Your Regimental Unit History?

[Yimmy]

Given the number of serving or ex-military personel on this site, and how knowing your unit history is pretty much compulsory, I was wondering if anyone had any particularly interesting histories/stories?

I am currently reading "We Were Soldiers... and Young", and got onto thinking of the history of the 7th Cav, what with Custer and then Ia Drang and all that, so what did your unit do?

[Hydro]

Taken from: http://www.army.mod.uk/pwrr/regt_history/who_are_the_pwrr.htm



The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is the senior English Infantry Regiment of The Line. It was formed on 9th September 1992 by the amalgamation of the Queen's Regiment and The Royal Hampshire Regiment. It is the Infantry County Regiment of London, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Middlesex, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands, and forms part of the Queens Division.

HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, formerly The Allied Colonel-in-Chief, was appointed sole Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment in February 1997.

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment has two Regular Battalions (1st Bn and the 2nd Bn), ready for deployment worldwide at a moments notice, and a Territorial Bn, (3rd Bn), with it's headquarters based at Canterbury. The Regiment also has a further two Company's of Territorial Soldiers, which make up The London Regiment and the Royal Rifle Volunteers (RRV) respectively (B&C Coy's).
There are also many Army Cadets and Combined Cadet Forces, that are badged to the Regiment in units and Schools right across the South of England.

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment can trace its history back to 1572 when Queen Elizabeth I reviewed the Trained Bands of London, from which the 3rd of Foot descended. The Regiment's precedence in the British Army dates from the raising of the 2nd of Foot in 1661 for the defence of Tangier, acquired by King Charles II on his marriage to Princess Catherine of Braganza. The nickname "The Tigers", comes from the 67th Foot (South Hampshire Regiment). Having served 21 years unbroken service in India, under active service conditions, King George IV authorised the Tiger sleeve badge in 1826, that is worn by all ranks to this day.

The forebear regiments of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment fought in nearly all the major campaigns and wars in which the British Army was engaged. They won no less than 57 Victoria Crosses, an outstanding record, and were awarded over 550 Battle Honours including the oldest on any Colour: 'Tangier 1662-80'


Also the most recent VC awarded was to Pte Johnson Beharry from 1PWRR in Iraq.

[ed316]

The 3d Marine Regiment first came into existence during the period of international unrest in the early twentieth century. The regiment was formed 20 December 1916, by consolidating Marine detachments from the various ships in the Atlantic Fleet then at anchor in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The early days of the regiment were highlighted by campaigns in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
During World War I, the regiment was heavily involved in the occupation and pacification of the Dominican Republic. As the Dominican crises subsided, the regiment’s role in the Republic also lessened.
Between wars, 3d Marines became a reserve unit stationed in San Francisco, eventually being disbanded in 1937.
The 3d Marine Regiment was reactivated on 16 June 1942, in North Carolina, as part of the World War II military expansion. The regiment fought and bled at Bougainville and Guam. Four medals of Honor were awarded to members of 3d Marines for actions during this period.

Following World War II, the regiment was ordered to China to aid in the disarming of Japanese units and to assist the Nationalist government in the occupation of Northern China in an effort to deny land to the communists.
The regiment did not participate in the United Nations defense of South Korea, but continued to actively train in Hawaii and Japan to remain combat ready.
3d Marines was quick to respond to the call for forces in Vietnam, providing security for the Da Nang Air Base in early 1965. The regiment’s experience level and ability to adapt led to many innovations including the Combined Action Company and the Civic Action Program. Ultimately, 3d Marines was to participate in 48 major operations in the Republic of Vietnam.
Following the retrograde of forces from Vietnam, the regiment was initially relocated to Camp Pendleton and assigned to the 5th Marine Amphibious Brigade. During April of 1971, the regiment became part of the 1st Marine Division. Two months later, the regiment was moved to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, to assume the role of the ground combat component of the 1st Marine Brigade.
The 3d Marine Regiment was one of the first combat forces to deploy to Saudi Arabia in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990. The regiment, which became known as task Force Taro in honor of the state and people of Hawaii, became the first American unit to be engaged by Iraqi artillery, rocket and missile fire on 18 January 1991. Task Force Taro countered the Iraqi supporting attacks by conducting artillery raids into Kuwait as the first ground offensive actions of the war. Task force Taro was instrumental in the recapture of Khafji, was the first unit to advance into Kuwait, conducted the only helicopter borne assault of the war and secured the Marine Corp’s final objective of the war, Kuwait International Airport.
Following the cease-fire on 28 February 1991, the regiment redeployed to Saudi Arabia and subsequently completed its strategic redeployment to Hawaii two months later.
Effective 1 October 1994, the 1st Marine Brigade was deactivated and 3d Marine Division became the regiment’s higher headquarters.

