The 5th Infantry Regiment (nicknamed the "Bobcats"
) is an infantry regiment of the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
that traces its origins to 1808.
Origins: War of 1812
The 5th Infantry Regiment was created by an Act of
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
of 3 March 1815,
[The Fifth Regiment of Infantry](_blank)
p. 466 which reduced the Regular Army from the 46 infantry and 4 rifle regiments it fielded in the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...
to a peacetime establishment of 8 infantry regiments (reduced to 7 in 1821). The Army's current regimental numbering system dates from this act.
Six of the old regiments (4th, 9th, 13th, 21st, 40th and 46th) were consolidated into the new 5th Regiment, which was organized on 15 May 1815 under the command of Colonel
James Miller. The current 5th Infantry traces its actual origins to the oldest of these regiments, the 4th, which was organized in May–June 1808. After three years' garrison duty in
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the Can ...
, the 4th assembled near
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
in the spring of 1811. From there it proceeded by way of the Ohio and Wabash rivers to
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the lower Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state, nearly halfway between Evansville and Terre Haute. Founded in 1732 by French fur ...
Territory, reporting to the territorial governor,
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773April 4, 1841) was an American military officer and politician who served as the ninth president of the United States. Harrison died just 31 days after his inauguration in 1841, and had the shortest pres ...
, who assembled a force of volunteers and militia around the 4th. They proceeded into north central Indiana to confront the forces of the
Shawnee
The Shawnee are an Algonquian-speaking indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands. In the 17th century they lived in Pennsylvania, and in the 18th century they were in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, with some bands in Kentucky a ...
leader
Tecumseh and his brother
Tenskwatawa
Tenskwatawa (also called Tenskatawa, Tenskwatawah, Tensquatawa or Lalawethika) (January 1775 – November 1836) was a Native American religious and political leader of the Shawnee tribe, known as the Prophet or the Shawnee Prophet. He was a ...
, the Prophet, who attacked on the morning of 7 November in the
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe ( ) was fought on November 7, 1811, in Battle Ground, Indiana, between American forces led by then Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American forces associated with Shawnee leader Tecum ...
, where they were soundly defeated by U.S. forces.
(Previously the old 4th US Infantry had served as the 4th Sub-Legion in
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 – December 15, 1796) was an American soldier, officer, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his mil ...
's
Legion of the United States
The Legion of the United States was a reorganization and extension of the Continental Army from 1792 to 1796 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne. It represented a political shift in the new United States, which had recently adopte ...
which had fought at the
Battle of Fallen Timbers
The Battle of Fallen Timbers (20 August 1794) was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War, a struggle between Native American tribes affiliated with the Northwestern Confederacy and their British allies, against the nascent United State ...
in 1794).
In the spring of 1812, the 4th, commanded by then-Lieutenant Colonel Miller, was ordered to report to Brigadier General
William Hull
William Hull (June 24, 1753 – November 29, 1825) was an American soldier and politician. He fought in the American Revolutionary War and was appointed as Governor of Michigan Territory (1805–13), gaining large land cessions from several Am ...
, commander of forces in the Northwest. They reached his headquarters at Detroit on 6 July, two days after being notified of the declaration of war. A week later, Hull's force crossed into
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of th ...
, forming a base at Sandwich. On 9 August, marching south to rendezvous with a supply train from Ohio, the 4th charged and broke a British-Indian force at the
Battle of Maguaga
The Battle of Maguaga (also known as the Battle of Monguagon or the Battle of the Oakwoods) was a small battle between British troops, Canadian militia and Tecumseh's natives against a larger force of American troops, Ohio Volunteers and Michigan L ...
. A week after that, Hull surrendered Detroit and his entire command, including the 4th, to an inferior force of British, Canadians and Indians. The 4th marched into captivity at
Quebec city
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is t ...
where the troops spent a month aboard prison ships in the
St. Lawrence River
The St. Lawrence River (french: Fleuve Saint-Laurent, ) is a large river in the middle latitudes of North America. Its headwaters begin flowing from Lake Ontario in a (roughly) northeasterly direction, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connecting ...
before being exchanged on 29 October. The 4th lost 30 more men during the month's voyage from Quebec to Boston.
