28th Infantry Regiment (United States)

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division has reformed into a Battalion-sized Task Force. Designated 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, the Black Lions

28th Infantry Regiment

Coat of arms
Active 1901–30
1940–45
1950–present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Army
Type Infantry
Garrison/HQ 1st Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia, 2nd Battalion at Grafenwoehr, Germany
Nickname(s) "Lions of Cantigny" (special designation)[1]
Motto Vincit amor patriae (Love of Country Conquers)
Engagements

Philippine–American War
World War I

World War II

Vietnam War

Iraq War

War in Afghanistan
Commanders
Honorary Commander Brig. Gen. (Ret.) James E. Shelton
Honorary CSM Cmd. Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) John Terry
Notable
commanders
Lt. Col. Terry de la Mesa Allen, Jr.
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
U.S. Infantry Regiments
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27th Infantry Regiment 29th Infantry Regiment

Since the establishment of the United States Army in 1775, three regiments have held the designation 28th Infantry Regiment. The first was a provisional unit that was constituted on 29 January 1813 and served during The War of 1812. The second was a reorganization and redesignation of 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment on 1 October 1866 for the American Indian Wars. This incarnation of the 28th Infantry Regiment lasted until 15 March 1869, when it was consolidated back into the 19th Infantry Regiment. The third version of the 28th Infantry Regiment is the one that has the permanent designation and history, and is the one this article is about.

History

The regiment first saw combat service from December 1901 to January 1904 during the Philippine–American War where the regiment was heavily involved in counter-guerrilla operations. During the years 1906–1908, the regiment, minus one battalion, performed guard and police duty as part of the American forces of Cuban Occupation.

In 1913, the 28th Infantry was ordered to Texas to assist in guarding the Mexican border against raids by Pancho Villa. Following the entry of the US into World War I, the regiment was assigned on 8 June 1917 to the First Expeditionary Division which later became the 1st Infantry Division. On 29 June 1917, the men of Company K became the first American combat unit to set foot on European soil at Saint-Nazaire, France.

The 28th Infantry again distinguished itself in combat during World War II as part of the 8th Infantry Division. After landing on Utah Beach on 4 July 1944, its first action was an attack to the south to establish a critical bridgehead over the Ay River so that armored divisions could launch a breakout and then attack into Brittany and Northern France. During its ten months of combat, the regiment played a major part in four allied campaigns – winning three Presidential Unit Citations embroidered Normandy, Bergstein and Stockheim. It captured over 115,000 prisoners and vast stores of enemy material.

In 1963, Operation Long Thrust VI deployed 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry from Fort Riley, Kansas to West Germany, where it proceeded through Communist East Germany to Berlin, "front line of the Cold War." 1st Battle Group Black Lions were present during President Kennedy's memorable "Ich bin ein Berliner" visit and returned to Fort Riley later that year.

In 1965, the 1st and 2nd Battalions were deployed to South Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division. Early 1970 saw the end of the participation of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 28th Infantry in this war. After almost 5 years of combat in South Vietnam, the colors of both battalions were re-deployed to Fort Riley. Two members of the 1st Battalion, First Lieutenant Gary L. Miller of Company A and Captain Euripides Rubio of Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) were awarded the Medal of Honor, both posthumously, for their heroism. On 5 March 1966, 2LT Robert John Hibbs, of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division was awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor. 2LT Hibbs was the first member of The First Infantry Division to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the Republic of Vietnam.

1st Battalion deployed in support of "The Surge", to Baghdad, Iraq, in February 2007. During their service in the Rashid district of Baghdad, Shia/Sunni violence in the area ceased. The cessation of violence in Baghdad led to the "reconciliation" that would help to ensure peace in the capital. 1st Battalion returned to Ft Riley, KS in April 2008.

2nd Battalion deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XI–XII in May 2011, to the Paktika Province of Afghanistan. They were relieved by 1st Battalion in May 2012, marking the first time since Vietnam the two battalions fought together. 1st Battalion oversaw the transition from US forces to Afghan forces leading operations against insurgent operations. 1st Battalion redeployed to Fort Riley, KS in February 2013.

Lineage

1st Battalion Constituted in the Regular Army as Company A, 28th Infantry Regiment.
2nd Battalion Constituted in the Regular Army as Company B, 28th Infantry Regiment.
1st Battalion Organized 10 June 1901.
2nd Battalion Organized 17 June 1901.
HHC, 1st Battalion became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry, and remained assigned to the 8th Infantry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
HHC, 2nd Battalion became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battle Group, 28th Infantry, relieved from assignment to the 8th Infantry Division, and assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
HHC, 1st Battle Group Reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment.
HHC, 2nd Battalion was Activated.
2nd Battalion:2 October 1965
1st Battalion 10 October 1965
HHC, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment became Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment
HHC, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment became Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment.

Honors

Campaign participation credit

  1. Mindanao
  • World War I:
  1. Montdidier-Noyon;
  2. Aisne-Marne;
  3. St. Mihiel;
  4. Meuse-Argonne;
  5. Lorraine 1917;
  6. Lorraine 1918;
  7. Picardy 1918
  • World War II:
  1. Normandy;
  2. Northern France;
  3. Rhineland;
  4. Central Europe
  1. Defense;
  2. Counteroffensive;
  3. Counteroffensive, Phase II;
  4. Counteroffensive, Phase III;
  5. Tet Counteroffensive;
  6. Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
  7. Counteroffensive, Phase V;
  8. Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
  9. Tet 69/Counteroffensive;
  10. Summer-Fall 1969;
  11. Winter-Spring 1970
  • Global war on Terrorism
  1. February 2007 – April 2008 Baghdad Iraq
  2. September 2009 – August 2010 Balad Iraq
  3. May 2012 – present Paktika Province, Afghanistan

Decorations

  1. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for NORMANDY
  2. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BERGSTEIN
  3. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for STOCKHEIM
  4. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for TAY NINH PROVINCE (1st Battalion Only)
  1. Valorous Unit Award for LO KE RUBBER PLANTATION (2nd Battalion Only)
  2. Valorous Unit Award for BAGHDAD 2007-2008 (1st Battalion, Less Company C Only)
  3. Valorous Unit Award for BAGHDAD MAR-NOV 2007 (1st Battalion, Company C Only)
  4. Valorous Unit Award for AFGHANISTAN 2011-2012 (2nd Battalion only)
  1. Meritorious Unit Commendation for Operation Iraqi Freedom (1st Battalion only)
  2. Meritorious Unit Commendation for IRAQ 2008-2009 (2nd Battalion only)
  3. Meritorious Unit Commendation for IRAQ OCT 2008-SEP 2009 (2nd Battalion, Company A only)
  4. Meritorious Unit Commendation for AFGHANISTAN 2012-2013 (1st Battalion Only)
  1. French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I for Picardy
  2. French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I for Aisne-Marne
  3. French Croix de Guerre, World War I, Fourragere
  1. Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for Vietnam 1965–1968
  2. Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for Vietnam 1969–1970

Medal of Honor recipients

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

Further reading

External links

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