| 59th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
coat of arms |
|
| Active | 1917- |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Infantry Branch (United States) |
| Type | Infantry |
| Motto | LET 'EM HAVE IT |
| Branch color | Light Blue |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
| U.S. Infantry Regiments | |
|---|---|
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| 58th Infantry Regiment | 60th Infantry Regiment |
The 59th Infantry Regiment is a Regiment of the United States Army first established in 1917.
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Constuted 15 May 1917 in the Regular Army as the 59th Infantry. Organized 8 June 1917 at Gettysburg National Park, Pennsylvania from personnel of the 4th Infantry Regiment. Assigned to the 4th Infantry Division 19 November 1917. relieved from the 4th Division and demoblized 28 September 1922.
Battalions Inactivated at Camp Cook, California 9-12 November 1945.
16th, 67th, and 59th Armored Infantry Battalions consolidated to form 59th Infantry 22 February 1952. relieved from the 13th Armor Division, and assigned to the 96th Infantry Division, and reorganized 1 March 1952 with Headquarters at Phoenix. reorganized 20 May 1959 as the 59th infantry, a parent Regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System.
World War I
World War II
none
A gold color metal and enamel device consisting of a shield blazoned Or, a bend Azure charged with a ribbon laid potente of the field, on a chief of the second three alerions of the first. Attached below the shield a gold scroll inscribed "LET 'EM HAVE IT" in blue letters.
The symbolism is that of the coat of arms.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 59th Armored Infantry Battalion on 26 Oct 1951. It was redesignated for the 59th Infantry Regiment on 16 Jun 1952. On 5 Aug 1970 the insignia was amended to revise the symbolism.
Or, a bend Azure charged with a ribbon laid potente of the field, on a chief of the second three alerions of the first.
On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure the Lexington Minute Man Proper. Motto LET 'EM HAVE IT.
The 59th Infantry, organized in 1917 by transfer of men from the 4th Infantry, saw hard fighting as a part of the 4th Division in Champaign in the Aisne-Marne engagement, in Lorraine at St Mihiel and at the Meuse-Argonne. In the Aisne-Marne offensive the regiment did gallant service against the Chateau-de-Diable north of the Vesle River. In this action "a squad of machine gunners, in woolen olive drab uniforms were sighted approaching the flank of the 59th from the direction of the Chateau-de-Diable. Cautioned by one of his men that the approaching men were American the Sergeant commanding the flank platoon yelled, 'They come from the wrong direction, let 'em have it.' The dead men were later identified as Germans in American uniforms." The shield is gold with the upper portion of it blue. On the blue portion are three alerions (eagles without feet) in gold from the coat of arms of Lorraine. On the gold portion is a diagonal blue bend charged with the gold fret from the coat of arms of Champaign. The origin of the motto is cited above.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 59th Infantry Regiment, Organized Reserves on 10 Sep 1921. It was amended on 18 Nov 1921 to correct the wording of the blazon. It was redesignated for the 59th Armored Infantry Regiment on 8 Jul 1943. On 30 Nov 1943 the coat of arms was redesignated for the 59th Armored Infantry Battalion. It was amended on 26 Oct 1951. On 16 Jun 1952 it was redesignated for the 59th Infantry Regiment, Organized Reserves. The coat of arms was amended on 24 Sep 1959 to withdraw "Organized Reserves" from the designation and to delete the Organized Reserves' crest. On 5 Aug 1970 it was amended to reinstate the crest of the Army Reserves and revise the symbolism.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Institute of Heraldry document "59th Infantry Regiment".