The 4th spent the years 1813–14 on the
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain ( ; french: Lac Champlain) is a natural freshwater lake in North America. It mostly lies between the US states of New York and Vermont, but also extends north into the Canada, Canadian province of Quebec.
The New York portion of t ...
front, participating in the battles of
the Chateauguay (25 October 1813) and
Lacolle Mills (30 March 1814) and the siege of
Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh ( moh, Tsi ietsénhtha) is a city in, and the seat of, Clinton County, New York, United States, situated on the north-western shore of Lake Champlain. The population was 19,841 at the 2020 census. The population of the surrounding ...
(September 1814).
The new 5th Regiment's other ancestors also saw considerable action.
On the
Niagara Frontier
The Niagara Frontier refers to the stretch of land in the United States that is south of Lake Ontario and north of Lake Erie, and extends westward to Cleveland, Ohio. The term dates to the War of 1812, when the northern border was in contention b ...
, the old 9th Regiment served in
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, taking part in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early s ...
's brigade at the battles of
Chippawa (5 July 1814) and
Lundy's Lane (25–26 July 1814).
The 21st originally raised by Eleazar Wheelock Ripley was trained to both the US Manual of Arms as well as the British Light Infantry manual, Ripley felt that the 21st should be able to proficiently perform those skills which won the War of Independence, namely, hit and run and skirmish tactics, skills which was to serve the regiment well later in the war under a new commander. James Miller took over from Ripley in early 1814 after Ripley was promoted to brigadier general and saw the 21st through its most rigorous tests in battle. The 21st fought at
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
(26 April – 2 May 1813),
Sackets Harbor
Sackets Harbor (earlier spelled Sacketts Harbor) is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States, on Lake Ontario. The population was 1,450 at the 2010 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who ...
(29 May 1813), as part of Ripley's Brigade at Chippawa, Lundy's Lane and
Fort Erie
Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is directly across the river from Buffalo, New York, and is the site of Old Fort Erie which played a prominent role in the War of 1812.
Fort Erie is one of Ni ...
(14 August 1814). At Lundy's Lane,
Jacob Brown
Jacob Jennings Brown (May 9, 1775 – February 24, 1828) was known for his victories as an American army officer in the War of 1812, where he reached the rank of general. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a national ...
, the overall U.S. commander, asked Miller if he could take the British artillery on the high ground dominating the battlefield. Miller replied, "I'll try, sir."
The 21st proceeded to break the British centre and take the guns with a volley and bayonet charge, holding them until the order to withdraw came from General Eleazar Ripley, Generals Brown and Scott having been incapacitated by wounds earlier in the battle. "I'll try, sir," became the 5th Infantry's regimental motto.
The lineages of the units above that made up the 5th Infantry give the regiment
campaign credit for the War of 1812.
1815–45
The 5th Regiment established headquarters at Detroit in 1815, and began a 30-year period in which it operated in the Upper Midwest, mostly in an area between the current states of
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
and
Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
, building and garrisoning a number of posts, protecting the great wave of settlers from native resistance, and serving as a first line of defense in case of another war with Great Britain. Perhaps the 5th's most lasting accomplishment was the construction in 1820–24, of Fort St. Anthony, at the mouth of the
Minnesota River. On completion, the Army renamed the post in honor of its commanding officer, Colonel
Josiah Snelling
Colonel Josiah Snelling (1782 – 20 August 1828) was the first commander of Fort Snelling, a fort located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers in Minnesota. He was responsible for the initial design and construction of the fo ...
.
Fort Snelling became the "seed pearl" around which the
Twin Cities
Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in sta ...
of
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
and
St. Paul
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
grew.
