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17th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 17th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army
infantry regiment
. While the 17th Infantry Regiment was organized on January 11, 1812, it was consolidated with the 3rd Infantry due to extremely heavy losses at Frenchtown, and lost its identity two years later until May 3, 1861, when it was reorganized.
The 17th Infantry Regiment was in the Army of the Potomac
during the American Civil War
in Sykes' Division of the 5th Army Corps, the badge of which was a white cross patee, which is embodied in the coat of arms
and shown on the blue field above and to the left of the stone wall.
At Fredericksburg
. the 17th suffered heavy losses in the assault on the famous stone wall, "For one entire day, (December 14) the men of the 17th lay flat on their faces eighty yards in front of the famous stone wall
, behind which the enemy was posted in large numbers and any movement on their part was sure to draw the fire of rebel sharpshooters.
The five-bastioned fort, shown on the blue shield above and to the right of the stone wall, was the badge of the 5th Army Corps in Cuba
in 1898.
The buffalo, shown on the blue shield bellow the stone wall represents the Regiments glorious history in the Korean war. The "Buffalo" nickname was adopted after one of the Regiment's Commanding Officers in the Korean war, Col. William W. "Buffalo Bill" Quinn.
The shield is blue, being the color representing the infantry.
The Crest is a sea lion
taken from the Spanish Arms of Manila
for the fighting around that city in 1899.
The two arrow
s represent the Indian
campaigns in which the 17th Regiment participated.
World War II
Korean War
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...
infantry regiment
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...
. While the 17th Infantry Regiment was organized on January 11, 1812, it was consolidated with the 3rd Infantry due to extremely heavy losses at Frenchtown, and lost its identity two years later until May 3, 1861, when it was reorganized.
The 17th Infantry Regiment was in the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in Sykes' Division of the 5th Army Corps, the badge of which was a white cross patee, which is embodied in the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
and shown on the blue field above and to the left of the stone wall.
At Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
. the 17th suffered heavy losses in the assault on the famous stone wall, "For one entire day, (December 14) the men of the 17th lay flat on their faces eighty yards in front of the famous stone wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
, behind which the enemy was posted in large numbers and any movement on their part was sure to draw the fire of rebel sharpshooters.
The five-bastioned fort, shown on the blue shield above and to the right of the stone wall, was the badge of the 5th Army Corps in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in 1898.
The buffalo, shown on the blue shield bellow the stone wall represents the Regiments glorious history in the Korean war. The "Buffalo" nickname was adopted after one of the Regiment's Commanding Officers in the Korean war, Col. William W. "Buffalo Bill" Quinn.
The shield is blue, being the color representing the infantry.
The Crest is a sea lion
Sea Lion
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear-flaps, long fore-flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short thick hair. Together with the fur seal, they comprise the family Otariidae, or eared seals. There are six extant and one extinct species in five genera...
taken from the Spanish Arms of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
for the fighting around that city in 1899.
The two arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
s represent the Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
campaigns in which the 17th Regiment participated.
Medal of Honor recipients
Spanish–American War- PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
George BergGeorge BergGeorge Francis Berg was an American soldier serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, Company C - Private Oscar BrookinOscar BrookinOscar Brookin served in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of El Caney.-Medal of Honor citation:His award citation reads:...
, Company C - CorporalCorporalCorporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
Ulysses G. BuzzardUlysses G. BuzzardUlysses G. Buzzard was an American soldier serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, Company C - Private Thomas J. GravesThomas J. GravesThomas J. Graves was a private serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, Company C - First LieutenantFirst LieutenantFirst lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
Benjamin F. HardawayBenjamin F. HardawayBenjamin Franklin Hardaway was a First Lieutenant serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:... - Corporal Norman W. ResslerNorman W. ResslerNorman W. Ressler was a corporal serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, Company D - Second Lieutenant Charles DuVal RobertsCharles DuVal RobertsCharles DuVal Roberts was a United States Army Brigadier General who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in action on July 1, 1898 near El Caney, Cuba.-Early life and career:...
- Corporal Warren J. ShepherdWarren J. ShepherdWarren Julius Shepherd was a corporal serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, Company D - Private Bruno WendeBruno WendeBruno Wende was a private serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, Company C
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...
- Private First ClassPrivate First ClassPrivate First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
Leonard C. BrostromLeonard C. BrostromLeonard C. Brostrom was a soldier in the United States Army who died during the Philippines Campaign of 1944-45 during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during this campaign...
, Company F - Private First Class John F. ThorsonJohn F. ThorsonJohn F. Thorson was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
, Company G
Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
- Private Charles H. BarkerCharles H. Barker- External links :...
, Company K - Captain Raymond HarveyRaymond HarveyRaymond Harvey was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army who served during World War II and the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 9, 1951.-Early years and military service:...
, Company C - Corporal Einar H. Ingman, Jr., Company E
- Private First Class Anthony T. KahoʻohanohanoAnthony T. KahoʻohanohanoAnthony T. Kahoohanohano was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Korean War.-Early life and family:...
, Company H - Corporal William F. LyellWilliam F. LyellWilliam F. Lyell was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 31, 1951.-Medal of Honor citation:Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S...
, Company F - Private First Class Joseph C. RodriguezJoseph C. RodriguezColonel Joseph C. Rodriguez born in San Bernardino, California, was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor - the United States' highest military decoration for his actions near Munye-ri, Korea during the Korean War.-Early years:Rodriguez, a Mexican-American, was raised in the...
