U.S. 24th Infantry Regiment

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24th Infantry
Image:24 Infantry Regiment Badge.png
24th Infantry Regimental Badge
Active November 1, 1869 - October 1, 1951; August 24, 1995 - Present.
Country USA
Branch Regular Army
Type Organic Regiment
Garrison/HQ Fort Lewis
Nickname San Juan
Motto Semper Paratus (Always Prepared)
Colors Blue and White

The 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry has served as part of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry (Lighting) Division since 24 August 1995 at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Contents

[edit] History

The 24th Infantry Regiment (one of the Buffalo Soldier regiments) was organized on 1 November 1869 from the 38th and 41st Infantry Regiments. All the enlisted soldiers were black, either veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops or freed slaves. From its activation to 1898, the 24th Infantry served throughout the Western United States. Its missions included guarding posts, battling Indians, and protecting roadways against bandits.

24th Infantry Distinctive Unit Insignia
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24th Infantry Distinctive Unit Insignia

[edit] Spanish-American War

1898 saw the 24th Infantry deploy to Cuba as part of the U.S. Expeditionary Force in the Spanish-American War. At the climactic battle of San Juan Hill, the 24th Infantry assaulted and seized the Spanish-held blockhouse and trench system on the hill.

[edit] Philippine-American War

In 1899 the Regiment deployed to the Philippine Islands to help suppress a guerilla movement in the Philippine-American War. The Regiment would return to the Islands again in 1905 and 1911. Though the 24th fought a number of battles in the Philippines, one of the most notable occurred on 7 December 1899, when 9 soldiers from the Regiment routed 100 guerillas from their trenches.

[edit] Mexican Border

In 1916 the 24th Infantry guarded the U.S.-Mexico border to keep the Mexican Civil War from spilling on to U.S. soil. When it did, the 24th joined the "Punitive Expedition" under General Pershing and entered Mexico to fight Pancho Villa's forces. In 1919, rebels and troops of the Mexican government fought in Juarez, Mexico, which borders the U.S. City of El Paso, Texas. The 24th Infantry crossed over again to engage the rebels, ensuring that no violence erupted across the U.S. border.

[edit] World War II

At the start of World War II, the 24th IR was stationed at Fort Benning as School Troops for the Infantry School. They participated in the Carolina Maneuvers of October - December 1941. During World War II, the 24th Infantry fought in the South Pacific Theater as a separate regiment. Deploying on April 4, 1942 from the San Francisco Port of Embarkation, the Regiment arrived in the New Hebrides Islands on May 4, 1942. The 24th moved to Guadalcanal on August 28, 1943, and was assigned to the US XVI Corps. 1st Battalion deployed to Bougainville, attached to the 37th Infantry Division, from March to May, 1944 for Perimeter Defense Duty. The Regiment departed Guadalcanal on December 8, 1944, and landed on Saipan and Tinian on December 19, 1944 for Garrison Duty that included mopping up the remaining Japanese forces that had yet to surrender. The Regiment was assigned to the Pacific Ocean Area Command on March 15, 1945, and then to the Central Pacific Base Command on May 15, 1945, and to the Western pacific Base Command on June 22, 1945.

The Regiment departed Saipan and Tinian on July 9, 1945, and arrived on the Kerama Island Group off Okinawa on July 29, 1945. At the end of the war, the 24th took the surrender of forces on Aka Shima Island, the first formal surrender of a Japanese Imperial Army Garrison. The Regiment remained on Okinawa through 1946.

[edit] Korea

From the end of World War II through 1947, the 24th occupied Okinawa, Japan, after which it relocated to Gifu, Japan. On 1 February 1947, the Regiment reorganized as a permanent regiment of the US 25th Infantry Division. In late June of 1950, soon after North Korea invaded South Korea, the 24th deployed to Korea to assist in what was initially termed a "minor police action." The U.S. Armed Forces severely underestimated the tenacity of the forces it would later face.

The 24th Infantry fought throughout the entire Korean peninsula, from the defense of the "Pusan perimeter" to its breakout and the pursuit of communist forces well into North Korea, to the Chinese counteroffensives, and finally to U.N. counteroffensives that stabilized near the current Demilitarized Zone. The Regiment received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for its defense of the Pusan perimeter. The regiment also had two Medal of Honor recipients, Cornelius H. Charlton and William Thompson.

The cases of Lieutenant Leon Gilbert, court martialed for refusing an order from the 24th's commanding officer (who was white), and of some other members of the 24th helped bring greater attention to problems of segregation and discrimination within the U.S. military.

[edit] Desegregation

Inactivated on 1 October 1951, the soldiers of the Deuce-Four were dispersed to other units. These soldiers continued to serve proudly on active duty through the 1980s, but would have to wait until 24 August 1995 to witness the reactivation of one of the most combat-proven historically black units.

[edit] Lineage

See also Buffalo Soldiers

[edit] Honors

[edit] Campaign Participation Credit

  • Indian Wars:
  1. Comanches
  • Spanish-American War:
  1. Santiago
  • Philippine-American War:
  1. San Isidro;
  2. Luzon 1900
  • World War II:
  1. Northern Solomons;
  2. Western Pacific
  • Korean War:
  1. UN Defensive;
  2. UN Offensive;
  3. CCF Intervention;
  4. First UN Counteroffensive;
  5. CCF Spring Offensive;
  6. UN Summer-Fall Offensive

[edit] Decorations

  1. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for MASAN-CHINJU
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