The only noteworthy engagement with Indians during this period was in the
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a conflict between the United States and Native Americans led by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis (Fox), and Kickapoos, known as the " British Band", cros ...
of 1832. Even here, the 5th saw limited action, engaging in combat only in the final act of the war, the
Battle of Bad Axe
The Bad Axe Massacre was a massacre of Sauk (Sac) and Fox Indians by United States Army regulars and militia that occurred on August 1–2, 1832. This final scene of the Black Hawk War took place near present-day Victory, Wisconsin in the Uni ...
on 1–2 August near the modern town of
Victory, Wisconsin
Victory is an unincorporated community in the Town of Wheatland in Vernon County, Wisconsin. It is located 4.5 miles north of De Soto and 6.2 miles south of Genoa on the Mississippi River along the Great River Road ( WIS 35). It also is s ...
. Bad Axe was the last major fight between whites and Indians east of the Mississippi other than the
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...
resistance in Florida.
Mexican–American War
On 1 March 1845, three days before he left office, President
John Tyler
John Tyler (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862) was the tenth president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the tenth vice president in 1841. He was elected vice president on the 1840 Whig tick ...
signed a bill establishing an offer by the United States to annex the
Republic of Texas, which had broken away from Mexico in 1836, and make it a state. This set off an immediate diplomatic crisis between the United States and Mexico over the southern boundary of Texas. Mexico claimed that the traditional southern boundary of Texas was the
Nueces River
The Nueces River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas, about long. It drains a region in central and southern Texas southeastward into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the southernmost major river in Texas northeast of the Rio Grande. ''Nueces'' ...
; the U.S. and Texas claimed it was the
Rio Grande, further south. Incoming President
James Knox Polk directed Brigadier General
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military leader who served as the 12th president of the United States from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army, rising to th ...
to form an "Army of Observation" at
Corpus Christi, Texas, ostensibly to protect the disputed zone from Mexican invasion. Five companies of the 5th Infantry under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
James S. McIntosh reported to Taylor at Corpus Christi on 11 October 1845, two days before Texas voters accepted the annexation offer.
On 9 March 1846, Taylor's army left Corpus Christi to march to the Rio Grande and assert U.S. sovereignty over the expanded area. They arrived on 28 March, across the river from
Matamoros and built a fortified camp, Fort Texas, on the site of the modern city of
Brownsville, Texas. Taylor also established a supply base 27 miles east at Point Isabel, at the mouth of the river.
The 5th marched with Taylor from Fort Texas to Point Isabel in late April to clear their supply route of Mexican troops. While they were fortifying that base, the Mexican Army of the North laid siege to Fort Texas, beginning a bombardment of the post on 3 May. Taylor's army marched back from Point Isabel and met the enemy on 8 May, at
Palo Alto
Palo Alto (; Spanish for "tall stick") is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto.
The city was es ...
, several miles east of the fort. In the resulting battle, the 5th Infantry broke a charge by Mexican lancers trying to break through to Taylor's supply train. Over night, the Mexicans withdrew to a better defensive position at
Resaca de la Palma
The Battle of Resaca de la Palma was one of the early engagements of the Mexican–American War, where the United States Army under General Zachary Taylor engaged the retreating forces of the Mexican ''Ejército del Norte'' ("Army of the North" ...
, which Taylor's army assaulted on the morning of the 9th. After stiff initial fighting, U.S.
dragoons overran the Mexican artillery. The 5th and
8th
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...
Regiments then led a charge that broke the Mexican center and routed their army.
Taylor's troops relieved Fort Texas, crossed the Rio Grande into undisputed Mexican territory and occupied
Matamoros, where they spent most of the summer. In late August Taylor moved south toward
Monterrey, arriving on 19 September 1846. The 5th Infantry was assigned to the division of Brigadier General
William J. Worth. The
Battle of Monterrey
In the Battle of Monterrey (September 21–24, 1846) during the Mexican–American War, General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexican Army of the North was defeated by the Army of Occupation, a force of United States Regulars, Volunteers an ...
began on 21 September.
