159th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 159th Infantry Regiment was an infantry
regiment
of the United States Army
. It served as a part of the 40th Infantry Division for most of its history before deploying in World War II
as a part of the 7th Infantry Division.
as the in the 80th Infantry Brigade, 40th Infantry Division. It served with the division until 1942.
, California
, under the command of Major General Joseph W. Stilwell.
The 7th Infantry Division was assigned to III Corps of the Fourth United States Army, and that year it was sent to Oregon
for tactical maneuvers. Division units also practiced boat loading at the Monterey Wharf
and amphibious assault techniques at the Salinas River
in California. With the Japan
ese attack of Pearl Harbor
, the division was sent to Camp San Luis Obispo
to continue its training as a combat division. The 53rd Infantry Regiment was removed from the 7th Division and replaced with the 159th Infantry Regiment, newly deployed from the California Army National Guard
.
For the early parts of the war, the division participated mainly in construction and training roles. On April 9, 1942, the division formally redesignated as the 7th Motorized Division. It began training in the Mojave Desert
in preparation for deployment to the African theater. However, it was again designated the 7th Infantry Division on January 1, 1943, when the motorized equipment was removed from the unit and it became a light infantry division once more. It began rigorous amphibious assault training under US Marines from the Fleet Marine Force
, before being deployed to fight in the Pacific theater instead of Africa. General
Holland Smith
oversaw the unit's training.
, the western-most Japanese entrenchment in the Aleutian islands chain. Elements landed on May 11, 1943, spearheaded by the 17th Infantry Regiment, and fought an intense battle
over the tundra against strong Japanese resistance. The fight for the island culminated in a battle at Chichagof Harbor
, when the division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island on May 29, after a suicidal Japanese bayonet
charge. During its first fight of the war, 600 soldiers of the division were killed, while killing 2,351 Japanese and taking 28 prisoners.
According to "Order of Battle: US Army World War II" by Shelby Stanton, the 159th was relieved from the 7th Infantry Division on 23 August 1943 and assigned to the Alaskan Department, and it departed Attu on 9 August 1944. Arriving at the Seattle Port of Embarkation eleven days later, it was transferred to Camp Swift, Texas on 28 August 1944. It moved to Camp Callan, California, on 20 December 1944 before returning to Camp Swift on 28 January 1945. The regiment staged at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 27 February 1945 before departing from the New York Port of Embarkation on 7 March 1945. It arrived in France eleven days later and was attached to the 106th Infantry Division. As part of the 106th, it entered Germany on 25 April 1945. On 4 November 1945 it returned to the New York Port of Embarkation and was inactivated at Camp Shanks, New York on that same date.
The 159th was reactivated in the post-war years as an element of the 49th Infantry Division, 49th Infantry Brigade, and the 40th Infantry Division, undergoing several force reorganizations in the process. It is not currently listed as an active unit of the California Army National Guard.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. It served as a part of the 40th Infantry Division for most of its history before deploying in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a part of the 7th Infantry Division.
World War I
The 159th Infantry Regiment was first constituted and activated in the regular armyRegular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
as the in the 80th Infantry Brigade, 40th Infantry Division. It served with the division until 1942.
World War II
On July 1, 1940, the 7th Infantry Division was reactivated at Camp OrdFort Ord
Fort Ord was a U.S. Army post on Monterey Bay in California. It was established in 1917 as a maneuver area and field artillery target range and was closed in September 1994. Fort Ord was one of the most attractive locations of any U.S. Army post, because of its proximity to the beach and California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, under the command of Major General Joseph W. Stilwell.
The 7th Infantry Division was assigned to III Corps of the Fourth United States Army, and that year it was sent to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
for tactical maneuvers. Division units also practiced boat loading at the Monterey Wharf
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
and amphibious assault techniques at the Salinas River
Salinas River (California)
The Salinas River is the largest river of the central coast of California, running and draining 4,160 square miles. It flows north-northwest and drains the Salinas Valley that slices through the Coast Range south from Monterey Bay...
in California. With the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attack of Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, the division was sent to Camp San Luis Obispo
Camp San Luis Obispo
Camp San Luis Obispo is the original home of the California Army National Guard. It served as an Infantry Division Camp and Cantonment Area for the United States Army during World War II.-History:...
to continue its training as a combat division. The 53rd Infantry Regiment was removed from the 7th Division and replaced with the 159th Infantry Regiment, newly deployed from the California Army National Guard
California Army National Guard
The California Army National Guard is the land force component of the California National Guard, one of the reserve component United States Army and is part of the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers...
.
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
in preparation for deployment to the African theater. However, it was again designated the 7th Infantry Division on January 1, 1943, when the motorized equipment was removed from the unit and it became a light infantry division once more. It began rigorous amphibious assault training under US Marines from the Fleet Marine Force
Fleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
, before being deployed to fight in the Pacific theater instead of Africa. General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Holland Smith
Holland Smith
General Holland McTyeire "Howlin' Mad" Smith, KCB was a General in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He is sometimes called the "father" of modern U.S. amphibious warfare....
oversaw the unit's training.
Aleutian Islands
Elements of the 7th Infantry Division first saw combat in the amphibious assault on Attu IslandAttu Island
Attu is the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, making it the westernmost point of land relative to Alaska and the United States. It was the site of the only World War II land battle fought on the incorporated territory of the United States ,...
, the western-most Japanese entrenchment in the Aleutian islands chain. Elements landed on May 11, 1943, spearheaded by the 17th Infantry Regiment, and fought an intense battle
Battle of Attu
The Battle of Attu, which took place from 11-30 May 1943, was fought entirely between forces of the United States and the Empire of Japan on Attu Island off the coast of Alaska. The action, which was part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign during the Pacific War, was the only land battle of World War...
over the tundra against strong Japanese resistance. The fight for the island culminated in a battle at Chichagof Harbor
Chichagof Harbor
Chichagof Harbor is an inlet on the northeast coast of the island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. It is named after Russian Admiral and polar explorer Vasily Chichagov.-References:...
, when the division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island on May 29, after a suicidal Japanese bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
charge. During its first fight of the war, 600 soldiers of the division were killed, while killing 2,351 Japanese and taking 28 prisoners.
According to "Order of Battle: US Army World War II" by Shelby Stanton, the 159th was relieved from the 7th Infantry Division on 23 August 1943 and assigned to the Alaskan Department, and it departed Attu on 9 August 1944. Arriving at the Seattle Port of Embarkation eleven days later, it was transferred to Camp Swift, Texas on 28 August 1944. It moved to Camp Callan, California, on 20 December 1944 before returning to Camp Swift on 28 January 1945. The regiment staged at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 27 February 1945 before departing from the New York Port of Embarkation on 7 March 1945. It arrived in France eleven days later and was attached to the 106th Infantry Division. As part of the 106th, it entered Germany on 25 April 1945. On 4 November 1945 it returned to the New York Port of Embarkation and was inactivated at Camp Shanks, New York on that same date.
The 159th was reactivated in the post-war years as an element of the 49th Infantry Division, 49th Infantry Brigade, and the 40th Infantry Division, undergoing several force reorganizations in the process. It is not currently listed as an active unit of the California Army National Guard.