57th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 57th Infantry Regiment was a unit in the Philippine Scouts
Philippine Scouts
The Philippine Scouts was a military organization of the United States Army from 1901 until the end of World War II. Made up of native Filipinos assigned to the United States Army Philippine Department, these troops were generally enlisted and under the command of American officers, however, a...

. During their combat in Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...

 members received 1 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...

, 21 Distinguished Service Crosses and 68 Silver Stars.

History

The 57th was formed in 1917 and transferred to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 in 1921 and was one of the original units of the Philippine Division.

Lineage

Constituted 15 may 1917 in the regular Army as the 57th infantry. Organized 1 June 1917 at Camp Wilson, Texas from personnel of the 19th infantry. Assigned to the 15th Infantry Division 31 July 1918. Relieved from the 15th Division 18 May 1919. Transfered, without personnel, to the Philippine Department
Philippine Department
The Philippine Department was a regular US Army unit, defeated in the Philippines, during World War II. The mission of the Philippine Department was to defend the Philippine Islands and train the Philippine Army...

 and consolidated with 2nd Philippine Infantry (Provisional)(Organized 5 April 1918 from the 4th, 10th, and 15th Battalions, and the 72nd 73rd, 74th, and 75th Companies, Philippine Scouts) and redesignated 57th infantry (Philippine Scouts) 2 December 1920.
Assigned to the Philippine Division 22 October 1921. Surrendered with the Luzon Force to the Japanese 14th Army in the Philippine islands 9 April 1942.

Reorganized 6 April 1946 in the Philippine islands and 1st Battalion expanded and redesignated 78th Infantry (Philippine Scouts); Concurently new 1st Battalion constituted and organized. Inactivated 1 June 1949 in the Philippine islands. Disbanded 10 October 1951.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

  • Description

A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Parti per fess Argent and Azure, in chief a sea lion holding in dexter paw a musket with bayonet Gules, in base a mullet within a wreath both of the first; on a canton of the second a rock of the first charged with a shoulder strap of a second lieutenant of Infantry of 1863 Proper. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Silver scroll inscribed “ANYWHERE-ANYTIME” in Blue letters.
  • Symbolism

The Regiment was organized in 1917 at Fort Sam Houston by transfer of men from the 19th. The shield is of the Infantry colors with the station of the Regiment indicated by the sea lion of the Philippines holding the musket in the upper portion of the shield and the device of Texas, the star and wreath, in the lower part denoting the place of birth. The parentage of the Regiment is shown in the canton which displays the crest of the 19th United States Infantry. The 19th was a portion of General George H. Thomas’ command at Chickamauga in 1863. At the end of the second day (September 20) the entire Federal line had given way excepting Thomas. The 19th held but it had been so roughly used, four officers and 51 men fit for duty, that at sundown the remains of the entire Regiment was in command of a Second Lieutenant. This is shown by the rock and the shoulder strap.
  • Background

The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 24 March 1924. It was rescinded/cancelled on 4 March 1976.

Blazon

  • Shield

Parti per fess Argent and Azure, in chief a sea lion holding in dexter paw a musket with bayonet Gules, in base a mullet within a wreath both of the first; on a canton of the second a rock of the first charged with a shoulder strap of a second lieutenant of Infantry of 1863 Proper.
  • Crest

None.
  • Motto

ANYWHERE ANYTIME.
  • Symbolism
  • Shield

The Regiment was organized in 1917 at Fort Sam Houston by transfer of men from the 19th. The shield is of the Infantry colors with the station of the Regiment indicated by the sea lion of the Philippines holding the musket in the upper portion of the shield and the device of Texas, the star and wreath, in the lower part denoting the place of birth. The parentage of the Regiment is shown in the canton which displays the crest of the 19th United States Infantry. The 19th was a portion of General George H. Thomas’ command at Chickamauga in 1863. At the end of the second day (September 20) the entire Federal line had given way excepting Thomas. The 19th held but it had been so roughly used, four officers and 51 men fit for duty, that at sundown the remains of the entire Regiment was in command of a Second Lieutenant. This is shown by the rock and the shoulder strap.
  • Crest

None.
  • Background

The coat of arms was approved on 5 June 1922. It was rescinded/cancelled on 4 March 1976.

Campaign Participation Credit

  • Philippine Insurrection:
  1. Luzon 1901
  2. Luzon 1902.
    • World War-II
  3. Philippine Islands.

Decorations

  1. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BATAAN (57th Infantry cited per WD GO 32, 1942);
  2. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered LUZON 1941-1942 (57th Infantry cited per WD GO 14, 1942);
  3. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINES (57th Infantry cited per WD GO 22, 1942 as amended byh DA GO 46, 1948);
  4. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 7 DECEMBER 1941 TO 10 MAY 1942 (57th Infantry cited per DA GO 47, 1950).

See also

  • Alexander R. Nininger
    Alexander R. Nininger
    Alexander R. Nininger Jr. was a Second Lieutenant of the Philippine Scouts who received the Medal of Honor during World War II.-Biography:...

     - Medal of Honor Recipient.
  • Arthur W. Wermuth
    Arthur W. Wermuth
    Arthur William Wermuth, Jr., dubbed the "One-Man Army of Bataan," was a United States Army officer during World War II and a prisoner of war from April 1942 until August 1945.-Background:...

    - Distinguished Service Cross recipient dubbed "One man army of Bataan"

External links

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