| 35th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
35th Infantry Regiment coat of arms |
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| Active | 1916 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Infantry Branch (United States) |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Garrison/HQ | 2d Battalion, Schofield Bks, Hawaii |
| Nickname | Cacti (Special Designation) [1] |
| Motto | Take Arms! |
| Engagements | World War I World War II Vietnam War Afghanistan Campaign Iraq Campaign Operation Champion Sword |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation for Guadalcanal Presidential Unit Citation for Nam River Valorous Unit Award for Quang Ngai Province (1st & 2d Battalions) Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam 1967-1968 (2d Battalion) Meritorious Unit Commendation for Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-2007 (2d Battalion) Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1946 Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for Masan-Chinju Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for Masan-Ni Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for Korea |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
| U.S. Infantry Regiments | |
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| Previous | Next |
| 34th Infantry Regiment | 36th Infantry Regiment |
The 35th Infantry Regiment ("Cacti"[1]) was created on 1 July 1916 at Douglas, Arizona from elements of the 11th, 18th and 22nd Infantry Regiments. The 35th served on the Mexican Border during the First World War and was stationed at Nogales, Arizona in 1918. It fought a border skirmish on August 27, 1918 during the Battle of Ambos Nogales.
In World War II, Korea, and Vietnam it served as part of the 25th Infantry (Tropic Lighting) Division.
As of 2009, the only active element of the regiment is the 2nd Battalion, which is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Infantry), 25th Infantry Division.
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The unit crest and its distinctive unit insignia is a living tribute to the 35th Infantry Regiment. The regiment was originally formed in Arizona from elements of the 11th, 18th, and 22d Infantry Regiments. These organizations are represented on the canton of the crest, in the upper left-hand corner. The white Maltese cross represents the 11th Regiment, the red acorn represents the 18th Regiment, and the embattled partition line of the canton represents the 22nd Regiment. The cactus represents the original service along the Mexican border against the bandits of Pancho Villa.[2]
The regimental motto is "Take Arms!" During the Battle of Ambos Nogales in 1918 when the alarm went out, officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers shouted out, "Take Arms! Take Arms!"[2][3]
The current mission statement of the regiment is the same one of the 25th Infantry:[2]
The 35th Infantry Regiment was stationed at Nogales, Arizona on August 27, 1918, when at about 4:10 PM, a gun battle erupted unintentionally when a Mexican civilian attempted to pass through the border, back to Mexico, without being interrogated at the U.S. Customs house. After the initial shooting, reinforcements from both sides rushed to the border line. Hostilities quickly escalated and several soldiers were killed and others wounded.[4][5][6]
The U.S. 35th Infantry border post had about 15-18 men[3] and requested reinforcements from their garrison. When they arrived they requested the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry. The 10th, commanded by Frederick Herman, came to their aid from their camp outside of town. After observing the situation for a few moments, Lt Colonel Herman ordered an attack on the Mexican and German held hilltops overlooking the border town. Defensive trenches and machine gun placements had been seen being dug there in the previous weeks. Herman wanted Americans there before Mexican reinforcements got there.[4][5]
Under heavy fire, the U.S. 35th Regimental infantry soldiers and dismounted 10th Cavalry troops advanced across the Mexican-American border through the buildings and streets of Nogales, Sonora and up onto the nearby hilltops. This was done while other units of the 35th Regiment held the main line near the border post. About 7:45 PM, the Mexicans waved a large white flag of surrender over their customs building. Lt. Colonel Herman observed and then ordered an immediate cease fire. Snipers on both sides continued shooting for a little while after the cease fire, but were eventually silenced upon orders from their superiors.[3][4][5]
The 35th Regiment was attached to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. It was sent to Guadalcanal, 25 November 1942, to relieve Marines near Henderson Field. First elements landed near the Tenaru River, 17 December 1942, and entered combat, 10 January 1943, participating in the seizure of Kokumbona and the reduction of the Mount Austen Pocket in some of the bitterest fighting of the Pacific campaign. With other units on 5 February 1943 it helped end organized enemy resistance.[7]
