61st Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 61st Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Army
traditionally associated with the 5th Infantry Division.
. Where it took part in Operation Montana Mauler on the Khe Sanh plateau in 1969,
and the United States invasion of Panama in 1989.
The 1st Battalion of the 61st Infantry Regiment is one of the Basic Combat Training (BCT) units within the US Army. The 61st "Roadrunners" are located in Fort Jackson, South Carolina
. There are six companies, Alpha "gators", Bravo "Bulldogs", Charlie "Roghnecks", and Delta "Dragons", Echo "War Eagles", and Foxtrot "Phantoms" with four platoons in each Company. Alpha has "DeathRow" (1st) "Black Knights" (2nd) "Mad Dawgs" (3rd) and "Hellraisers" (4th)Delta having the War Dawgs (1st), Bone Crushers (2nd), Ruff Ryders (3rd) and Notorious Outlaws (4th). Fox Company has the Renegades (1st), Outlaws (2nd), Nightstalkers (3rd), and Punishers (4th). The 61st is a gender integrated BCT unit.
A silver color metal and enamel device 1 3/32 inches (2.78cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a pale wavy Argent charged with a fusil Gules, on a canton embattled of the second a field gun of the third on a mount Vert.
This regiment was organized in June 1917 from the 7th Infantry and participated in World War I in the 5th Division, the insignia of which is carried on the shield. The wavy pale represents the Meuse River, the crossing of which near Dun in November 1918 was the outstanding operation of the regiment.
The distinctive unit insignia was approved in 10 Jun 1931.
Azure, a pale wavy Argent charged with a fusil Gules. On a canton embattled of the second a field gun of the third on a mount Vert.
On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure a lion rampant Sable armed and langued Gules grasping in his dexter paw the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 5th Division Proper.
Motto
THE BEST LEAD THE REST.
This regiment was organized in June 1917 from the 7th Infantry and participated in World War I in the 5th Division, the insignia of which is carried on the shield and also the crest. The wavy pale represents the Meuse River, the crossing of which near Dun in November 1918 was the outstanding operation of the regiment. The lion of the crest is taken from the arms of Montmédy, the nearest place to Dun having a coat of arms.
The coat of arms was originally approved in 9 Jun 1920. It was amended on 16 Jul 1920 to change the wording in the blazon of the shield. On 25 Oct 1965 the coat of arms was amended to add a motto.
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...
traditionally associated with the 5th Infantry Division.
History
The regiment's camaign honors include Vietnam WarVietnam
Vietnam – 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 –...
. Where it took part in Operation Montana Mauler on the Khe Sanh plateau in 1969,
and the United States invasion of Panama in 1989.
The 1st Battalion of the 61st Infantry Regiment is one of the Basic Combat Training (BCT) units within the US Army. The 61st "Roadrunners" are located in Fort Jackson, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. There are six companies, Alpha "gators", Bravo "Bulldogs", Charlie "Roghnecks", and Delta "Dragons", Echo "War Eagles", and Foxtrot "Phantoms" with four platoons in each Company. Alpha has "DeathRow" (1st) "Black Knights" (2nd) "Mad Dawgs" (3rd) and "Hellraisers" (4th)Delta having the War Dawgs (1st), Bone Crushers (2nd), Ruff Ryders (3rd) and Notorious Outlaws (4th). Fox Company has the Renegades (1st), Outlaws (2nd), Nightstalkers (3rd), and Punishers (4th). The 61st is a gender integrated BCT unit.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description
A silver color metal and enamel device 1 3/32 inches (2.78cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a pale wavy Argent charged with a fusil Gules, on a canton embattled of the second a field gun of the third on a mount Vert.
- Symbolism
This regiment was organized in June 1917 from the 7th Infantry and participated in World War I in the 5th Division, the insignia of which is carried on the shield. The wavy pale represents the Meuse River, the crossing of which near Dun in November 1918 was the outstanding operation of the regiment.
- Background
The distinctive unit insignia was approved in 10 Jun 1931.
Blazon
- Shield
Azure, a pale wavy Argent charged with a fusil Gules. On a canton embattled of the second a field gun of the third on a mount Vert.
- Crest
On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure a lion rampant Sable armed and langued Gules grasping in his dexter paw the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 5th Division Proper.
Motto
THE BEST LEAD THE REST.
- Symbolism
This regiment was organized in June 1917 from the 7th Infantry and participated in World War I in the 5th Division, the insignia of which is carried on the shield and also the crest. The wavy pale represents the Meuse River, the crossing of which near Dun in November 1918 was the outstanding operation of the regiment. The lion of the crest is taken from the arms of Montmédy, the nearest place to Dun having a coat of arms.
- Background
The coat of arms was originally approved in 9 Jun 1920. It was amended on 16 Jul 1920 to change the wording in the blazon of the shield. On 25 Oct 1965 the coat of arms was amended to add a motto.