U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment

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U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment Coat Of Arms
Active	March 26, 1855 - Present
Country	USA
Branch	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Korea
Nickname	Manchu
Motto	Keep Up The Fire!
Colors	Blue and White

1 History
2 Lineage
3 Honors
- 3.1 Campaign Participation Credit
- 3.2 Decorations

[edit] History

The 9th Infantry Regiment is one of the oldest and most decorated active units in the United States Army. The 1st Battalion has served in the War of 1812, Mexican-American War, the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, the China Relief Expedition, the Philippine-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and Panama (Operation Just Cause). The United States Army dispatched the 9th Infantry Regiment to assist the Chinese government during the Boxer Rebellion and China Relief Expedition where the regiment earned the nickname "Manchus".

During the assault on the walled city of Tianjin, three 9th Regiment soldiers won the Congressional Medal Of Honor and the gallant regimental commander, Col. Emerson C. Liscum was killed. His dying words gave the regiment its motto "Keep up the Fire." The regiment captured the city and was awarded with two silver bars from which the Liscum Bowl was formed.

In early October 1917, the Manchus deployed to France as part of the famous "Indianhead" U.S. 2nd Infantry Division. During the course of the war, 9th infantrymen earned battle streamers for their colors at Lorraine, He de France, Aisne-Marne, and St. Mihiel. In 1918, the Manchu Regiment received the French Fourragère for gallantry during the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

The Manchus returned to Europe and combat action during World War II. After breaking out from the beachhead at Normandy, the Manchus waged an 18 hour engagement during the Battle of the Bulge. With the Allied line established, the 9th spearheaded a 1945 drive toward the Siegfried Line. The Manchus crossed the Rhine in March 1945 and advanced rapidly through Saxony in Czechoslovakia, ending the war with many decorations including three Presidential Unit Citations.

The Manchus returned to the Far East and the Korean Peninsula. Manchu troops were the first of the Indianhead Division to touch Korean soil. They were successful in Bloody Ridge, Heartbreak Ridge, Old Baldy, Pork Chop Hill, and T-Bone Hill. During the Korean War, the regiment earned an additional Presidential Unit Citation for its gallant service at Hongchon, and six of it's members received the Medal of Honor, Loren R. Kaufman (September 4 and September 5, 1950), Edward C. Krzyzowski (August 31, [[September 1, [[September 2 and September 3, 1951), Joseph R. Ouellette (August 31, September 1, September 2 and September 3, 1951), David M. Smith (September 1, 1950), Luther H. Story (September 1, 1950) and Travis E. Watkins (August 31, September 1, September 2 and September 3, 1950).

During Operation Just Cause in December 1989, the Manchus were called upon again. Based on their professionalism, tactical competence and courage during this action, infantrymen from the 1st Battalion earned the coveted Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) for the first time since Korea. Initially DOD awarded the CIB to all soldiers who took part in Just Cause but subsequently rescinded them after deciding the award could only be issued to 11-series MOS (infantry). This led to an attempt by a number of 1st battalion infantrymen to return their CIBs in solidarity with the combat medics, air defenders, and others who had to take up the rifle and engage in the same house to house and jungle fighting as the infantry.

The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 9th Infantry Regiment returned to Korea in September 1995. With the deactivation of the regimental headquarters, the 1st Battalion acts as the Regimental Headquarters and maintains the Regimental Colors. Today the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, after a tour of duty in Iraq in 2004 thru 2005 stands ready at Fort Carson, CO, to respond to any crisis in support of the United States' vital interests. The 2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 9th Infantry Regiment continues to stand ready in Korea, to respond to any crisis in support of the United States' vital interests.

In January 1995, the Third Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment; along with augmentation from the 79th Forward Support Battalion and the 13th Engineer Company; deployed from Ft. Lewis, Washington to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in support of Operation Sea Signal where they provided transportation and security for Cuban and Haitian Migrants awaiting immigration into the United States. Task Force 3rd Manchu as they became known returned to Ft. Lewis, Washington in June 1995. August 1995 the 9th Regimental Combat Team at Ft. Lewis, Washington was reflagged as the 1st Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division and the Manchu name and colors returned to the 2nd Infantry Division stationed in Korea.

First Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment recently returned from a tour in Iraq, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II from August 2004 to July 2005 and subsequently based at Fort Carson, Colorado, as part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the Second Infantry Division. In November 2005, the First Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment had the majority of their personnel transferred to the newly activated 3rd Squadron of the 61st Cavalry Regiment as part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the Second Infantry Division. At the same time, the Unit Colors of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry (also a part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team at the time,) was transferred to Vicenza, Italy to be stationed with the 173rd Infantry Brigade (Airborne), the personnel remaining at Fort Carson, CO were transferred to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry and continues to be an active unit today.

The Second Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment is still active today and is part of the 1st Brigade of the Second Infantry Division currently based in Korea.

The Third Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment is not active at this time.

The Fourth Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment has been recently re-activated on June 1, 2006 and is assigned to the newly designated 4th Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division (formerly designated the 2nd United States Cavalry Regement), based at Fort Lewis, Washington. Being that the 4th Brigade is a Stryker Brigade Combat Team, this battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment is now a fully mechanized unit. The battalion is scheduled for deployment to Iraq in the spring of 2007. [1]

[edit] Lineage

Constituted 3 March 1855 in the Regular Army as the 9th Infantry Regiment
Organized 26 March 1855 at Fort Monroe, Virginia
Consolidated in June 1869 with the 27th Infantry (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit designated as the 9th Infantry
Assigned 22 September 1917 to the 2d Division (later redesignated as the 2nd Infantry Division)
Relieved 20 June 1957 from assignment to the 2nd Infantry Division and reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
Withdrawn 29 April 1983 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System
ANNEX
Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 2d Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment
Organized in October 1861 at Camp Thomas, Ohio
Reorganized and redesignated 21 September 1866 as the 27th Infantry Regiment