3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 3rd United States Infantry Regiment is a regiment
of the US Army
. It currently has three active battalions, and is readily identified by its nickname, The Old Guard, as well as Escort to the President. The regimental motto is Noli Me Tangere
(from Latin
: - Touch me Not). The regiment is a major unit of the Military District of Washington (MDW).
The regiment is the oldest active unit of infantry in the Army, having been first organized as the First American Regiment
in 1784.
and Dignified Transfer
s at Dover Air Force Base
. Old Guard Soldiers also perform all dignified transfers of fallen Soldiers returning to the United States.
The Old Guard's ceremonial task list includes Full Honor Arrivals for visiting dignitaries, Wreath Ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns
, and Full Honor Reviews in support of senior Army leaders and retiring Soldiers. Special events include the Twilight Tattoo, a weekly performance in the adjacent Washington area on Wednesday evenings from May to July, and the Spirit of America, a historical pageant presented at three national venues in September.
The Old Guard is the only unit in the U.S. Armed Forces authorized, by a 1922 decree of the War Department
, to march with fixed bayonets in public parade. This was granted in honor of the 1847 bayonet charge by Old Guard troops during the Battle of Cerro Gordo
in the war with Mexico. The Old Guard is also the sole remaining regular combat unit to issue the standard M14 rifle
to the ranks.
In addition to the marching platoons, there are also elements of The Old Guard that serve special roles unique both to the regiment as well as the US Army. Among these include the Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns
, maintaining a twenty-four hour watch over one of the nation's most sacred sites; the Continental Color Guard, which presents the nation's colors at special events across the Capitol Region; the Presidential Salute Battery, which renders honors to General Officers and senior dignitaries at Arrival Ceremonies, Wreath Ceremonies, Reviews, and Full Honors Funerals; and the US Army Caisson Platoon, which provides horses and riders to pull caisson (the wagon that bears a casket) in military
and state funeral
s. Caisson Platoon also provides the riderless horses used in Full Honors funerals and supports wounded warriors participating in the Therapeutic Riding Program.
Other elements of The Old Guard include the Commander-in-Chief's guard (Company A), replicating the personal guard of General George Washington; wearing Colonial blue uniforms, powdered wigs, and tricorn hats; and bearing Brown Bess muskets and halberds at ceremonies and special events; the US Army Drill Team, which demonstrates its skill and precision around the nation, and Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
, which plays traditional arrangements of marching music, dating back to the time of the Continental Army
. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps marches in Colonial style red coated uniforms—to be "better seen through the smoke of battle"; the uniforms also include tricorn hats and white powdered wigs. The drum major
of the Fife and Drum Corps traditionally bears an espontoon
(an historic pike-like weapon) in his right hand to direct and command his unit. As such, he is the only soldier in all the U.S. Armed Forces authorized to bear a spontoon and to salute with the left hand (although US Navy personnel are allowed to salute with the left hand under certain conditions). Rounding out The Old Guard's capabilities are the 289th Military Police Company, the 947th Military Working Dog Detachment, the 529th Regimental Support Company, two battalion headquarters companies, and the regimental headquarters company.
unit and thus required to meet standards for certification in its combat role. The unit also trains for its support role to civil authorities in a wide-range of scenarios and for deployments in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
In 2003, The Old Guard deployed for the first time since the Vietnam War
. Bravo Company was dispatched to the Horn of Africa
, where it established a forward base in rural Ethiopia
. The base and missions, intended primarily to train Ethiopian military personnel, were part of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), a Global War on Terrorism
operation. In 2007, the regiment's Delta company was deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti
as part of CJTF-HOA, supporting humanitarian missions and local military training in the region. Charlie Company deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, in 2009 to execute its theater internment support mission.
Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division ('Indian Head'). After a 31-year hiatus from service, the 2nd Battalion was reactivated on 15 March 2001 as part of the US Army's first Stryker Brigade Combat Team. It deployed to Iraq again in 2009.
(Light)(Separate), which in turn was the round-out brigade for the Regular Army's 6th Infantry Division (Light), based at Fort Richardson and Fort Wainwright
, Alaska. The 205th Infantry Brigade was headquartered at Fort Snelling, Minnesota until its inactivation.