A period of garrison duty followed, ending 21 July: On that date, advance elements debarked on Munda, New Georgia. The 35th Infantry, under the Northern Landing Force, took part in the capture of Vella Lavella, 15 August to 15 September 1943. Organized resistance on New Georgia ended, 25 August, and the division moved to New Zealand for rest and training, last elements arriving on 5 December. The 25th was transferred to New Caledonia, 3 February-14 March 1944, for continued training.[7]
The division landed in the San Fabian area of Luzon, 11 January 1945, to enter the struggle for the liberation of the Philippines. It drove across the Luzon Central Plain, meeting the enemy at Binalonan, 17 January. Moving through the rice paddies, the 25th occupied Umingan, Lupao, and San Jose and destroyed a great part of the Japanese armor on Luzon. On 21 February, the division began operations in the Caraballo Mountains. It fought its way along Highway No. 5, taking Digdig, Putlan, and Kapintalan against fierce enemy counterattacks and took Balete Pass, 13 May, and opened the gateway to the Cagayan Valley, 27 May, with the capture of Santa Fe. Until 30 June, when the division was relieved, it carried out mopping-up activities. On 1 July, the division moved to Tarlac for training, leaving for Japan, 20 September. At the end of the war the 35th was involved with occupation duty in Japan.[7]
The 35th Infantry Regiment had three Medal of Honor recipients during World War II, William G. Fournier, Lewis R. Hall and Charles L. McGaha.[7]
Open warfare once again flared in Asia, now the 25th division's primary area of concern, on 25 June 1950. The North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th Parallel on that day in an attack on the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Acting under United Nations orders, the Tropic Lightning Division moved from its base in Japan to Korea between 5–18 July 1950. The 35th fought out of the Pusan perimeter and was part of the successful drive into North Korea in October 1950. In a sudden and unexpected reversal, however, an overwhelming number of Chinese Communist troops crossed the Yalu and pushed back United Nations forces all along the front. The 35th Regiment was forced to carry out a systematic withdrawal and ordered to take up defensive positions on the south bank of the Chongchon River 30 November 1950. Eventually, these lines failed. However, after a series of short withdrawals a permanent battle line was established south of Osan. Then followed the see-saw battles that finally evolved into static warfare along the Iron Triangle into 1952.[7]
The 35th Regiment with the rest of the 25th Infantry Division assumed the responsibility of guarding the approaches of Seoul 5 May 1953. 23 days later, a heavy Chinese assault was hurled at it. The division held its ground and the assault was repulsed; the brunt of the attack was absorbed by the 14th Infantry Regiment ("Golden Dragons"). By successfully defending Seoul from continued attack from May to July 1953, the division earned its second Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. Again negotiators moved toward peace. In July, the division again moved to reserve status at Camp Casey where it remained through the signing of the armistice 27 July 1953. Fourteen division soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor during the Korean War, making the division one of the most decorated US Army divisions of that war.[7]
The Regiment remained in Korea until 1954 and returned to Hawaii from September through October of that year. After a 12-year absence, the 25th Infantry Division had finally returned home.[7]
The 35th Infantry Regiment had three Medal of Honor recipients in Korea, William R. Jecelin, Billie G. Kanell and Donald R. Moyer.[7]
In August 1965, the 35th Regiment started their rotation into the Vietnam War, arriving in South Vietnam. They went to the central highlands at Pleiku. Final units arrived by Christmas 1965. The Regiment was heavily engaged from April 1966 until 1972 throughout the area of operations in Southeast Asia. During this period, 25th Division Tropic Lightning soldiers fought in some of the toughest battles of the war.[7]
During the Tet offensives of 1968 and 1969, Tropic Lightning soldiers were instrumental in defending the besieged city of Saigon. Due to its success in fending off that attack, the 25th Infantry Division spent most of 1970 more involved in the Vietnamization Program than in actual combat. From May through June 1970, The 35th Regiment and the rest of the Tropic Lightning soldiers participated in Allied thrusts deep into enemy sanctuaries located in Cambodia. In these Incursion operations, the division units confiscated thousands of tons of supplies and hundreds of weapons. This operation crippled the Cambodian-based efforts against American units. Following its return from Cambodia to South Vietnam, the division resumed its place in the Vietnamization Program. The war was winding down. By late December 1970, elements of the 35th Regiment were able to begin redeployment to Schofield Barracks. During the war in Vietnam, 22 Medals of Honor were awarded to Tropic Lightning soldiers.[7]