David Twiggs
David Emanuel Twiggs (February 14, 1790 – July 15, 1862), born in Georgia, was a career army officer, serving during the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, and Mexican–American War.
As commander of the U.S. Army's Department of Texas when the ...
' division assaulted the city, soon finding itself in house-to-house fighting, while Worth's division went around the city, cutting off its communications. On the 23rd, the 5th Infantry captured Fort Soldado, surrounding the Mexican forces. Worth's division also fought its way into the city, contributing to the Mexicans' decision to negotiate. They surrendered the city to Taylor in exchange for a two months' truce.
After Monterrey, the 5th and the other regular regiments in Taylor's command were replaced by volunteers. They returned to Texas to join Major General Winfield Scott's expedition to
Veracruz
Veracruz (), formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), is one of the 31 states which, along with Me ...
. The whole regiment was now together, though two companies were detached during the march to Mexico City and spent their time defending supply trains from guerilla attacks. Still in Worth's division, the 5th captured
Perote on 22 April 1847.
Reaching the outskirts of Mexico City, the 5th was part of the flanking movement that led to the victory at
Contreras on 19 August. The following day, they took the right flank in the assault on the bridgehead at
Churubusco. The 5th provided storming parties for the assaults on the
Molino del Rey on 8 September and
Chapultepec Castle
Chapultepec Castle ( es, Castillo de Chapultepec) is located on top of Chapultepec Hill in Mexico City's Chapultepec park. The name ''Chapultepec'' is the Nahuatl word ''chapoltepēc'' which means "on the hill of the grasshopper". The castle has s ...
on the 13th; the full regiment followed up in the latter seizure. Later on the 13th, the 5th joined in the seizure of the Garita San Cosme, one of the city gates of Mexico City itself. This led to the city's surrender on the 14th.
1848–61
In May 1848, after the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
ratified the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ( es, Tratado de Guadalupe Hidalgo), officially the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States, is the peace treaty that was signed on 2 ...
, the 5th Infantry marched from Mexico City to Veracruz and returned to the United States. They spent 1849–50 in
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...
and the neighboring
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans who held aboriginal title to their land as a sovereign ...
, then replaced the
7th Infantry in Texas. In 1851 they were stationed mainly along the upper
Brazos River; by 1854 they had moved to
Fort McIntosh outside the city of
Laredo.
In early 1857 the 5th moved to south Florida, where they spent several months skirmishing with
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...
s in the area around
Fort Myers
Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...
. The 5th left Florida in June for
Fort Laramie
Fort Laramie (founded as Fort William and known for a while as Fort John) was a significant 19th-century trading-post, diplomatic site, and military installation located at the confluence of the Laramie and the North Platte rivers. They joined ...
in modern-day
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the s ...
, where they took part in the
Buchanan administration's
expedition against the Mormons. The regiment stayed at Camp Floyd (later Fort Crittenden) in the
Great Salt Lake valley until the autumn of 1860, when it moved to
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
for
operations against the Navajos.
Civil War
The 5th Infantry spent the Civil War in the territory of New Mexico. The regiment was ordered to concentrate at
Albuquerque
Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...
in the spring of 1861 for a move east, but the department commander persuaded Washington to leave the 5th on the frontier.
In late 1861, French inventor J.-A. de Brame had two 4-pounder revolver guns of his design built and offered them to the regiment. One surviving gun is now on display at the
[the prototype of the weapon is now on display at the ]National Museum of the Marine Corps
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the historical museum of the United States Marine Corps. Located in Triangle, Virginia near MCB Quantico, the museum opened on November 10, 2006, and is now one of the top tourist attractions in the st ...
, while a 1/6th model that Brame presented to Napoléon III is on display at the Musée de l'Armée
The Musée de l'Armée (; "Army Museum") is a national military museum of France located at Les Invalides in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. It is served by Paris Métro stations Invalides, Varenne and La Tour-Maubourg
The Musée de l'Armée ...
