52nd Infantry Regiment (United States)

52nd Infantry Regiment
Regimental color
Active	1917-
Country	United States
Allegiance	Regular Army
Branch	Infantry
Type	Regiment
Role	Stryker
Nickname	“Ready Rifles” (Special Designation) [1]
Motto	Fortis et Certus (Brave and True)
Infantry colors	Blue and White
Engagements	World War I World War II Vietnam War Iraq Campaign
Insignia
Coat of arms
Distinctive unit insignia

U.S. Infantry Regiments
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51st Infantry Regiment	53rd Infantry Regiment

The 52nd Infantry Regiment ("Ready Rifles"^[1]) was first activated June 16, 1917, at Chickamauga, Georgia. The unit first saw combat in Meuse-Argonne, in Northern France, and in Alsace, France, during World War I.

In World War II, the 52nd Infantry, as the 60th Armored Infantry, battled the Germans in central Europe. For actions in Luxembourg, Bastogne, and the Remagen Bridgehead in Germany, the unit was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations.

During the Vietnam War, the 52nd Infantry participated in multiple counter offenses, earning one Presidential Unit Citation and three Meritorious Unit Commendations for operations in Saigon and other areas of Vietnam. The Regiment was reflagged with the establishment of the Army’s first Stryker Brigade Combat Team in May 2000. Most recently, the unit deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, initially helping to facilitate the first democratic election in the country's history and secondly serving as a reserve element for 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team. There are currently five different active-duty Stryker anti-tank companies operating under the 52nd Infantry Regimental colors, spread across the Army’s Stryker Brigades within the 2nd Infantry Division and the 25th Infantry Division.

• A Company: 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
• B Company: 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
• C Company: 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
• D Company: 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
• E Company: Inactive
• F Company: 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division

Contents 1 Heraldic achievements 1.1 Coat of arms 1.1.1 Blazon 1.1.2 Symbolism 1.1.3 Background 1.2 Distinctive unit insignia 2 Lineage 3 Honors 3.1 Campaign participation credit 3.2 Decorations 4 History 4.1 World War II service[2] 4.2 Vietnam service[3] 5 References

Heraldic achievements

Coat of arms

Blazon

• Shield: Azure, on a bend Or a six-pointed mullet Gules; on a sinister canton Argent a fusil of the third bearing a Silver cross patée charged with a Red acorn.

• Crest: On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure, a mace palewise Or.

• Motto: FORTIS ET CERTUS (Brave and True).

Symbolism

• Shield:

1. The shield is blue for Infantry.
2. The charges on the canton represent the 11th Infantry from which this Regiment was formed in 1917.
3. Its first combat service was in World War I in the Gerardmer Sector in Alsace, a short distance west of Colmar.
4. The bend from the arms of Alsace has been charged with the 6th Division shoulder sleeve insignia to show that the Regiment was with that Division in France.

• Crest:

1. The regiment was formed from the 11th Infantry in 1917.
2. Its first combat service was in World War I in the Gerardmer Section in Alsace, a short distance west of Colmar; therefore, a mace taken from the arms of Colmar has been used for the crest.

Background

1. The coat of arms was originally approved for the 52d Infantry Regiment on June 29, 1921.
2. It was redesignated for the 52d Armored Infantry Regiment on September 29, 1942.
3. The insignia was redesignated for the 52d Armored Infantry Battalion on January 6, 1944.
4. It was redesignated for the 52d Infantry Regiment on October 31, 1958.

Distinctive unit insignia

• Description:

1. A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, on a bend Or a six-pointed mullet Gules; on a sinister canton Argent a fusil of the third bearing a Silver cross patée charged with a Red acorn.
2. Attached below the shield a Blue scroll inscribed “FORTIS ET CERTUS” in Silver letters.

• Symbolism:

1. The shield is blue for Infantry.
2. The charges on the canton represent the 11th Infantry from which this Regiment was formed in 1917.
3. Its first combat service was in World War I in the Gerardmer Sector in Alsace, a short distance west of Colmar.
4. The bend from the arms of Alsace has been charged with the 6th Division shoulder sleeve insignia to show that the Regiment was with that Division in France.
5. The motto translates to “Brave and True.”

• Background:

1. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 52d Infantry Regiment on December 5, 1928.
2. It was redesignated for the 52d Armored Infantry Regiment on September 29, 1942.
3. The insignia was redesignated for the 52d Armored Infantry Battalion on November 27, 1956.
4. It was redesignated for the 52d Infantry Regiment on October 31, 1958.