, Company F - First Lieutenant Richard Thomas SheaRichard Thomas SheaRichard Thomas Shea, Jr. was a soldier in the United States Army in the Korean War. He was listed as missing in action on July 8, 1953, and was later declared killed in action. Lt. Shea received the Medal of Honor posthumously...
, Company A
Lineage
- Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry
- Organized 6 July 1861 at Fort PrebleFort PrebleFort Preble is a military fort in South Portland, Maine, United States. It is now on the campus of Southern Maine Community College.Henry A. S. Dearborn built this second-system fortification as an "embargo fort" in 1808 and named it in honor of Commodore Edward Preble...
, Maine - Reorganized and redesignated 13 December 1866 as the 17th Infantry
- Consolidated 1 June 1869 with the 44th Infantry44th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 44th Infantry Regiment was part of USAFFE's Philippine Division during World War II.-History of the 44th Infantry Regiment:...
, Veteran Reserve Corps (constituted 21 September 1866), and consolidated unit designated as the 17th Infantry - Assigned 5 July 1918 to the 11th Division11th Division11th Division or 11th Infantry Division may refer to:Infantry divisions :* 11th Division * 11th Reserve Division * 11th Bavarian Infantry Division * 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland...
- (2d and 3d Battalions inactivated 1 October 1921 at Fort McIntosh, TexasFort McIntosh (Texas)Fort McIntosh was a military base in Laredo, Webb County, Texas, that existed from 1849 to 1946.Fort McIntosh was established in 1849 to guard the Texas frontier at the site of a strategicriver crossing...
; activated 24 June 1922 at Fort Crook, Nebraska) - Relieved 24 March 1923 from assignment to the 11th Division11th Division11th Division or 11th Infantry Division may refer to:Infantry divisions :* 11th Division * 11th Reserve Division * 11th Bavarian Infantry Division * 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland...
and assigned to the 7th Division - Relieved 15 August 1927 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 6th Division
- (2d Battalion inactivated 31 October 1929 at Fort Des MoinesFort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training SchoolThe Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School in Des Moines, Iowa was where African Americans were trained to be officers for the U.S. Army during World War I. The grounds of Fort Des Moines were used for U.S. Army training beginning in 1901, and the all-Black 25th Infantry Regiment...
, Iowa) - Relieved 1 October 1933 from assignment to the 6th Division and assigned to the 7th Division (later redesignated as the 7th Infantry Division)
- (2d Battalion activated 1 July 1940 at Camp Ord, California)
- Relieved 1 July 1957 from assignment to the 7th Infantry Division and reorganized as a parent regimentParent regimentMany armies use different regimental systems. The United States Army, among others, uses the parent regiment system.In this system, adopted in 1957 under the Combat Arms Regimental System, or CARS, regiments are simply there to preserve units' lineage, and few regiments actually are complete...
under the Combat Arms Regimental System - (4th Battalion activated 1984)
- Withdrawn 16 November 1986 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
- (4th Battalion inactivated 1993)
- Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 17th Infantry Regiment
- (4th Battalion activated in Jan 2011 at Fort Bliss TX under 1st Brigade 1st Armored Division)
Campaign participation credit
- Civil War: PeninsulaPeninsulaA peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
; Manassas; Antietam; FredericksburgBattle of FredericksburgThe Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
; ChancellorsvilleBattle of ChancellorsvilleThe Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
; GettysburgBattle of GettysburgThe Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
; Wilderness; Spotsylvania; Cold HarborBattle of Cold HarborThe Battle of Cold Harbor was fought from May 31 to June 12, 1864 . It was one of the final battles of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign during the American Civil War, and is remembered as one of American history's bloodiest, most lopsided battles...
; PetersburgSiege of PetersburgThe Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
; Virginia 1862; Virginia 1863 - Indian Wars: Little Big HornBattle of the Little BighornThe Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
; Pine Ridge; North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
1872 - War with Spain: Santiago
- Philippine Insurrection: ManilaBattle of Manila (1899)The Battle of Manila, the first and largest battle fought during the Philippine–American War, was fought on 4 and February 5, 1899, between 12,000 Americans and 15,000 Filipinos. Armed conflict broke out when American troops, under orders to turn away insurgents from their encampment, fired upon an...
; Malolos; San IsidroSan Isidro, Nueva EcijaSan Isidro is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest Philippine census, it has a population of 44,687 people in 8,340 households....
; Tarlac; MindanaoMindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
; LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
1899; Luzon 1900 - Mexican Expedition: Mexico 1916-1917
- World War II: Aleutian Islands (with arrowhead); Eastern Mandates (with arrowhead); LeyteLeyteLeyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
; Ryukyus (with arrowhead) - Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring OffensiveSpring OffensiveThe 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953 - Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I; Consolidation II; Cease-Fire
- Armed Forces Expeditions: PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
(with arrowhead) - Operation Iraqi Freedom: August 2005 to December 2006 Mosul and Baghdad
- Operation Enduring Freedom: July 2009 to July 2010 Kandahar Province, Afghanistan
- War on Terrorism: Campaigns to be determined
Decorations
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for LeyteLeyteLeyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationPresidential Unit Citation (Korea)The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is issued by the government of South Korea to both Korean military and foreign units. The last major issuance of the decoration was during the Korean War when the decoration was bestowed to several U.S., U.K., and Commonwealth military units...
for INCHON - Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1950-1953
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1952-1953
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1945-1948; 1953–1957
See also
- 2nd Lt Leighton W. Hazelhurst of the 17th Infantry Regiment was the 2nd US MilitaryMilitary of the United StatesThe United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
Pilot to be killed in an airplane crashAviation accidents and incidentsAn aviation accident is defined in the Convention on International Civil Aviation Annex 13 as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, in which a...
June 11, 1912.