116th Infantry Regiment (United States)

116th Infantry Regiment

Coat of arms
Active 1741
Country  United States
Branch United States Army
Type Infantry
Size Regiment
Nickname(s) Stonewall Brigade
Motto "Ever Forward"
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
U.S. Infantry Regiments
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115th Infantry Regiment 117th Infantry Regiment

The 116th infantry Regiment is an Infantry regiment in the Virginia Army National Guard.

History

World War 2

The 116th Infantry Regiment played a major role in the European Theater of Operations between 1941-1945. Soldiers from the regiment along with other elements of the 29th Infantry Division, and the 1st Infantry Division were the first troops ashore during the invasion of Europe known as Operation Overlord. Units within the 116th suffered heavy casualties during the landings. With 1st Battalion's Alpha Company taking 96% casualties in the first wave on Omaha Beach. Though the fighting was heavy, the 116th pushed through and enabled the invasion force to establish a foothold in France. Later the 116th paved the way and participated in the assault of Saint Lo.

Lineage

Organized 3 November 1741 in the Virginia Militia as the Augusta County Regiment with headquarters at Beverley's Mill Place (later named Staunton). Elements of the Augusta County Regiment called into active service at various times during the French and Indian War and Dunmore's War and provided the following elements of the Virginia provincial forces:

Augusta County Regiment expanded 31 December 1792 to form the 32d and 93d Regiments Elements of the 32d and 93d Regiments mustered into federal service at various times during the War of 1812

Elements of the 32d and 160th Regiments mustered into federal service 6 January 1847 at Richmond as the Light Infantry Company, 1st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers (also known as the Augusta Volunteers); mustered out of federal service 27 July 1848 at Fort Monroe, Virginia

consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 116th Infantry and assigned to the 29th Infantry Division (United States)

Annex

Organized 13 June 1881 in the Virginia Volunteers from existing companies in central Virginia as the 3rd Regiment of Infantry with headquarters at Charlottesville (Location of Headquarters changed 15 November 1888 to Culpeper; on 12 March 1898 to Warrenton)

Distinctive unit insignia

A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules, a saltire Argent voided throughout per saltire Gray and Azure per cross counterchanged, in chief a fleur-de-lis Or. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold bipartite scroll inscribed "EVER" to dexter and "FORWARD" to sinister in Black letters.

This regiment has the unique distinction of being composed of elements which served in the United States service in the Confederate service and again the federal service and also the units have worn both blue and gray in both the federal and Confederate service. The tradition of Artillery is also in the Regiment. The shield is red with the familiar saltire cross, blue and gray edged with white. The gold fleur-de-lis recalls the service of the regiment in France during World War I.

The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 31 March 1925.

Coat of arms

Blazon

Gules, a saltire Argent voided throughout per saltire Gray and Azure per cross counterchanged, in chief a fleur-de-lis Or.

That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Virginia Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules "Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear with one hand and holding a sword in the other, and treading on Tyranny, represented by a man prostrate, a crown falling from his head, a broken chain in his left hand and a scourge in his right" all Proper. Motto: EVER FORWARD.

Symbolism

This regiment has the unique distinction of being composed of elements which served in the United States service in the Confederate service and again the federal service and also the units have worn both blue and gray in both the federal and Confederate service. The tradition of artillery is also in the regiment. The shield is red with the familiar saltire cross, blue and gray edged with white. The gold fleur-de-lis recalls the service of the regiment in France during World War I.

The crest is that of the Virginia Army National Guard.

Background

The coat of arms was approved on 19 April 1924.

Campaign streamers

Revolutionary War

War of 1812

Civil War (Confederate service)

World War I

World War II

Headquarters Company (Lynchburg Home Guard), 2d Battalion, additionally entitled to: Civil War (Confederate service)

World War I

Company A (Monticello Guard, Charlottesville) and Support Company (Farmville Guard), 2d Battalion, each additionally entitled to: Civil War (Confederate service)

Companies A and B (Alexandria Light Infantry, Manassas), 3d Battalion, each additionally entitled to: Civil War (Confederate service)

Decorations

Headquarters Company (Roanoke) and Company A (Bedford), 1st Battalion, and Headquarters Company (Lynchburg Home Guard), 2d Battalion, each additionally entitled to:

References

    External links

    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 09, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.