Lineage

• Constituted May 15, 1917 in the Regular Army as the 52nd Infantry Regiment.
• Organized June 16, 1917 at Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
• Assigned November 16, 1917 to the 6th Division.
• Inactivated September 1, 1921 at Camp Grant, Illinois.
• Relieved August 15, 1927 from assignment to the 6th Division and assigned to the 9th Division.
• Relieved October 1, 1933 from assignment to the 9th Division and assigned to the 6th Division.
• Relieved October 1, 1940 from assignment to the 6th Division.
• Redesignated July 15, 1942 as the 52nd Armored Infantry, assigned to the 9th Armored Division, and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas.
• Regiment broken up October 9, 1943 at Camp Young and its elements reorganized and redesignated as elements of the 9th Armored Division as follows:

1. HHC, 52nd Armored Infantry Regiment (less 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions) as the 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion.
2. 1st Battalion as the 60th Armored Infantry Battalion.
3. 2nd Battalion as the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion.
4. 3rd Battalion disbanded, with the assets and personnel being assumed by the 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion.

• Battalions inactivated October 13, 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia.
• Battalions Relieved September 14, 1950 from assignment to the 9th Armored Division; concurrently consolidated to form the 52nd Infantry Regiment and assigned to the 71st Infantry Division.
• Relieved February 25, 1953 from assignment to the 71st Infantry Division; regiment concurrently broken up and its elements redesignated as elements of the 9th Armored Division as follows:

1. HHC, 52nd Infantry Regiment (less 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions) as the 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion.
2. 1st Battalion as the 560th Armored Infantry Battalion.
3. 2nd Battalion as the 527th Armored Infantry Battalion.
4. Former 3rd Battalion reconstituted as the 528th Armored Infantry Battalion.

• 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion relieved July 23, 1956 from assignment to the 9th Armored Division;
• 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion activated August 15, 1956 in Italy.
• 560th, 527th, and 528th Armored Infantry Battalions relieved March 1, 1957 from assignment to the 9th Armored Division.
• 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion inactivated June 24, 1958 in Italy.
• On July 1, 1959, the following actions took place:

1. 52nd, 560th, 527th, and 528th Armored Infantry Battalions consolidated to form the 52nd Infantry Regiment, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System.
2. 560th Armored Infantry Battalion Redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battle Group, 52nd Infantry Regiment.
3. 527th Infantry Battalion Redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battle Group, 52nd Infantry Regiment.

• 1st Battle Group Reorganized and redesignated February 3, 1962 as the 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment, and assigned to the 1st Armored Division.
• On March 23, 1966, the following actions took place:

1. 3rd Battle Group, 52nd Infantry Regiment Redesignated as Company C, 52nd Infantry Regiment.
2. 4th Battle Group, 52nd Infantry Regiment Redesignated as Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment.

• On June 1, 1966, the following actions took place:

1. Company C, 52nd Infantry Regiment Activated at Fort Lewis, Washington.
2. Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Activated at Fort Lewis, Washington.

• Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Arrived in Vietnam on November 26, 1966.
• Company C, 52nd Infantry Regiment arrived in Vietnam on December 1, 1966.
• 1st Battalion Relieved May 12, 1967 from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 198th Infantry Brigade.
• On December 20, 1967, the following actions took place:

1. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 6th Battle Group, 52d Infantry Redesignated as Company F, 52d Infantry, and activated in Vietnam.
2. Company E, 52nd Infantry Regiment arrived in Vietnam.

• 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment arrived in Vietnam on February 10, 1968.
• on February 1, 1969, the following actions took place:

1. Company E, 52nd Infantry Regiment Inactivated in Vietnam.
2. Company F, 52nd Infantry Regiment Inactivated in Vietnam.

• 1st Battalion Relieved February 15, 1969 from assignment to the 198th Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 23rd Infantry Division in Vietnam.
• Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Inactivated November 22, 1969 in Vietnam.
• Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Activated June 30, 1971 in Vietnam.
• 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment Returned from Vietnam on November 1, 1971.
• 1st Battalion Relieved November 30, 1971 from assignment to the 23d Infantry Division.
• Company C, 52nd Infantry Inactivated August 15, 1972 in Vietnam.
• 1st Battalion Assigned September 15, 1972 to the 1st Armored Division
• Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Inactivated November 26, 1972.
• 1st Battalion Inactivated November 16, 1987 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division.
• On January 16, 1988 the following actions took place:

1. Regiment Withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System.
2. 1st Battalion Activated at Fort Irwin, California.

