The 394th Infantry Regiment was established on 23 July 1918 as the 394th Infantry and assigned to the 99th Division as a member of the National Army. It was demobilized on 30 November 1918, but was later reconstituted on 21 June 1921 as a member of the Organized Reserves just like the 99th Infantry Division. The regiment's headquarters was established at Pittsburgh, PA.

History

During World War II the 394th Infantry Regiment was called to active duty on 15 November 1942 and reorganized at Camp Van Dorn, Miss. During 1943-44, the 394th trained at various camps and maneuvers in the southern part of the US. The 394th arrived at Camp Miles Standish, Mass. in mid-September and within two weeks the regiment made its way onto transport ships to England. Between mid-October and early November the 394th was in Dorset, England before arriving on 6 November 1944 in Le Havre, France. The 394th engaged in a variety of campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Ardennes Forest, Remagen Bridge, the Rhineland, and the Ruhr. The 394th was inactivated on 29 September 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Va. On 29 October 1998, the 394th Infantry Regiment was reactivated and renamed the 1st Battalion, 394th Regiment, and assigned to the 75th Division, a training support division in the

United States Army Reserve The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces. Since July 20 ...

Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon

The 394th Infantry Regiment's Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon under the command of Lieutenant

Lyle Bouck Lyle Joseph Bouck, Jr. (December 17, 1923 – December 2, 2016) enlisted in the Missouri National Guard at age 14. During World War II, he was a 20-year-old lieutenant in charge of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 394th Infantry Reg ...

became the most decorated American unit of World War II due to the actions of the eighteen men of the platoon while fighting in the

Battle of Lanzerath Ridge The Battle of Lanzerath Ridge was fought on December 16, 1944, the first day of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, near the village of Lanzerath, Belgium, along the key route for the German advance on the northern shoulder of the o ...

during the

Battle of the Bulge The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted from 16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, towards the end of the war in ...

. The platoon was recognized with Presidential Unit Citation Order No. 26 in 1981. A memorial plaque is mounted on a stone at the N626 at the infamous WW2 Losheimergraben crossroads. Four members (including Bouck) received the

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...

, five the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

, and nine the

Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. W ...

with V device. Additionally, every member of a four-man artillery observation team which joined their defense received the Distinguished Service Cross. 394Regiment Presidential Unit Citation 1

394Regiment Presidential Unit Citation 1

References

{{reflist *United States Army Center of Military History. 394th Regiment. Web

retrieved 22 December 2013. * United States The Institute of Heraldry. 394th Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia and Coat of Arms. Web
Services
retrieved 22 December 2013. *"Time Line of 394th from Nov. 15, 1942 to May 9, 1945." 99th Division Battlebabies. N.p.. Web

retrieved 22 December 2013. Infantry regiments of the United States Army, 394 United States Army in World War II Military units and formations established in 1918 1918 establishments in the United States