http://1stbattalion3rdmarines.com/3rd-rgt/3mar/History.htm

http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/3mar/right3-3logo2.gif

[Turbo]

2-8 Cavalry History

The story of the 8th Cavalry Stallions begins with the activation of troop B on 23 October 1866 at Angel Island, CA. After being activated, the 8th Cavalry spent the first years in Arizona fighting the Apache and Comanche Indians. The Stallions were moved to Ft. Davis, Texas in 1875. They served along the Mexican border protecting settlers and ranchers from hostile Indians for the next several years. They were again sent to fight Indians in 1890, this time to Montana to fight the Sioux.

Mustang troopers were sent to foreign shores for the first time at the turn of the century. They served in Cuba from 1898 to 1902. Their next overseas duty took them to the Philippines in 1910.

In 1915, the 8th Cavalry was moved again. This time they were moved to Fort Bliss, Texas. Their assignment was to patrol the Mexican - American border to protect ranchers from bandit raids. It was during this assignment that two of the more famous personnel were assigned to 8th Cavalry: Lieutenant George S. Patton and General Pershing.

The 8th Cavalry became part of the 1st Cavalry Division in September 1921. It served as a horse cavalry regiment until 1942, when the Stallions took part in amphibious training. They served in the pacific theater during World War II. Again in 1945, they found themselves in the Philippines. Receiving orders directly from General MacArthur, they drove 100 miles from Luzon to Manila driving a wedge in the enemy lines. They were the "FIRST IN MANILA" and received a Presidential Unit Citation for this action. At the end of WWII, they were ordered to accompany General MacArthur to Japan. They spent the next five years in Japan.

Eighteen days after North Korea moved across the 18th parallel the Stallions made an amphibious landing behind enemy lines. The Stallions remained in Korea until December 1951, when they returned to Japan for another five years.

In September 1963, the 8th Cavalry was reorganized into 2/8 Cavalry, an airborne unit. The Stallions were sent to Vietnam in September 1965. The Stallions saw some of the fiercest battles. B Company was the first unit in the 1st Cavalry Division to receive the Valorous Unit Citation in 1966. The battalion left Vietnam in 1971 and was inactivated in June of 1972.

Reactivated in April 1974, the Stallions found their current home: Fort Hood. This time, they were mechanized. 2/8 Cavalry deployed in August 1990 to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Dessert Storm. The Stallions helped the coalition forces overwhelm the Iraqi forces and secure the freedom of Kuwait, the redeployed back to Fort Hood in April 1991.

In August of 1998, the Stallions were called upon to deploy to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Forge as a part of the peace keeping stabilization force. The 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry occupied Camp Bedrock in September of 1998 and patrolled the Tuzla Corridor. The 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry redeployed back to Fort Hood in March of 1999.

HERE WE STAND READY TO ANSWER THE CALL OF FORCES AROUND THE WORLD.

Coat of Arms

Shield: Assure on a fess or eight mullets pierced of the field, a demi-horse rampant issuant argent.

Crest: On a wreath of the colors, or and azure, a grizzly bear passant sable.

Motto: HONOR AND COURAGE

Unit Crest Meaning

Shield: The eight mullets show the regimental number and Cavalry tradition ascribing the origin of the pierced mullet to the rowel of a spur. This is further indicated by the horse.

Crest: The bear is the emblem of California, where the regiment was organized in 1866.

Lineage and Honors

2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Constituted 28 July 1866 in the Regular Army as Company B., 8th Cavalry.