• 1st Battalion Assigned October 16, 1991 to the 177th Armored Brigade
• 1st Battalion Inactivated October 15, 1994 at Fort Irwin, California, and relieved from assignment to the 177th Armored Brigade
• Company F, 52d Infantry Activated June 16, 1996 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
• Company C, 52nd Infantry Regiment Assigned September 16, 2000 to the 2nd Infantry Division and activated at Fort Lewis, Washington.
• Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry redesignated December 19, 2001 as Company A, 52nd Infantry
• Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Assigned July 16, 2002 to the 25th Infantry Division and activated at Fort Lewis, Washington.
• Company A, 52nd Infantry Regiment Assigned January 16, 2004 to the 172nd Infantry Brigade and activated at Fort Wainwright, Alaska
• On October 1, 2005, the following actions took place:

1. Regiment Redesignated as the 52nd Infantry Regiment.
2. Company A, 52nd Infantry Regiment Redesignated Company A, 52nd Infantry Regiment.

• On June 1, 2006, the following actions took place:

1. Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Inactivated at Fort Lewis, Washington, and relieved from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division.
2. Company F, 52nd Infantry Regiment Assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Lewis, Washington.

• On December 16, 2006 the following actions took place:

1. Company A, 52nd Infantry Regiment Inactivated at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and relieved from assignment to the 172d Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
2. Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

• Company A, 52nd Infantry Regiment Assigned April 17, 2007 to the 5th Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Honors

Campaign participation credit

• World War I:

1. Meuse-Argonne;
2. Alsace 1918

• World War II:

1. Rhineland;
2. Ardennes-Alsace;
3. Central Europe

• Vietnam:

1. Counteroffensive, Phase II;
2. Counteroffensive, Phase III;
3. Tet Counteroffensive;
4. Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
5. Counteroffensive, Phase V;
6. Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
7. Tet 69/Counteroffensive;
8. Summer-Fall 1969;
9. Winter-Spring 1970;
10. Sanctuary Counteroffensive;
11. Counteroffensive, Phase VII;
12. Consolidation I;
13. Consolidation II;
14. Cease-Fire

• War on Terrorism:

1. Campaigns to be determined

Decorations

Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for:

1. LUXEMBOURG
2. ST. VITH
3. BASTOGNE
4. REMAGEN BRIDGEHEAD
5. SAIGON - TET OFFENSIVE

• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for:

1. VIETNAM 1967
2. VIETNAM 1968
3. VIETNAM 1968-1969

Army Superior Unit Award for:

1. 1988
2. 1991
3. 2000

• Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm for BASTOGNE; cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Bastogne.

History

World War II service^[2]

Date	Event	Location	Major Command	Notes
27th Armored Infantry Battalion
October 9, 1943	2/52nd Armored Infantry Regiment Reorganized and redesignated as 27th Armored Infantry Battalion.	Camp Young, California	9th Armored Division	Triangularization program
August 20, 1944	Deployment	New York Port Of Embarkation		Assigned to European Theater of War
August 26, 1944	Arrival in England			Training and equipping for entry to France
August 29, 1944	Arrival in France			Unit prepared to join 9th Armored Division]]
September 15, 1944	Start of Rhineland Campaign			Unit entered combat
December 16, 1944	Retasked to Ardennes-Alsace Campaign
January 25, 1945	Ardennes-Alsace Campaign concluded.			Unit returned to Rhineland Campaign
March 21, 1945	Rhineland Campaign concluded			Unit transitioned to Central Europe Campaign
March 22, 1945	Start of Central Europe Campaign			Start of final phase of European War.
May 9, 1945	Official surrender of German forces			Mopping up and start of Occupation
May 11, 1945	Central Europe Campaign declared complete			Unit moved to occupation location
August 14, 1945	Termination of all hostilities in all theaters	Wunsiedel, Germany		Unit continued occupation and preparation for DEROS
October 13, 1945	Unit arrived at Hampton Roads Port Of Embarkation	Newport News, Virginia		Unit prepared for inactivation
27th Armored Infantry Battalion inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia
52nd Armored Infantry Battalion
October 9, 1943	HHC/52nd Armored Infantry Regiment Reorganized and Redesignated as 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion	Camp Polk, Louisiana	9th Armored Division	Triangularization
August 20, 1944	Deployment	New York Port Of Embarkation		Assigned to European Theater of War
August 26, 1944	Arrival in England			Training and equipping for entry to France
August 29, 1944	Arrival in France			Unit prepared to join 9th Armored Division]]
September 15, 1944	Start of Rhineland Campaign			Unit entered combat
December 16, 1944	Retasked to Ardennes-Alsace Campaign
January 25, 1945	Ardennes-Alsace Campaign concluded.			Unit returned to Rhineland Campaign
March 21, 1945	Rhineland Campaign concluded			Unit transitioned to Central Europe Campaign
March 22, 1945	Start of Central Europe Campaign			Start of final phase of European War.
May 9, 1945	Official Surrender of German Forces			Mopping up and start of Occupation
May 11, 1945	Central Europe Campaign declared complete			Unit moved to Occupation Location
August 14, 1945	Termination of all hostilities in all theaters	Schonwald, Germany		Unit continued occupation and preparation for DEROS
October 13, 1945	Unit arrived at Hampton Roads Port Of Embarkation	Newport News, Virginia		Unit prepared for Inactivation
52nd Armored Infantry Battalion Inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia
60th Armored Infantry Battalion
October 9, 1943	1/52nd Armored Infantry Regiment Reorganized and redesignated as 60th Armored Infantry Battalion	Camp Young, California	9th Armored Division	Triangularization
August 20, 1944	Deployment	New York Port Of Embarkation		Assigned to European Theater of War
August 26, 1944	Arrival in England			Training and equipping for entry to France
August 29, 1944	Arrival in France			Unit prepared to join 9th Armored Division]]
September 15, 1944	Start of Rhineland Campaign			Unit entered combat
December 16, 1944	Retasked to Ardennes-Alsace Campaign
January 25, 1945	Ardennes-Alsace Campaign concluded.			Unit returned to Rhineland Campaign
March 21, 1945	Rhineland Campaign concluded			Unit transitioned to Central Europe Campaign
March 22, 1945	Start of Central Europe Campaign			Start of final phase of European War.
May 9, 1945	Official Surrender of German Forces			Mopping up and start of Occupation
May 11, 1945	Central Europe Campaign declared complete			Unit moved to occupation location
August 14, 1945	Termination of all hostilities in all theaters	Coburg, Germany		Unit continued occupation and preparation for DEROS
October 12, 1945	Unit arrived at Hampton Roads Port Of Embarkation	Newport News, Virginia		Unit prepared for inactivation
60th Armored Infantry Battalion inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia

Vietnam service^[3]

Arrival Date	Base Camp	Forward Location	Major Command	Notes
1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment Arrived in Vietnam on February 10, 1968
February 1968	Chu Lai	Chu Lai	198th Light Infantry Brigade	Light Infantry Role
November 1968	Tam Ky	Tam Ky
December 1968	Chu Lai	Chu Lai
February 1969	Chu Lai	Chu Lai	23rd Infantry Division (United States)	Light Infantry Role
December 1969		Dong Le
April 1970		Long Phu
August 1970		Trung Canh
September 1970		My Son
November 1970		Tri Binh
December 1970		Chu Lai
August 1971		The Loi	11th Infantry Brigade	Light Infantry Role
Battalion DEROS at end of October 1971
Company C, 52nd Infantry Regiment Arrived in Vietnam on December 1, 1966
	Saigon	Saigon	716th Military Police Battalion	Unit had Rifle Security role supporting the Military Police
Company C, 52nd Infantry Regiment DEROS August 15, 1972
Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Arrived in Vietnam on November 26, 1966
November 26, 1966	Long Binh	Long Binh	95th Military Police Battalion	Unit had Rifle Security Role supporting the Military Police
Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment DEROS November 22, 1969
Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment Returned to Vietnam on June 30, 1971
November 26, 1966	Qui Nhon	Qui Nhon	US Army Support Command, Qui Nhon	Unit staffed the Security Facilities of Qui Nhon Depot the Port of Qui Nhon, and the Qui Nhon Army Airfield.
Company D, 52nd Infantry Regiment DEROS November 26, 1972
Company E, 52nd Infantry Regiment Activated in Vietnam on December 20, 1967
December 20, 1967	An Khe	Roving	1st Cavalry Division	Unit operated as a Separate Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Company.
Company E, 52nd Infantry Regiment Inactivated in Vietnam on February 1, 1969
Company F, 52nd Infantry Regiment Activated in Vietnam on December 20, 1967
December 20, 1967	Various	Various	1st Infantry Division.	Unit operated as a Separate Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Company.
Company F, 52nd Infantry Regiment Inactivated in Vietnam on February 1, 1969

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Center of Military History document "52d Infantry Lineage and Honors".

1. ^ ^{a b} "Special Unit Designations". United States Army Center of Military History. 21 April 2010. http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/spdes-123-ra_ar.html. Retrieved June 24, 2010. 
2. ^ Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). Order of Battle: U.S. Army World War II. Novato, California: Presidio Press. pp. 621 W/Index. ISBN 0-89141-195-X. 
3. ^ Stanton, Shelby L. (1981). Vietnam Order Of Battle. New York, New York: Galahad Books. pp. 396 W/Index. ISBN 0-88365-709-0. .

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