The 5th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell
, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 21 July 1969 at Fort Campbell
, Kentucky.
The 6th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell
, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 1 February 1969 at Fort Campbell
, Kentucky.
The 7th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell
, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 25 July, concurrent with the inactivation of the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell
, Kentucky.
:
Oscar Burkard
of the U.S. Army Hospital Corps, attached to the 3rd U.S. Infantry, received the Medal of Honor
for his actions on 5 October 1898 in the Battle of Sugar Point
at Leech Lake
, Minnesota
. It is listed by the U.S. Office of Medical History as the last Medal of Honor awarded in an Indian campaign
.
The Old Guard participated in one of the first battles of the Indian Wars
- the Harmar Campaign
in 1790- and one of the last battle of the Indian Wars- the Battle of Sugar Point
in 1898.
ANNEX
War of 1812
American Civil War
Indian Wars
Vietnam
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 US 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 currently has three active battalions, and is readily identified by its nickname, The Old Guard, as well as Escort to the President. The regimental motto is Noli Me Tangere
Noli me tangere
Noli me tangere, meaning "don't touch me" / "touch me not", is the Latin version of words spoken, according to , by Jesus to Mary Magdalene when she recognizes him after his resurrection....
(from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: - Touch me Not). The regiment is a major unit of the Military District of Washington (MDW).
The regiment is the oldest active unit of infantry in the Army, having been first organized as the First American Regiment
First American Regiment
The First American Regiment was the first peacetime regular army force authorized by United States Congress after the American Revolutionary War...
in 1784.
Mission statement
The 3rd US Infantry Regiment's mission is to conduct memorial affairs to honor fallen comrades and ceremonies and special events to represent the U.S. Army, communicating its story to United States citizens and the world. On order, The Old Guard conducts Defense Support of Civil Authorities in the National Capital Region and deploys elements in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.Memorial affairs and ceremonial mission
Memorial affairs missions include Standard Honor and Full Honors Funerals in Arlington National CemeteryArlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
and Dignified Transfer
Dignified Transfer
A Dignified Transfer is the U.S. military's ceremonial reception of the remains of fallen U.S. military personnel from overseas. The best-known such transfers are at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; soldiers from the 3rd U.S...
s at Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base located two miles southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware.-Units:...
. Old Guard Soldiers also perform all dignified transfers of fallen Soldiers returning to the United States.
The Old Guard's ceremonial task list includes Full Honor Arrivals for visiting dignitaries, Wreath Ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns
Tomb of the Unknowns
The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to American service members who have died without their remains being identified. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in the United States...
, and Full Honor Reviews in support of senior Army leaders and retiring Soldiers. Special events include the Twilight Tattoo, a weekly performance in the adjacent Washington area on Wednesday evenings from May to July, and the Spirit of America, a historical pageant presented at three national venues in September.
The Old Guard is the only unit in the U.S. Armed Forces authorized, by a 1922 decree of the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
, to march with fixed bayonets in public parade. This was granted in honor of the 1847 bayonet charge by Old Guard troops during the Battle of Cerro Gordo
Battle of Cerro Gordo
The Battle of Cerro Gordo, or Battle of Sierra Gordo, in the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's United States troops flank and drive Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position.-Battle:...
in the war with Mexico. The Old Guard is also the sole remaining regular combat unit to issue the standard M14 rifle
M14 rifle
The M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970. The M14 was used for U.S...
to the ranks.
Specialty units
Tomb of the Unknowns
The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to American service members who have died without their remains being identified. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in the United States...
, maintaining a twenty-four hour watch over one of the nation's most sacred sites; the Continental Color Guard, which presents the nation's colors at special events across the Capitol Region; the Presidential Salute Battery, which renders honors to General Officers and senior dignitaries at Arrival Ceremonies, Wreath Ceremonies, Reviews, and Full Honors Funerals; and the US Army Caisson Platoon, which provides horses and riders to pull caisson (the wagon that bears a casket) in military
Military funeral
A military funeral is a specially orchestrated funeral given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards of honor, the firing of volley shots as a salute,...
and state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
s. Caisson Platoon also provides the riderless horses used in Full Honors funerals and supports wounded warriors participating in the Therapeutic Riding Program.
Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps is one of four premier musical organizations of the United States Army. Members perform using musical instruments and wearing uniforms similar to those used by military musicians of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.It is the...
, which plays traditional arrangements of marching music, dating back to the time of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps marches in Colonial style red coated uniforms—to be "better seen through the smoke of battle"; the uniforms also include tricorn hats and white powdered wigs. The drum major
Drum Major
A drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band, usually positioned at the head of the band or corps. The drum major, who is often dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the band or corps, is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble regarding...
of the Fife and Drum Corps traditionally bears an espontoon
Spontoon
A Spontoon is a type of European lance that came into being alongside the pike. The spontoon was in wide use by the mid 17th century, and it continued to be used until the mid to late 19th century....
(an historic pike-like weapon) in his right hand to direct and command his unit. As such, he is the only soldier in all the U.S. Armed Forces authorized to bear a spontoon and to salute with the left hand (although US Navy personnel are allowed to salute with the left hand under certain conditions). Rounding out The Old Guard's capabilities are the 289th Military Police Company, the 947th Military Working Dog Detachment, the 529th Regimental Support Company, two battalion headquarters companies, and the regimental headquarters company.
Other operations
Although The Old Guard primarily functions in a ceremonial role, it is an InfantryInfantry
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...
unit and thus required to meet standards for certification in its combat role. The unit also trains for its support role to civil authorities in a wide-range of scenarios and for deployments in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
In 2003, The Old Guard deployed for the first time since the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Bravo Company was dispatched to the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
, where it established a forward base in rural Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. The base and missions, intended primarily to train Ethiopian military personnel, were part of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), a Global War on Terrorism
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
operation. In 2007, the regiment's Delta company was deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
as part of CJTF-HOA, supporting humanitarian missions and local military training in the region. Charlie Company deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, in 2009 to execute its theater internment support mission.
1st Battalion
-
- HHC, 1st Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG)
- Caisson Platoon
- Presidential Salute Battery
- Headquarters Platoon
- Battalion Staff Sections: (S1, S2, S3, S4, S6)
- Bravo Company
- Escort Platoon
- Casket Platoon
- Firing Party Platoon
- Headquarters Platoon
- Charlie Company
- Escort Platoon
- Casket Platoon
- Firing Party Platoon
- Headquarters Platoon
- Delta Company
- Escort Platoon
- Casket Platoon
- Firing Party Platoon
- Headquarters Platoon
- Hotel Company
- Escort Platoon
- Casket Platoon
- Firing Party Platoon
- Headquarters Platoon
- HHC, 1st Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG)
4th Battalion
The 4th Battalion was reactivated on Fort Myer in 2008. Corresponding with the regimental realignment, the battalion is composed of the following units:-
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 4th Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG)
- Tomb Guards, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- The United States Army Drill Team
- Battalion Staff Sections: (S1, S2, S3, S4, S6)
- Alpha Company (Commander-In-Chief's Guard)
- Three Colonial Marching Platoons
- Echo Company (Honor Guard Company)
- Escort Platoon
- Casket Platoon
- Firing Party
- Continental Color Guard
- 289th Military Police Company289th Military Police CompanyThe 289th Military Police Company was activated on 1 November 1994 and attached to Hotel Company, 3rd Infantry , Fort Myer, Virginia. Hotel Company is the Regiment's specialty company; it is also one of the most diverse organizations in the United States Armed Forces.The unit's most recent...
- Special Reaction Team
- 947th MP Detachment (K-9)
- The Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 4th Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG)
Regimental separate companies
-
- HHC, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG):
- Coordinating Staff
- Ceremonial Equipment Branch
- Communications Platoon
- Chaplains Office
- Public Affairs Office
- Regimental Recruiters
- The Old Guard Museum
- 529th Regimental Support Company
- Headquarters Section
- Food Service Platoon
- Maintenance Platoon
- Transportation Platoon
- Medical Platoon
- HHC, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG):
2nd Battalion
Stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment, serves as one of three infantry battalions of the 3rd StrykerStryker
The IAV Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled, 4-wheel-drive , armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III and produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, in use by the United States Army. The vehicle is named for two American servicemen who posthumously received the Medal of Honor:...
Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division ('Indian Head'). After a 31-year hiatus from service, the 2nd Battalion was reactivated on 15 March 2001 as part of the US Army's first Stryker Brigade Combat Team. It deployed to Iraq again in 2009.
-
- HHC, 2nd Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment
- Reconnaissance Platoon
- Mortar Platoon
- Medical Platoon
- Mobile Gun System (MGS) Platoon
- A Company
- First Platoon
- Second Platoon
- Third Platoon
- HHC, 2nd Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment
-
- B Company
- First Platoon
- Second Platoon
- Third Platoon
- B Company
-
- C Company
- First Platoon
- Second Platoon
- Third Platoon
- C Company
-
- 18th Engineer Company
- First Platoon
- Second Platoon
- Third Platoon
- MS Platoon
- Headquarters Platoon
- 18th Engineer Company
3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th Battalions, 3rd United States Infantry Regiment
The 3rd Battalion, was inactivated on 25 August 1994. From 1963 until its inactivation, it was one of the three light infantry battalions that made up the Army Reserve's 205th Infantry Brigade205th Infantry Brigade (United States)
The 205th Infantry Brigade, was first formed as part of the United States Army Reserve's 103rd Division. It was active from 1921 to 1942 and then from 1963 through 1994, and then reformed in 2006....
(Light)(Separate), which in turn was the round-out brigade for the Regular Army's 6th Infantry Division (Light), based at Fort Richardson and Fort Wainwright
Fort Wainwright
Fort Wainwright is a United States Army post adjacent to Fairbanks in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Fairbanks, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Alaska. The 205th Infantry Brigade was headquartered at Fort Snelling, Minnesota until its inactivation.
The 5th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 21 July 1969 at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, Kentucky.
The 6th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 1 February 1969 at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, Kentucky.
The 7th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 25 July, concurrent with the inactivation of the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, Kentucky.
Medals of Honor
The following 3rd Infantry soldiers have been awarded the Medal of HonorMedal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
:
- Indian Wars
-
- Sergeant James FeganJames FeganSergeant James Fegan was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 2nd and 3rd U.S. Infantry during the American Civil War, and Indian Wars. In March 1868, while escorting a powder train en route from Fort Harker to Fort Dodge, Kansas, he single-handedly prevented a mob from blowing...
, Company H, March 1868, Plum Creek, Kansas - Corporal Leander Herron, Company A, 2 September 1868, near Fort Dodge, Kansas
- Private Robert Smith, Company M, 9 September 1876, Slim Buttes, Montana
- Vietnam War
- Corporal Michael Fleming FollandMichael Fleming FollandMichael Fleming Folland 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 Vietnam War.-Biography:...
, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 3 July 1969, Long Khanh (posthumous)
- Sergeant James Fegan
Oscar Burkard
Oscar Burkard
Oscar R. Burkard was a German-American soldier who served in the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars and World War I. In 1898, he received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Sugar Point...
of the U.S. Army Hospital Corps, attached to the 3rd U.S. Infantry, received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions on 5 October 1898 in the Battle of Sugar Point
Battle of Sugar Point
The Battle of Sugar Point, or the Battle of Leech Lake, was fought on October 5, 1898 between the 3rd U.S. Infantry and members of the Pillager Band of Chippewa Indians in a failed attempt to apprehend Pillager Ojibwe Bugonaygeshig , as the result of a dispute with Indian Service officials on the...
at Leech Lake
Leech Lake
Leech Lake is a lake located in north central Minnesota, United States. It is southeast of Bemidji, located mainly within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, and completely within the Chippewa National Forest. It is used as a reservoir...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. It is listed by the U.S. Office of Medical History as the last Medal of Honor awarded in an Indian campaign
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
.
The Old Guard participated in one of the first battles of the Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
- the Harmar Campaign
Harmar Campaign
The Harmar Campaign was an attempt by the United States to subdue Native Americans in the Northwest Territory in the Autumn of 1790. It was led by General Josiah Harmar and was part of the Northwest Indian War...
in 1790- and one of the last battle of the Indian Wars- the Battle of Sugar Point
Battle of Sugar Point
The Battle of Sugar Point, or the Battle of Leech Lake, was fought on October 5, 1898 between the 3rd U.S. Infantry and members of the Pillager Band of Chippewa Indians in a failed attempt to apprehend Pillager Ojibwe Bugonaygeshig , as the result of a dispute with Indian Service officials on the...
in 1898.
