28th Infantry Regiment (United States)

28th Infantry Regiment

28th Infantry Regiment coat of arms
Active From:1901-02-01
To:1933-09-30
From:1940-10-10
To:1945-11-01
From:1950-08-17
2nd Bn. To:1963-02-01
2nd Bn. From:1964-01-13
2nd Bn. To:1970-04-15
2nd Bn. From:1973-08-31
1st Bn. To:1983-02-28
2nd Bn. To:1984-08-01
From:1987-02-27
2nd Bn. To:1994-09-30
2nd Bn. From:1996-09-16
To:2005-11-16
1st Bn. From:2006-01-16
2nd Bn From:2008-03-16
Country  United States
Allegiance Regular Army
Branch Infantry Branch (United States)
Type Infantry Regiment
Garrison/HQ 1st Battalion at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2nd Battalion at Grafenwoehr, Germany
Nickname Black Lions
Lions of Cantigny (Special Designation) [1]
Motto Vincit amor patriae (Love of Country Conquers).
Colors Blue and White
Engagements Philippine–American War
World War I
*Meuse-Argonne
World War II
*Battle of the Bulge
Vietnam War
*Battle of Ong Thanh
Iraq
Commanders
Honorary Commander Brigadier General (Ret.) James E. Shelton
Honorary CSM Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) John Terry
Notable
commanders
Lt. Colonel Terry de la Mesa Allen, Jr.
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
U.S. Infantry Regiments
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Since the establishment of the United States Army in 1775, three regiments have held the designation 28th Infantry Regiment. The first was a Provisional unit that was constituted on 29 January 1813 and served during The War of 1812. The second was a reorganization and redesignation of 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment on 1 October 1866 for the Indian Wars. This incarnation of the 28th Infantry Regiment lasted until 15 March 1869, when it was consolidated back into the 19th Infantry Regiment. The third version of the 28th Infantry Regiment is the one that has the permanent designation and history, and is the one this article is about.

Contents

History

The regiment first saw combat service from December 1901 to January 1904 during the Philippine–American War where the regiment was heavily involved in counter-guerrilla operations. During the years 1906-1908, the regiment, minus one battalion, performed guard and police duty as part of the American forces of Cuban Occupation.

In 1913, the 28th Infantry was ordered to Texas to assist in guarding the Mexican border against raids by Pancho Villa. Following the entry of the US into World War I, the regiment was assigned on 8 June 1917 to the First Expeditionary Division which later became the First Infantry Division. On 29 June 1917, the men of Company K became the first American combat unit to set foot on European soil at St. Nazair, France.

The 28th Infantry again distinguished itself in combat during World War II as part of the 8th Infantry Division. After landing on Utah Beach on 4 July 1944, its first action was an attack to the south to establish a critical bridgehead over the Ay River so that armored divisions could launch a breakout and then attack into Brittany and Northern France. During its ten months of combat, the regiment played a major part in four allied campaigns - winning three Presidential Unit Citations embroidered Normandy, Bergstein and Stockheim. It captured over 115,000 prisoners and vast stores of enemy material.

In 1963, Operation Long Thrust VI deployed 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry from Fort Riley, Kansas to West Germany, where it proceeded through Communist East Germany to Berlin, "front line of the Cold War." 1st Battle Group Black Lions were present during President Kennedy's memorable "Ich bin ein Berliner" visit and returned to Fort Riley later that year.

In 1965, the 1st and 2nd Battalions were deployed to South Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division. Early 1970 saw the end of the participation of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 28th Infantry in this war. After almost 5 years of combat in South Vietnam, the colors of both battalions were re-deployed to Fort Riley. Two members of the 1st Battalion, 1LT Gary L. Miller of Co A and CPT Euripides Rubio of Headquarter and Headquarters Company (HHC) were awarded the Medal of Honor, both posthumously, for their heroism.

1st Battalion deployed in support of "The Surge", to Baghdad, Iraq, in February 2007. During their service in the Rashid district of Baghdad, Shia/Sunni violence in the area ceased. The cessation of violence in Baghdad led to the "reconciliation" that would help to ensure peace in the capital. 1st battalion returned to Ft Riley, KS in April 2008.

Lineage

1st Battalion Constituted in the Regular Army as Company A, 28th Infantry Regiment.
2nd Battalion Constituted in the Regular Army as Company B, 28th Infantry Regiment.
1st Battalion Organized 10 June 1901.
2nd Battalion Organized 17 June 1901.
HHC, 1st Battalion became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry, and remained assigned to the 8th Infantry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
HHC, 2nd Battalion became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battle Group, 28th Infantry, relieved from assignment to the 8th Infantry Division, and assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
HHC, 1st Battle Group Reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment.
HHC, 2nd Battalion was Activated.
2nd Battalion:2 October 1965
1st Battalion 10 October 1965
HHC, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment became Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment
HHC, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment became Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment.

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

  1. Mindanao
  1. Montdidier-Noyon;
  2. Aisne-Marne;
  3. St. Mihiel;
  4. Meuse-Argonne;
  5. Lorraine 1917;
  6. Lorraine 1918;
  7. Picardy 1918
  1. Normandy;
  2. Northern France;
  3. Rhineland;
  4. Central Europe
  1. Defense;
  2. Counteroffensive;
  3. Counteroffensive, Phase II;
  4. Counteroffensive, Phase III;
  5. Tet Counteroffensive;
  6. Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
  7. Counteroffensive, Phase V;
  8. Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
  9. Tet 69/Counteroffensive;
  10. Summer-Fall 1969;
  11. Winter-Spring 1970
  1. February 2007-April 2008 Baghdad Iraq
  2. September 2009-August 2010 Balad Iraq

Decorations

  1. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for NORMANDY
  2. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BERGSTEIN
  3. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for STOCKHEIM
  4. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for TAY NINH PROVINCE (1st Battalion Only)
  1. French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I for PICARDY
  2. French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I for AISNE-MARNE
  3. French Croix de Guerre, World War I, Fourragere
  1. Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1965-1968
  2. Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1969-1970

Medal of Honor Recipients of the 28th Infantry Regiment

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

Further reading

External links