In early 1862 a Confederate force from Texas invaded New Mexico. Four companies of the 5th formed the Union rear guard in the Confederate victory at
Valverde on 21 February, after which the Confederates occupied Albuquerque and
Santa Fe.
Two other companies of the 5th captured a field piece at the
Battle of Glorieta Pass
The Battle of Glorieta Pass (March 26–28, 1862) in the northern New Mexico Territory, was the decisive battle of the New Mexico campaign during the American Civil War. Dubbed the " Gettysburg of the West" by some authors (a term described ...
on 28 March, the beginning of the end for the Confederate forces. The 5th also fought in the action at
Peralta on 15 April where the enemy lost a large part of their supply train. The Confederates ultimately withdrew to
San Antonio
("Cradle of Freedom")
, image_map =
, mapsize = 220px
, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, subdivision_t ...
, and the 5th spent the rest of the war on frontier duty, watching for another Confederate incursion, which never came.
On 1 June 1863
John F. Reynolds officially became colonel of the 5th; however, he was on detached service as a Major General of Volunteers, commanding a corps of the
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confede ...
. He was killed a month later on the first day of the
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Po ...
. His replacement as commander of the 5th was another volunteer general,
Daniel Butterfield
Daniel Adams Butterfield (October 31, 1831 – July 17, 1901) was a New York businessman, a Union general in the American Civil War, and Assistant Treasurer of the United States.
After working for American Express, co-founded by his father, ...
, the composer of the bugle call "
Taps". Butterfield, also wounded at Gettysburg, did not join the regiment during the war.
American Indian Wars
When the Civil War ended, the 5th Infantry moved from New Mexico to Kansas to provide security for settlers. By October 1868, the regiment manned seven posts across western Kansas, with headquarters at
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...
. In March 1869, Colonel and
Brevet
Brevet may refer to:
Military
* Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay
* Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college
* Aircre ...
Major General
Nelson A. Miles
Nelson Appleton Miles (August 8, 1839 – May 15, 1925) was an American military general who served in the American Civil War, the American Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War.
From 1895 to 1903, Miles served as the last Commanding Gen ...
took command. Over the next dozen years, the regiment under its new commander would take part in many of the major Indian wars of the Great Plains.
Red River War
From July 1874 to February 1875, Miles led a mixed force of the 5th Infantry and
6th Cavalry in campaigns against the
Southern Cheyenne
The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are a united, federally recognized tribe of Southern Arapaho and Southern Cheyenne people in western Oklahoma.
History
The Cheyennes and Arapahos are two distinct tribes with distinct histories. The Cheyenne (Ts ...
,
Comanche and
Kiowa
Kiowa () people are a Native American tribe and an indigenous people of the Great Plains of the United States. They migrated southward from western Montana into the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in the 17th and 18th centuries,Pritzker 326 and e ...
Indians along the Red and Washita Rivers in Indian Territory and Texas.
Great Sioux War of 1876–77
In the spring of 1876 the largest Indian confederation of the post-Civil War period formed in the northern plains, led by
Sitting Bull and
Crazy Horse of the
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
* Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
* Lakota, Iowa
* Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
* La ...
Indians. The Army organized a three-pronged expedition to round up this force, but the Indians scored major victories against two of the three, stopping
George Crook's southern pincer at the
Battle of the Rosebud
The Battle of the Rosebud (also known as the Battle of Rosebud Creek) took place on June 17, 1876, in the Montana Territory between the United States Army and its Crow and Shoshoni allies against a force consisting mostly of Lakota Sioux and Nor ...
on 17 June and destroying half of the
7th Cavalry, vanguard of
Alfred Terry
Alfred Howe Terry (November 10, 1827 – December 16, 1890) was a Union general in the American Civil War and the military commander of the Dakota Territory from 1866 to 1869, and again from 1872 to 1886. In 1865, Terry led Union troops to v ...
's eastern column, at the
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, known to the Lakota and other Plains Indians as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, and also commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was an armed engagement between combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Nor ...
on 25–26 June.