Lineage
- Constituted 3 June 1784 in the Regular Army as the First American RegimentFirst American RegimentThe First American Regiment was the first peacetime regular army force authorized by United States Congress after the American Revolutionary War...
to consist of companies from ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
- Organized August–September 1784 in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (New York and Connecticut companies organized in 1785)
- Redesignated 29 September 1789 as the Regiment of Infantry
- Redesignated 3 March 1791 as the 1st Infantry Regiment
- Redesignated in 1792 as the Infantry of the 1st Sub-Legion
- Redesignated 31 October 1796 as the 1st Infantry Regiment
- Consolidated May–October 1815 with the 5th Infantry Regiment (constituted 12 April 1808), the 17th Infantry Regiment (constituted 11 January 1812), the 19th Infantry Regiment (constituted 26 June 1812), and the 28th Infantry Regiment (constituted 29 January 1813) to form the 3rd Infantry
- Consolidated August–December 1869 with one-half of the 37th Infantry Regiment (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit designated as the 3rd Infantry
- (2nd and 3rd Battalions inactivated 18 November 1921 at Fort Snelling, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
; activated 8 June 1922 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota)
- Assigned 24 March 1923 to the 7th Division
- Relieved 15 August 1927 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 6th Division
- Relieved 1 October 1933 from assignment to the 6th Division and assigned to the 7th Division
- Relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 6th Division
- Relieved 10 May 1941 from assignment to the 6th Division
- (1st Battalion inactivated 1 June 1941 at Fort Leonard WoodFort Leonard Wood (military base)Fort Leonard Wood is a United States Army installation located in the Missouri Ozarks. The main gate is located on the southern boundary of St. Robert. The post was created in December 1940 and named in honor of General Leonard Wood, former Chief of Staff, in January 1941...
, Missouri; activated 14 February 1942 in NewfoundlandDominion of NewfoundlandThe Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
)
- (2nd Battalion (less Headquarters and Headquarters Company) inactivated 1 September 1942 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota (Headquarters and Headquarters Company concurrently inactivated in GreenlandGreenlandGreenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
); battalion activated 22 October 1943 at Camp ButnerCamp ButnerCamp Butner was a United States Army installation in Butner, North Carolina during World War II. It was named after Army General Henry W. Butner....
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
)
- Inactivated 20 November 1946 in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- Regiment (less 2nd Battalion) activated 6 April 1948 at Fort MyerFort MyerFort Myer is a U.S. Army post adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is a small post by U.S...
, Virginia (2nd Battalion concurrently activated at Fort Lesley J. McNairFort Lesley J. McNairFort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army post located on the tip of a peninsula that lies at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. To its west is the Washington Channel, while the Anacostia River is on its south side...
, Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
)
- Reorganized 1 July 1957 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
- Withdrawn 16 January 1986 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
ANNEX
- Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment19th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 19th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment which is assigned to the US Army Training and Doctrine Command, with the assignment of conducting Basic and Advanced Infantry Training.-Civil War:...
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- Organized May 1865 – September 1866 at Fort WayneFort Wayne (Detroit)Fort Wayne is located in the city of Detroit, Michigan, at the foot of Livernois Avenue in the Delray neighborhood. The fort is situated on the Detroit River at a point where it is about a mile to the Canadian shore. The original 1848 limestone barracks still stands, as does the 1845 star...
, Michigan; Newport BarracksNewport BarracksNewport Barracks was a military barracks on the Ohio River, across from Cincinnati, Ohio in Newport, Kentucky. It was operational from 1803 until 1894.-History:In 1803, James Taylor Jr. solicited the help of his cousin, James Madison, who was then U.S...
, Kentucky; and Fort ColumbusFort ColumbusFort Columbus was a fortification and army post in Governors Island, New York Harbor, New York City, New York, from 1806 to 1904.-Fort Jay:Fort Columbus was the name of a fortification and later the army post that developed around it...
