41st Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The U.S. 41st Infantry Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army. Its 1st Battalion is currently assigned to the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
. Its 3rd Battalion is assigned to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
.
to provide for African American
participation in the defense of the United States. It was consolidated in 1869 with the 38th (Colored) Infantry Regiment to form the 24th (Colored) Infantry Regiment
.
. On 9 July 1918, the Regiment was assigned to the 10th Division at Camp Funston
, Kansas, which was commanded by Leonard Wood
. Here the 41st prepared for deployment to Europe to fight in World War I. In October 1918, the regiment sent an advance party to France to prepare for the deployment, however, the war ended in November so the regiment did not deploy. As part of the general demobilization following the war, the regiment was deactivated on 22 September 1921 at Camp Meade, Maryland.
It was reactivated on 15 July 1940 when the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry was activated as Company A, 41st Infantry (Armored) at Fort Benning
, Georgia. The 41st Infantry Regiment constituted the organic infantry of the newly formed 2nd Armored Division. The association between the 41st Infantry and the 2nd Armored Division lasted throughout World War II and continued through Operation Desert Storm The regimental motto is "Straight and Stalwart", the crest shows a blue shield with a round yellow circle and a castle representing its birthplace at Fort Snelling Minnesota. In the upper left corner a star representing a previous fort in Texas is depicted.
The regiment has received four Presidential Unit Citations from WWII including one for leading the initial breakout in the Normandy Campaign and a later citation for actions in the invasion of Germany itself.
Organized 20 June 1917 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota
(41st Infantry assigned 9 July 1918 to the 10th Division; relieved 18 February 1919 from assignment to the 10th Division)
Inactivated 22 September 1921 at Camp Meade, Maryland
Activated 15 July 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia, as Company A, 41st Infantry (Armored), an element of the 2d Armored Division
Redesignated 8 January 1942 as Company A, 41st Armored Infantry
Reorganized and redesignated 25 March 1946 as Company A, 41st Armored Infantry Battalion, an element of the 2d Armored Division
Reorganized and redesignated 1 July 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Rifle Battalion, 41st Infantry, and remained assigned to the 2d Armored Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
Reorganized and redesignated 1 July 1963 as the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry
Inactivated 15 June 1992 in Germany
Activated 16 December 1992 at Fort Polk, Louisiana
Inactivated 15 December 1995 at Fort Hood, Texas, and relieved from assignment to the 2d Armored Division
Assigned 16 February 1996 to the 1st Armored Division and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment
Relieved 16 April 2007 from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 3d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
Inactivated 15 March 2008 at Fort Riley, Kansas
Activated 16 August 2009 at Fort Bliss, Texas
Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease-Fire
Southwest Asia: Campaigns to be determined
1st Armored Division (United States)
The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
. Its 3rd Battalion is assigned to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
1st Armored Division (United States)
The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
.
Civil War
The 41st United States (Colored) Infantry Regiment was one of six segregated regiments (2 cavalry and 4 infantry) created in 1867 following the American Civil WarAmerican 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...
to provide for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
participation in the defense of the United States. It was consolidated in 1869 with the 38th (Colored) Infantry Regiment to form the 24th (Colored) Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 24th Infantry Regiment was a unit of the United States Army, active from 1869 until 1951, and again from 1995 until 2006. The regiment is notable for having a colorfully checkered history, with a record of mostly meritorious service and valorous combat performance interspersed with episodes of...
.
20th Century
The modern 41st Infantry Regiment was initially formed on 20 June 1917 as Company A, 41st Infantry at Fort Snelling, Minnesota from soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment36th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 36th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-Lineage:The 36th Infantry was formed on 1 July 1916 at Brownsville, Texas from elements of the 4th Infantry, 26th Infantry and 28th Infantry...