Reinforcements were rushed in, including the 5th Infantry, which built Fort Keogh at the mouth of the Tongue River in Montana, and began operating from there. Miles and the 5th caught up to Sitting Bull at the
Battle of Cedar Creek
The Battle of Cedar Creek, or Battle of Belle Grove, was fought on October 19, 1864, during the American Civil War. The fighting took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Northern Virginia, near Cedar Creek, Middletown, and the Valley Pike. D ...
in late October and, failing to negotiate his surrender, defeated his band in battle, forcing them to abandon most of their food and equipment. 2000 Lakota of this group surrendered on 27 October, although
Sitting Bull himself escaped. Three companies of the 5th pursued Sitting Bull along the
Missouri River, capturing his camp and scattering his followers on 18 December 1876.
Miles returned to the Tongue River with a force from the 5th and
22nd Infantry to pursue
Crazy Horse. They captured several important prisoners in the valley below the Wolf Mountains on 7 January 1877, leading to a confrontation with the main body the following day on 8 January, the
Battle of Wolf Mountain
The Battle of Wolf Mountain (also known as the Battle of the Wolf Mountains, Miles's Battle on the Tongue River, the Battle of the Butte, Where Big Crow Walked Back and Forth, and called the Battle of Belly Butte by the Northern Cheyenne) was a ...
. The 5th, attacking superior numbers in near-blizzard conditions, drove the Lakota and Cheyenne force off the high ground, forcing them to retreat. The 5th continued to pursue and round up bands from the broken confederacy into the summer of 1877.
Nez Perce War
In July 1877 the
Nez Perce Indians
The Nez Percé (; autonym in Nez Perce language: , meaning "we, the people") are an Indigenous people of the Plateau who are presumed to have lived on the Columbia River Plateau in the Pacific Northwest region for at least 11,500 years.Ames, K ...
under
Chief Joseph
''Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt'' (or ''Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it'' in Americanist orthography), popularly known as Chief Joseph, Young Joseph, or Joseph the Younger (March 3, 1840 – September 21, 1904), was a leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain (Wallowa ...
began to march east from Idaho across Montana, pursued by Major General
Oliver O. Howard's troops from the Department of the Columbia. Miles was in position to interdict this force, and moved toward them in mid-September with battalions of the 5th Infantry and 7th Cavalry. They attacked the Nez Perces in a valley of the Bear Paw Mountains 30 September, capturing their horses and forcing their surrender on 4 October 1877 in the
Battle of Bear Paw
The Battle of Bear Paw (also sometimes called Battle of the Bears Paw or Battle of the Bears Paw Mountains) was the final engagement of the Nez Perce War of 1877. Following a running fight from north central Idaho Territory over the previous f ...
.
Bannock War
The
Bannock
Bannock may mean:
* Bannock (food), a kind of bread, cooked on a stone or griddle
* Bannock (Indigenous American), various types of bread, usually prepared by pan-frying
* Bannock people, a Native American people of what is now southeastern Oregon ...
Indians tried to repeat the Nez Perces' march a year later. A detachment of the 5th attacked their camp on Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone on 4 September 1878 and broke up their incursion. The 5th continued in active pursuit of independent Lakota bands until the surrender of Sitting Bull on 20 July 1881.
Garrison Duty
After several quiet years, the regiment was transferred to Texas in 1888 and later to points farther east. By 1894, the regiment was dispersed from Texas to Kansas to Florida. With the closing of the frontier, its role had changed from Indian fighting to peacetime garrison duty.
Service Award Recipients
46 members of the regiment received the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
for service during this period:
* First Lieutenant
George W. Baird, regimental
adjutant, 30 September 1877, Bear Paw Mountain, Montana
* First Lieutenant
Frank Baldwin, commanding a scout company, McClellans Creek, Tex., 8 November 1874. This was his second award (one of 19 two-time recipients); first award was during the Civil War (Captain, Company D, 19th Michigan Infantry, Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 12 July 1864)
* Musician
John Baker, Company D, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
Richard Burke, Company G, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Captain
Edmond Butler, 8 January 1877, Wolf Mountain, Montana
* Sergeant
Dennis Byrne, Company G, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
Joseph A. Cable, Company I, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
James S. Calvert, Company C, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* First Lieutenant
Mason Carter
Mason Carter (January 26, 1834 – December 11, 1909) was a U.S. Army officer who served in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars during the late 19th century. He received the Medal of Honor for his role in the Battle of Bear Paw fought on Ja ...