Organized 23 October 1866 at Presidio of San Francisco, California (Cavalry companies officially designated as troops in 1883) (8th Cavalry assigned in December 1917 to the 15th Cavalry Division; relieved in May 1918 from assignment to the 15th Cavalry; assigned 13 September 1921 to the 1st Cavalry Division; dismounted 28 February 1943 and reorganized 4 December 1943 partly under cavalry and partly under infantry tables of organization and equipment; reorganized wholly as infantry 20 July 1945 but retained cavalry designations)

Redesignated 25 March 1949 as Company B, 8th Cavalry

Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2d Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Cavalry; concurrently, consolidated with 4th Reconnaissance Company (see ANNEX); transferred (less personnel and equipment) from Japan to Fort Lewis, Washington; relieved from assignment to 1st Cavalry Division and assigned to 4th Infantry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated at Fort Lewis, Washington)

Reorganized and redesignated 1 September 1963 as the 2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry; Concurrently relieved from assignment to the 4th Infantry Division and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division

Inactivated 28 June 1972 at Fort Hood, Texas

Activated 20 April 1974 at Fort Hood, Texas



ANNEX

Constituted 20 July 1940 in the Regular Army as the 4th Reconnaissance Troop and assigned to the 4th Division, subsequently the 4th Infantry Division

Activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia

Reorganized and redesignated 10 June 1942 as the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron

Reorganized and redesignated 4 August 1943 as follows:

Troop A as the 4th Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized; Remained assigned to 4th Infantry Division (4th Reconnaissance Squadron [less Troop A] as the 34th Reconnaissance Troop and relieved from assignment to 4th Infantry Division [hereafter separate lineage]) 4th Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized, redesignated 30 July 1945 as the 4th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop Inactivated 12 March 1946 at Camp Butner, North Carolina Redesignated 6 July 1948 as the 4th Reconnaissance Company and activated at Fort Ord, California

CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT

INDIAN WARS

KOREAN WAR

Comanche's

*UN defensive

Apaches

*UN offensive

*Arizona 1867

*CCF intervention

*Arizona 1868

*First UN counteroffensive

*Arizona 1869

*CCF spring offensive

Oregon 1968

*UN summer-fall offensive

Mexico 1877

*Second Korean winter



*Korea, summer-fall 1952



*Third Korean winter





WORLD WAR II

VIETNAM

*new Guinea

*Defense

*Bismarck Archipelago (with arrowhead)

*Counteroffensive

*Leyte

*Counteroffensive, Phase II

*Luzon

*Counteroffensive, Phase III

*Normandy (with arrowhead)

*Tet Counteroffensive

*Rhineland

*Counteroffensive, Phase IV

*Ardennes-Alsace

*Counteroffensive, Phase V

*Central Europe

*Counteroffensive, Phase VI



*Tet 69/Counteroffensive



*Summer-fall 1969



*Winter-spring 1970



*Sanctuary Counteroffensive



*Counteroffensive, Phase VII



*Consolidation I



*Consolidation II



*Cease-fire




DECORATIONS

*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered LUZON

*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered TEAGU

*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE

*Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TAY NINH PROVINCE

*Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK

*Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 to 4 JULY 1945

*Belgian Fourragere 1940

*Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in BELGIUM

*Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES

*Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered WAEGWAN_TAEGU

*Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA

*Chyssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece), Streamer embroidered KOREA

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered Vietnam 1965-1969

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered Vietnam 1969-1970

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered Vietnam 1970-1971

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered Vietnam 1971-1972

Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1696-1970

Company A, 2d Battalion additionally entitled to:

Valorous Unit Award, Streamer Embroidered SONG RE RIVER VALLEY

Company B, 2d Battalion additionally entitle to:

Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered BINH DINH PROVINCE

[Laconian]

The 6th Infantry - The Regulars - earned their nickname at the Battle of Chippewa, in the War of 1812. Because of budget shortages the regiment was clothed in the gray wool worn by militia troops instead of Regular Army Blue. The unit fought with such distinction that the British commander commented, "Those are Regulars, by God!" The name stuck. The cadets at the US Military Academy at West Point were and are dressed in gray to commemorate this battle. When I joined 4/6 in 1985 at Ft. Polk, they had just been reflagged from the 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry. 4/6 was transferred, along with the rest of the 5th ID to Ft. Hood in 1990 (right after 4/6 returned from OPN Just Cause). The unit was deactivated and then reactivated as part of the 2nd AD.