. On 9 July 1918, the Regiment was assigned to the 10th Division at Camp Funston
Camp Funston
Camp Funston is located on Fort Riley, and is located southwest of Manhattan, Kansas. The camp was named for Brigadier General Frederick Funston . Camp Funston was one of sixteen Divisional Cantonment Training Camps established at the outbreak of World War I...
, Kansas, which was commanded by Leonard Wood
Leonard Wood
Leonard Wood was a physician who served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Military Governor of Cuba and Governor General of the Philippines. Early in his military career, he received the Medal of Honor. Wood also holds officer service #2 in the Regular Army...
. Here the 41st prepared for deployment to Europe to fight in World War I. In October 1918, the regiment sent an advance party to France to prepare for the deployment, however, the war ended in November so the regiment did not deploy. As part of the general demobilization following the war, the regiment was deactivated on 22 September 1921 at Camp Meade, Maryland.
It was reactivated on 15 July 1940 when the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry was activated as Company A, 41st Infantry (Armored) at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia. The 41st Infantry Regiment constituted the organic infantry of the newly formed 2nd Armored Division. The association between the 41st Infantry and the 2nd Armored Division lasted throughout World War II and continued through Operation Desert Storm The regimental motto is "Straight and Stalwart", the crest shows a blue shield with a round yellow circle and a castle representing its birthplace at Fort Snelling Minnesota. In the upper left corner a star representing a previous fort in Texas is depicted.
The regiment has received four Presidential Unit Citations from WWII including one for leading the initial breakout in the Normandy Campaign and a later citation for actions in the invasion of Germany itself.
Other Units called 41st
- Organized 1861-08-10 at Harrisburg. 41st Pennsylvania Regiment Infantry, 12th PA Reserve Mustered out June 11, 1864 with soldiers transferring to the 109th.
- Constituted 1866-07-28 in the Regular ArmyRegular ArmyThe Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
as the 41st Infantry - Organized 1866-12-25 at Baton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
- Consolidated 1869-03-15 with the 38th Infantry Regiment; consolidated units redesignated as 24th US Infantry Regiment24th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 24th Infantry Regiment was a unit of the United States Army, active from 1869 until 1951, and again from 1995 until 2006. The regiment is notable for having a colorfully checkered history, with a record of mostly meritorious service and valorous combat performance interspersed with episodes of...
.
1 Bn Lineage
Constituted 15 May 1917 in the Regular Army as Company A, 41st InfantryOrganized 20 June 1917 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota
(41st Infantry assigned 9 July 1918 to the 10th Division; relieved 18 February 1919 from assignment to the 10th Division)
Inactivated 22 September 1921 at Camp Meade, Maryland
Activated 15 July 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia, as Company A, 41st Infantry (Armored), an element of the 2d Armored Division
Redesignated 8 January 1942 as Company A, 41st Armored Infantry
Reorganized and redesignated 25 March 1946 as Company A, 41st Armored Infantry Battalion, an element of the 2d Armored Division
Reorganized and redesignated 1 July 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Rifle Battalion, 41st Infantry, and remained assigned to the 2d Armored Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
Reorganized and redesignated 1 July 1963 as the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry
Inactivated 15 June 1992 in Germany
Activated 16 December 1992 at Fort Polk, Louisiana
Inactivated 15 December 1995 at Fort Hood, Texas, and relieved from assignment to the 2d Armored Division
Assigned 16 February 1996 to the 1st Armored Division and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment
Relieved 16 April 2007 from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 3d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
Inactivated 15 March 2008 at Fort Riley, Kansas
Activated 16 August 2009 at Fort Bliss, Texas
Campaign Credits
World War II: Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead); Sicily (with arrowhead); Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central EuropeSouthwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease-Fire
Southwest Asia: Campaigns to be determined
Decorations
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for NORMANDY
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for CHERBOURG
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for PUFFENDORF-ROER
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for ARDENNES
- Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT 1991
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for IRAQ 2004-2005
- Army Superior Unit Award for 1997
- Belgian Fourragere 1940
- Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium
- Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes