39th Infantry Regiment (United States)
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| 39th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
 39th Infantry Regiment coat of arms |
|
| Active | |
| Country | USA |
| Branch | Regular Army |
| Type | Regiment |
| Nickname | Fighting Falcons {World War I} AAA-0 "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime Bar Nothing" {World War II} |
| Motto | D'une Vaillance Admirable {With A Miltiary Courage worth of Admiration} |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II Vietnam |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Col Harry A. "Paddy" Flint {killed 1944} |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia |  |
The United States Thirty-Ninth Infantry Regiment is currently a parent regiment in the United States Army. Originally organized for service in World War I, the 39th fought in most of the conflicts involving the United States during the 20th Century, and since 1990 the Second Battalion has continued to give service as a training unit stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Much of the following is adapted from the text of the regimental history found at the Second Battalion's Home Page at Fort Jackson
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Organization
The 39th Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Syracuse, New York on 1 June 1917 by transfer of veteran troops from the 30th Infantry Regiment.
[edit] World War I
In December, the 39th was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division and in the spring of 1918, sailed for France as part of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. The regiment fought with such valor and distinction during this war that it earned its famous nickname "Fighting Falcons".
[edit] Between wars
During the lull between wars, the regimental crest was designed and approved. Each of the devices in the crest holds significant meaning for the regiment. The shield is blue for infantry. The fleur-de-lis is from the coat of arms of Soissons, a town in France recaptured by the 39th Regiment in 1918. The two trees represent the Groves of Cresnes, the site of the regiment's first military success in France during World War I. The boar's head on the canton is taken from the crest of the 30th Infantry Regiment and indicates the 39th was organized with personnel from the 30th Infantry Regiment. The crest is a falcon's head, for Mount Faucon in Muesse-Argonne. The falcon holds an ivy leaf in its bill, in recognition of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 4th Infantry Division to which the regiment was assigned during World War I. The motto "D'une Vaillance Admirable" is a quotation from the French citation which awarded the Croix De Guerre with Gilt Star to the regiment for its distinguished service in World War I. The motto best translates - "With a Military Courage Worthy of Admiration".
[edit] World War II
During World War II the regiment fought as part of the 9th Infantry Division. The Fighting Falcons of the 39th became the first unit of United States combat troops to set foot on foreign soil when they stormed the beaches of Algiers in November 1942. During fighting in Sicily, Italy, the regiment came under the command of the legendary Colonel Harry A. "Paddy" Flint who gave the regiment its triple A- Bar Nothing slogan …Anything, Anywhere, Anytime - Bar Nothing. The regiment took great pride in the AAA-O slogan, displaying it on their helmets and vehicles, even in combat. When questioned about the soundness of the practice, Colonel Flint confidently declared, "The enemy who sees our regiment in combat, if they live through the battle, will know to run the next time they see us coming." General George Patton commented upon Colonel Flint in the following manner: "Paddy Flint is clearly nuts, but he fights well."
Later in the war, the 39th landed at Utah Beach and fought through France. The Fighting Falcons joined the 47th Infantry Regiment in capturing Roetgen, the first German town to fall in World War II. The 39th fought valiantly through the Battle of the Bulge, helped secure the Remagen bridgehead and roared across Germany as the allied forces finished off the last of the German resistance. When the dust settled following VE day, the 39th Regiment held campaign streamers from some of the bloodiest and most hard fought battles of the war - Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, The Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. It was cited twice by the Belgians for valorous actions and awarded the Belgian Fourageré. It also received two French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the French Fourageré, and three Presidential Unit Citations. It was while fighting in France that the regiment's commander, Col. Flint, was killed in action.
[edit] Vietnam
After a series of inactivations and activations spanning a 20-year period, the 2d Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment was reactivated on 1 February 1966 as part of the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. The 39th answered the call to duty once again in late 1966 when it deployed with the 9th Infantry Division for combat in the Republic of Vietnam. The regiment participated in operation Palm Tree, the 1968 TET battle, and the battle of the Plain of Reeds. When the 2d Battalion returned to Hawaii and deactivated in September, 1969, its battle streamers now included Counteroffensive Phase II, Counteroffensive Phase III, TET Counteroffensive, Counteroffensive Phase IV, Counteroffensive Phase V, Counteroffensive Phase VI, TET 69 Counteroffensive, and Summer-Fall 1969. The battalion had also garnered three Republic of Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palm, The Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal, First Class, two Valorous Unit Awards and its fourth Presidential Unit Citation.
[edit] Post-Vietnam
When the 9th Infantry Division was again reconstituted around 1972, this time at Fort Lewis, Washington, it was established again with the 2d and the 3d Battalions 39th Infantry (the 1st Battalion was serving with the 3d Infantry Division in Germany). It remained a part of the active Army in the 9th Division until the "Old Reliables" were again deactivated around 1982.
Following reactivation and transfer to the Training and Doctrine Command, the 2d Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment departed Fort Dix, New Jersey for Fort Jackson, South Carolina, arriving on 22 August 1990. The battalion is a training command for Basic Combat Training, and is part of the 165th Infantry Brigade at Fort Jackson, organized with a headquarters company and five line (training) companies, designated A through E.
[edit] Awards and recognitions
[edit] Unit citations
For its part in World Wars I, II and the Vietnam Conflict, the 39th Infantry Regiment possesses 21 battle streamers. Its decorations include four Presidential Unit Citations, four French Croix de Guerre (two with Palm and one with Gilt Star), and the Belgian Fourageré.
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered, Contentin Peninsula (1st Battalion)
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered, Cherence Le Roussel (1st Battalion)
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered, Le Desert (2d Battalion)
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered, Ding Tuong Province (2d Battalion)
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered, Ben Tre City, (2d and 3d Battalions {less Companies A,D and E})
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered, Saigon (3d and 4th Battalions)
- French Croix de Guerre with Gold Star, World War I, Streamer embroidered, Aisne-Marne
- Belgian Fourragere, 1940
- Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action on the Meuse River
- Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes
[edit] Medals of Honor
Four soldiers won the U.S. Medal of Honor while serving with the 39th Infantry.
- Peter J. Dalessondro - Company E - World War II
- Edward A. Devore, Jr - Company B, 4th Battalion - Vietnam
- Don J. Jenkins - Company A, 2d Battalion - Vietnam
- David P. Nash - Company B, 2d Battalion - Vietnam
[edit] Campaign streamers
[edit] World War I
- Aisne-Marne
- St. Mihiel
- Meuse-Argonne
- Champagne 1918
- Lorraine 1918
[edit] World War II
- Algeria-French Morocco
- Tunisia
- Sicily
- Normandy
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes-Alsace
- Central Europe
[edit] Vietnam
- Counteroffensive, Phase II
- Counteroffensive, Phase III
- Tet Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase IV
- Counteroffensive, Phase V
- Counteroffensive, Phase VI
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive
- Summer-Fall 1969