"6th Infantry
(The Regulars)

Lineage and Honors Information as of 7 May 1997

6th Infantry Lineage

Constituted 11 January 1812 in the Regular Army as the 11th Infantry

Organized March-May 1812 in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut

Consolidated May-October 1815 with the 25th Infantry (constituted 26 June 1812) and the 27th, 29th, and 37th Infantry (all constituted 29 January 1813) to form the 6th Infantry

Consolidated 1 May 1869 with the 42d Infantry, Veteran Reserve Corps (constituted 21 September 1866), and consolidated unit designated as the 6th Infantry

Assigned 18 November 1917 to the 5th Division

Relieved in August 1921 from assignment to the 5th Division

Assigned 24 March 1923 to the 6th Division

Relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 6th Division

Reorganized 15 July 1940 as the 6th Infantry (Armored) and assigned to the 1st Armored Division

Redesignated 1 January 1942 as the 6th Armored Infantry

Regiment broken up 20 July 1944 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as elements of the 1st Armored Division as follows:

6th Armored Infantry (less 2d and 3d Battalions) as the 6th Armored Infantry Battalion 2d Battalion as the 11th Armored Infantry Battalion 3d Battalion as the 14th Armored Infantry Battalion

After 20 July 1944 the above units underwent changes as follows:

6th Armored Infantry Battalion converted and redesignated 1 May 1946 as the 12th Constabulary Squadron; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 1st Constabulary Regiment Inactivated 20 September 1947 in Germany Converted and redesignated 10 October 1950 as the 6th Infantry (less 2d and 3d Battalions) and relieved from assignment to the 1st Constabulary Regiment

11th Armored Infantry Battalion converted and redesignated 1 May 1946 as the 11th Constabulary Squadron; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 1st Constabulary Regiment Inactivated 20 September 1947 in Germany Converted and redesignated 7 April 1949 as the 11th Armored Infantry Battalion and relieved from assignment the 1st Constabulary Regiment Redesignated 10 October 1950 as the 2d Battalion, 6th Infantry

14th Armored Infantry Battalion converted and redesignated 1 May 1946 as the 14th Constabulary Squadron; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 15th Constabulary Regiment Inactivated 20 December 1948 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 15th Constabulary Regiment; concurrently converted and redesignated as the 14th Armored Infantry Battalion and assigned to the 1st Armored Division Redesignated 10 December 1950 as the 3d Battalion, 6th Infantry, and relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division

6th Infantry activated 16 October 1950 in Germany

Reorganized 1 June 1958 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System

Withdrawn 16 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System

6th Infantry Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

War of 1812: Canada; Chippewa; Lundy's Lane

Mexican War: Vera Cruz; Cerro Gordo; Churubusco; Molino del Rey; Chapultepec

Civil War: Peninsula; Manassas; Antietam; Fredericksburg; Chancellorsville; *****sburg; Virginia 1862

Indian Wars: Seminoles; Black Hawk; Little Big Horn; Cheyennes; Utes; South Dakota 1823; Kansas 1829; Nebraska 1855; Kansas 1857; North Dakota 1872; North Dakota 1873; Montana 1879

War with Spain: Santiago

Philippine Insurrection: Jolo; Negros 1899; Panay 1900

Mexican Expedition: Mexico 1916-1917

World War I: St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Alsace 1918; Lorraine 1918

World War II: Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead); Tunisia; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; North Apennines; Po Valley

Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I

Armed Forces Expeditions: Panama

Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease-Fire

Decorations

Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for ORAN, ALGERIA

Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for MT. PORCHIA

Valorous Unit Award for LO GIANG

Valorous Unit Award for PANAMA

Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ

Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT

Army Superior Unit Award for 1989"

-from the Center for Military History website

[HOLLiS]

The 3d Marine Regiment first came into existence during the period of international unrest in the early twentieth century.


Ed thank you, I was in 3/3 in 1969. a excellent book by Otto Lehrack, "No Shinning Armor" covers the history of 3/3 in RVN. Notable people, Oliver North a LT in Kilo 3/3. Gen. Krulick was CO of Lema 3/3. Neat thing about the Internet.... you can find the real deal and not have to look far.

Semper Fi
Hollis

[Luno]

I did my service in the Signaltrupperna (eng SignalCops) at a regiment called S3. The regiment did exist between 1954-2000 in a town called Boden . and that’s al p-)

Unit patch
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/6539/2289344415jm.jpg