The 35th Infantry Regiment had three Medal of Honor recipients in Vietnam, Stephen Karopczyc, Ronald Eric Ray and Kenneth E. Stumpf.[7]
After its return to Schofield Barracks, the 35th Infantry Regiment became a cadre unit due to the overall military downsizing and was part of a single brigade numbering 4,000 men. The 25th Division was reactivated in March 1972. The 35th Regiment trained for the next eight years throughout the Pacific Theater and continued to improve its combat capabilities with troop deployment varying in size from squads, who participated in training missions with Fijian forces, to exercises as large as Team Spirit, where more than 5,000 divisional troops and 1700 pieces of equipment were airlifted to South Korea for this annual exercise.[7]
In 1985, the 35th Regiment with the rest of the 25th Division began its reorganization from a conventional infantry division to a light infantry division. The four primary characteristics of this new light infantry division were to be: mission flexibility, rapid deployment and combat readiness at 100 percent strength with a Pacific Basin orientation. The 25th Infantry Division earned the designation "light" — the reorganization was completed by 1 October 1986.[7]
In 1988, the 35th Regiment participated in rotations at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. This training center provides the most realistic training available to light forces in the Army. Coupled with Joint/Combined training exercises Cobra Gold in Thailand, Kangaroo in Australia and Orient Shield in Japan, the 25th Division's demanding exercise schedule significantly increased the division's fighting capabilities. Until 1993 Operation Team Spirit in Korea remained the division's largest annual maneuver exercise, involving more than half of the division's strength.[7]
The 35th Regiment units did not participate in Operation Desert Storm, due to the 25th Division being earmarked for Pacific contingencies, such as a renewal of hostilities in Korea.[7]
In 1995, the 25th Division underwent another reorganization and reduction as a part of the Army's downsizing, but most elements of the 35th Regiment were maintained.[7]
In early 2005, an airborne brigade was created at Fort Richardson, Alaska and added to the 25th. Today the "Tropic Lightning" Division is composed of the 1st and 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, respectively), the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Schofield Barracks) and The 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team (based at Fort Richardson, Alaska), in addition to the Combat Aviation Brigade. As a major ground reserve force for the U.S. Pacific Command, the "Tropic Lightning" Division routinely deploys from Schofield Barracks to participate in exercises in Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and the Big Island of Hawaii.[7]
The 35th Regiment and the 3rd Brigade did not take part in the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq from 2001–2003. The 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division began deploying in the Divisional second stage to Afghanistan in March 2004. The 25th Infantry Division redeployed to Schofield Barracks Hawaii in April 2005. One of the missions of the 3rd Brigade was to track down insurgent Taliban and Al-Qaeda members in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan.[7]
In 2005, the 35th Regiment as part of the 3rd Brigade began its transformation as a Unit of Action (UA). The (Light) status was dropped from the 25th Division name in January 2006.[7]
As of March 2009, the 35th Regiment as part of the 3rd Brigade are deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.[7]
In June-August 2009, the 25th Division was deployed in Operation Champion Sword.[7]
The regiment has a honored and decorated history;[2]
* Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered GUADALCANAL
* Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered NAM RIVER
* Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered QUANG NGAI PROVINCE
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2006-2007
* Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945
* Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered MASAN-CHINJU
* Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered MUNSAN-NI
* Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA
* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1967
* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1969
* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1969
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE
The 35th Infantry Regimental history dates from 1916.[2]
(35th Infantry assigned 7 August 1918 to the 18th Division; relieved 14 February 1919 from assignment to the 18th Division; assigned 17 October 1922 to the Hawaiian Division; relieved 1 October 1941 from assignment to the Hawaiian Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division)
Campaign participation credits;[2]
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World War II
Korean War
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Vietnam
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