, New York
- Reorganized and redesignated 23 November 1866 as the 37th Infantry Regiment37th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 37th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army.-Lineage:Constuted 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as the 37th Infantry. Organized 12 July 1916 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas from personnel of the 3rd, 9th, and 30th Infantry Regiments. Inactivated 20 October 1921 at Fort...
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- One-half of the 37th Infantry consolidated August–December 1869 with the 3rd Infantry and consolidated unit designated as the 3rd Infantry (remaining half of the 37th Infantry consolidated in June 1869 with the 5th Infantry and consolidated unit designated as the 5th Infantry—hereafter separate lineage)
War of 1812War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
- Canada
- ChippewaBattle of ChippawaThe Battle of Chippawa was a victory for the United States Army in the War of 1812, during an invasion of Upper Canada along the Niagara River on July 5, 1814.-Background:...
- Lundy's LaneBattle of Lundy's LaneThe Battle of Lundy's Lane was a battle of the Anglo-American War of 1812, which took place on 25 July 1814, in present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario...
Mexican-American War
- Palo AltoBattle of Palo AltoThe Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground five miles from the modern-day city of Brownsville, Texas...
- Resaca de la PalmaBattle of Resaca de la PalmaAt the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, one of the early engagements of the Mexican-American War,United States General Zachary Taylor engaged the retreating forces of the Mexican Ejército del Norte under General Mariano Arista on May 9, 1846.-Background:During the night of May 8, following...
- MontereyBattle of Monterey-Preliminaries:Prior to the Mexican-American War the Californio forces had already driven the Mexican appointed Governor Manuel Micheltorena and most of his soldiers from Alta California...
- Vera Cruz
- Cerro GordoBattle of Cerro GordoThe Battle of Cerro Gordo, or Battle of Sierra Gordo, in the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's United States troops flank and drive Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position.-Battle:...
- ContrerasBattle of ContrerasThe Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place during August 19–20, 1847, in the final encounters of the Mexican-American War. In the Battle of Churubusco, fighting continued the following day.-Background:...
- ChurubuscoBattle of ChurubuscoThe Battle of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras during the Mexican-American War. After defeating the Mexican army at Churubusco, the U.S. Army was only 5 miles away from Mexico City, the capital of the nation...
- ChapultepecBattle of ChapultepecThe Battle of Chapultepec, in September 1847, was a United States victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.-Background:On September 13, 1847, in the costly Battle of Molino del Rey, U.S...
American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe 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...
- Bull RunFirst Battle of Bull RunFirst Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
- PeninsulaPeninsula CampaignThe Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
- ManassasSecond Battle of Bull RunThe Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
- 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...
- AppomattoxBattle of Appomattox CourthouseThe Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought on the morning of April 9, 1865, was the final engagement of Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia before it surrendered to the Union Army under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and one of the last battles of the American...
- Texas 1861
- Florida 1861
- Florida 1862
- Virginia 1863
Indian WarsIndian WarsAmerican Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
- Miami (Ohio 1794)
- Seminoles (1840–1843)
- Comanches (1868)
- New Mexico 1856
- New Mexico 1857
- New Mexico 1858
- New Mexico 1860
- Montana 1887
VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
- Counteroffensive, Phase II
- Counteroffensive, Phase III
- Tet Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase IV
- Counteroffensive, Phase V
- Counteroffensive, Phase VI
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive
- Summer-Fall 1969
- Winter-Spring 1970
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase VII
- Consolidation I
Iraq War
- Ballad, Tikrit, Mosul (2003–2004)
- Baghdad (2006–2007)
- Muqdadiyah (Diyala Province) (2009–2010)
Decorations
- Valorous Unit AwardValorous Unit AwardThe Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit and is considered the unit equivalent of the Silver Star...
for SAIGON - LONG BINH - Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
(Army) for WASHINGTON, D.C., 1969–1973 - Army Superior Unit Award for 1984–1985
- Army Superior Unit Award for 1993
- Army Superior Unit Award for 2004
- Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
(Awarded to BDE Taskforce which included 2nd Battalion) for 2006 - Valorous Unit AwardValorous Unit AwardThe Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit and is considered the unit equivalent of the Silver Star...
for NAJAF, IRAQ January 2007 (2nd Battalion)