143rd Infantry Regiment (United States)

143rd Infantry Regiment

143d Infantry Unit Crest

143rd Infantry Regiment coat of arms
Active Constituted October 15, 1917
Restructured March 16, 1959
Reorganized March 1, 1963
Inactivated August 12, 2001
Reactivated September 1, 2010–Present.
Country USA
Branch United States Army
Type Infantry
Role Airborne Infantry
Garrison/HQ 1st Battalion – Texas
Nickname Third Texas
Motto Arms Secure Peace
Engagements Spanish-American War
Mexican Border Service
World War I
World War II
Global War on Terror
U.S. Infantry Regiments
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142nd Infantry Regiment 145th Infantry Regiment

The 143rd Infantry Regiment is an Army National Guard unit assigned to the 36th Infantry Division. Currently, only one battalion of the regiment is active.

Heraldic Information

Coat of Arms

Blazon

Symbolism

  1. The shield is blue for infantry.
  2. The bend wavy represents the regiment's service on the Mexican boarder, along the Rio Grande.
  3. It also represents the Aisne River in France, where the unit served in World War I.
  4. The oak tree symbolizes the Meuse-Argonne operation, also in World War I.
  5. The gold key represents service in the Spanish-American War.

Background

Lineage and Honors

Lineage

The lineage of subordinate units is as follows:




Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

  1. Meuse-Argonne
  1. Naples-Foggia with Arrowhead;
  2. Anzio;
  3. Rome-Arno;
  4. Southern France with Arrowhead;
  5. Rhineland;
  6. Ardennes-Alsace;
  7. Central Europe
  1. Afghanistan

Unit Decorations

  1. December 2–6, 1944 (3d Battalion and Cannon Company) – COLMAR POCKET
  2. December 6–9, 1944 (2d Battalion) – COLMAR POCKET
  3. August 26–29, 1944 (3d Battalion) – SOUTHERN FRANCE
  4. March 15, 1945 (Company K, 2d Battalion) – CENTRAL EUROPE
  5. March 15–17, 1945 (1st Battalion) – CENTRAL EUROPE
  1. VOSGES

Service

Mexican Border Service

In February 1913, Mexico was in a state of turmoil between two rival factions for power and this prevented commanders in Mexican border towns from paying their soldiers. Concern over this caused County Judge and Sheriff of Cameron County, Texas to appeal to the governor for assistance. In response, Governor Oscar Colquitt sent Texas militia, consisting of two companies of the Third Texas Infantry from Corpus Christi and Houston and two companies of cavalry. They remained until June 1913.[1] The situation got worse, with American citizens being executed in Mexico and various factions conducting cross-border raids into Texas. Some Federal troops were stationed on the boarder and in August 1913, Colquitt sent the entire Third Texas Infantry to Fort Brown along with a battery of light artillery from Dallas. These were relieved by Federal troops in 1914.[2] By 1916, the Third Texas was stationed at Harlingen while in Federal service.[3][4]

World War I

In 1917, the 36th Infantry Division was formed from units in Texas and Oklahoma. The Third Texas and part of the Fifth Texas infantry regiments were organized as the 143d Infantry Regiment at Camp Bowie, Texas.[5] The 143d was assigned to the 72d Infantry Brigade of the division.[6] The 143d was then shipped to France in 1918 with the rest of the division for final combat training and then to the front. In September 1918, the 36th Division was attached to the French Fifth Army.[7] The regiment participated in Meuse-Argonne Offensive from October 7–28, 1918.[5][8]

World War II

The 36th Infantry Division was mobilized on November 25, 1940 at Camp Bowie, including the 143d Infantry. It was shipped to Algeria in early 1943.

Salerno & Liri Valley, Italy

The 143d participated in the landing at Salerno, Italy and continued to fight in Italy during the campaign in the Liri Valley from September 1943 to early 1944. Significant engagements included the Battle of San Pietro and the Rapido River crossing.

Anzio

The regiment was landed to reinforce the Fifth Army on May 19, 1944. It then participated in the breakout and movement to Rome where they were halted by orders to allow other units to catch up.

Southern France

As part of the 36th Division, the 143d landed in Southern France. Moving forward with the 141st Infantry, the regiment was part of the bottleneck that formed the Colmar Pocket. This resulted in the destruction of the German 19th Army.

Vosges, France and Germany

The 143d concluded its combat with actions in Vosges, France and southern Germany. There was a significant battle near Weikersheim, Germany. The regiment then breached the Siegfried Line and moved forward as far as the Rhine river.

Global War on Terror

Afghanistan

The 143rd was mobilized the day after Thanksgiving in 2011. It conducted mobilization training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and deployed to Afghanistan in February 2012 to conduct missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The primary mission of the 143rd was service as security forces (SECFOR) for Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) throughout the country. Headquarters and Headquarters Company was assigned to the capital city, Kabul helping to secure and manage the operation of multiple bases in the area.

Notable Awards / Commendations

Medal of Honor

Distinguished Service Cross

The following unit members were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross:

References

  1. ↑ Pierce, Frank Cushman (1917). A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company,. pp. 78–79.
  2. ↑ Pierce, Frank Cushman (1917). A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company,. p. 82.
  3. ↑ Pierce, Frank Cushman (1917). A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company,. p. 106.
  4. ↑ Texas Adjutant General (1916). Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Texas. Austin, Texas: State of Texas. p. 136.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Garey, Enoch Barton; Ellis, Olin Oglesby; & Magoffin, Ralph Van Deman (1920). American Guide Book to France and Its Battlefields. New York: Macmillan. pp. 247–49.
  6. ↑ Chastaine, Ben-Hur (1920). Story of the 36th: the experiences of the 36th division in the world war. Oklahoma City: Harlow Publishing Co. pp. 1–14.
  7. ↑ Chastaine, Ben-Hur (1920). Story of the 36th: the experiences of the 36th division in the world war. Oklahoma City: Harlow Publishing Co. p. 61.
  8. ↑ War Department (1920). Battle participation of organizations of the American expeditionary forces in France, Belgium, and Italy. 1917–1918. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 24.
  9. ↑ Brokaw, Tom; Williams, Brian; Hanson, Victor Davis (2011). Medal of Honor. New York: Artisan Books. p. 82. ISBN 9781579654627.
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.