, 30 September 1877, Bear Paw Mountain, Montana
* Captain
James S. Casey, 8 January 1877, Wolf Mountain, Montana
* Sergeant
Aquilla Coonrod, Company C, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Sergeant
William De Armond, Company I, 9 – 11 September 1874, Upper Washita, Texas
* Private
John S. Donelly, Company G, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
Christopher Freemeyer, Company D, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Corporal
John Haddoo, Company B, October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Sergeant
Fred S. Hay, Company I, 9 September 1874, Upper Wichita, Texas
* First Sergeant
Henry Hogan, Company G, two awards (one of 19 two-time recipients):
::October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
::30 September 1877, Bear Paw Mountain, Montana
* Corporal
David Holland, Company A, October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
Fred O. Hunt, Company A, October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Corporal
John James, 9–11 September 1874, Upper Wichita, Texas
* Corporal
Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston, CBE (11 February 1872 – 26 November 1944) was a British craftsman who is regarded, with Rudolf Koch, as the father of modern calligraphy, in the particular form of the broad-edged pen as a writing tool.
He is most fa ...
, Company C, October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Corporal
John J. H. Kelly, Company I, 9 September 1874, Upper Wichita, Texas
* Corporal
Thomas Kelly, Company I, 9 September 1874, Upper Wichita, Texas
* Private
Philip Kennedy, Company C, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Sergeant
John W. Knox, Company I, 9 September 1874, Upper Wichita, Texas
* Sergeant
William Koelpin, Company I, 9 September 1874, Upper Wichita, Texas
* First Sergeant
Wendelin Kreher, Company C, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Second Lieutenant
Oscar F. Long, 30 September 1877, Bear Paw Mountain, Montana
* Private
Michael McCormick, Company G, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* First Lieutenant
Robert McDonald, 8 January 1877, Wolf Mountain, 1877
* Private
Owen McGar, Company C, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
John McHugh, Company A, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Sergeant Michael McLoughlin, Company A, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Sergeant
Robert McPhelan, Company E, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Corporal
George Miller, Company H, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* First Sergeant
John Mitchell, Company I, 9 September 1874, Upper Washita, Texas
* Private
Charles H. Montrose, Company I, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* First Sergeant
David Roche, Company A, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
Henry Rodenburg
Henry Rodenburg (–13 December 1899) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor. His award came for gallantry in the Indian Wars.
Biography
Rodenburg was born in Germany in 1851. He joined the army and achieved the rank ...
, Company A, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* First Lieutenant
Henry Romeyn, 30 September 1877, Bear Paw Mountain, Montana
* Private
Edward Rooney, Company D, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
David Ryan, Company G, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
Charles Sheppard, Company A, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Sergeant
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace ( gd, Uilleam Uallas, ; Norman French: ; 23 August 1305) was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence.
Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army ...
, Company C, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Private
Patton G. Whitehead, Company C, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
* Corporal
Charles Wilson, Company H, 21 October 1876 – 8 January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc.
Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War
The 5th Infantry did not arrive in time to participate in the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (cloc ...
though it performed occupation duties. It saw action in the Philippines during the
war of 1900. For service in Philippines, the 5th Infantry was presented one campaign streamer without inscription.
World War I
The 5th Infantry did not participate in combat operations in World War I, but did perform occupation duties and in 1918 became part of the
17th Infantry Division
World War II
The 5th Infantry was posted at
Camp Paraiso,
Panama Canal Zone from 1939–1943. It had previously been posted at Fort Williams,
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
, where it was nominally assigned to the inactive
9th Infantry Division.
