm for MOSELLE-SARRE RIVERS
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for PRETOT, FRANCE (1st Battalion)
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for NORTHERN FRANCE (1st Battalion)
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) (regimental headquarters, headquarters companies of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, Service Company, Medical Detachment)
Global War on Terrorism
Army Superior Unit Award (1st Battalion)
Notable members
- John D. Hawk, World War II recipient of the Medal of Honor[6]
- Forrest E. Everhart, World War II recipient of the Medal of Honor[7]
- Bud Moore, World War II machine gunner in Company D, NASCAR car owner who operated Bud Moore Engineering.[8]
- Samuel Tankersley Williams, commanded Company I, 3rd Battalion during World War I.[9] Subsequently attained the rank of lieutenant general as commander of Military Assistance and Advisory Group, Vietnam.[10]
Notes
- Camp Travis was five miles northeast of downtown San Antonio and adjacent to the northeastern boundary of Fort Sam Houston.[1] It was absorbed by Fort Sam Houston in 1922.[1]
References
- White, Lonnie J. (October 20, 2020) [1952]. "Camp Travis". Handbook of Texas Online. Austin, TX: Texas State Historical Association.
- Director, U.S. Army Center of Military History (September 25, 2002). "359th Regiment Lineage and Honors". U.S. Army Lineage And Honors Information. Washington, DC: Center of Military History, United States Army.
- United States Secretary of War (1920). Battle Participation Credit of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces In France, Belgium, and Italy, 1917–1918. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 36–37 – via Google Books.
- Chief of Military History, United States Army (1953). The Army Lineage Book. Vol. II: Infantry. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 698–699 – via Google Books.
- United States Secretary of the Army (August 22, 2014). "Headquarters, Department of the Army: General Orders No. 2014–59" (PDF). Army Publishing Directorate. Washington, DC: Department of the Army. p. 1.
- McChord Air Force Base Composite Squadron (2013). "Medal of Honor recipient John "Bud" Hawk, DCM speaks with McChord cadets". Civil Air Patrol. McChord Air Force Base, WA.
- Tribe, Henry Franklin (July 5, 2017) [August 1, 1995]. "Everhart, Forrest Eugene, Sr. (1922–1986)". Handbook of Texas Online. Austin, TX: Texas State Historical Association.
- "Veteran of the Day: Bud Moore". Vantage Point. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. November 28, 2017.
- Myer, Harold J. "Jack" (1990). Hanging Sam: A Military Biography of General Samuel T. Williams. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-9293-9812-9 – via Google Books.
- Franklin, Mark (2012). "Military Assistance Advisory Group, Indochina is Re-Designated MAAG, Vietnam: November 1, 1955". vietnamwar50th.com. Washington, DC: Vietnam War Commemoration. Retrieved May 20, 2022.