With the onset of World War II, the 5th Infantry was made a part of the
71st Infantry Division and participated in an experiment to develop a "light" infantry division, capable of operating in harsh terrain from the mountains to the desert. The light division was deemed unnecessary for World War II and the 71st Infantry Division was converted back to a regular infantry division. The 5th was sent to Europe in January 1945 with the rest of the division and was in the front lines a month later. Initially taking defensive positions, the 5th was soon on the offensive, driving into Germany. The regiment fought through southern Germany, capturing the cities of
Fulda,
Bayreuth and
Nuremberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
. The 5th Infantry was the first U.S. Army unit to cross the
Danube River
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
and the first to invade Austria. For its participation in the Second World War, the 5th was presented the following campaign streamers: Rhineland, Central Europe, and American Theater.
Korean War
The 5th Infantry performed occupation duty in Austria and Germany for a year after the war, and was inactivated in November 1946. The regiment reactivated in South Korea on 1 January 1949, with personnel and support units from the departing
7th Infantry Division. It constituted the core of the 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team (RCT) with the mission to provide security while all U.S. troops were withdrawn from the country. The 5th RCT left Korea effective 30 June 1949 and was transferred to
Schofield Barracks
Schofield Barracks is a United States Army installation and census-designated place (CDP) located in the City and County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Hawaii. Schofield Barracks lies adjacent to the t ...
, Hawaii, where it was when the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
began.
It deployed to Korea on 25 July 1950 to reinforce
Eighth Army in the shrinking area of United Nations control known as the
Pusan Perimeter
The Battle of the Pusan Perimeter ( ko, 부산 교두보 전투) was a large-scale battle between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 to September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the ...
. In July and August it reinforced the
25th Infantry Division, then the
1st Cavalry Division on the
Naktong River
The Nakdonggang River or Nakdonggang () is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea's Three Kingdoms E ...
line. In September the RCT was attached to the
24th Infantry Division, replacing the
34th Infantry Regiment. It remained with the 24th Infantry Division until January 1952 when it officially became a separate RCT again and was assigned to
IX Corps 9 Corps, 9th Corps, Ninth Corps, or IX Corps may refer to:
France
* 9th Army Corps (France)
* IX Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
Germany
* IX Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial Germ ...
.
The 5th Regimental Combat Team consisted of:
* 5th Infantry Regiment
* 555 Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) (The "Triple-Nickel")
* 72nd Engineer Company
* 5th Tank Company
* Heavy Mortar Company
* 5th Medical Company
* 5th Aviation Section
Fought in the
Battle of Pusan Perimeter
The Battle of the Pusan Perimeter ( ko, 부산 교두보 전투) was a large-scale battle between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 to September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the ...
.
Three 5th Infantry soldiers received the Medal of Honor for service in Korea:
* Second Lieutenant
Carl H. Dodd, Company E, 30–31 January 1951, near Subuk
* Master Sergeant
Melvin O. Handrich, Company C, 25–26 August 1950, near
Sobuk-San
Seobuksan is a mountain in South Korea. It is about eight miles west of Masan in Gyeongsangnam-do. Seobuksan has an elevation of .Yu 2007, p.296.
See also
* List of mountains in Korea
The following is a list of mountains in Korea:
List o ...
Mountain (posthumous)
* Private First Class
Leonard M. Kravitz
Leonard Martin Kravitz (August 8, 1930 – March 7, 1951) was an American soldier in the United States Army who served in the Korean War. He is a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Early life and family
Leonard Kravitz was born and rais ...
, Company M, 6–7 March 1951 near Yangpyong (posthumous)
On 11 October 1953, Company A, 1st Section, Machine Gun Platoon, Company D, and Forward Observer Team, 555th Field Artillery Battalion were awarded the
Presidential Unit Citation, for actions in the vicinity of
Songnae-dong, Korea on 12 June 1953. On 18 November 2005 the award was amended to include the following units:
:2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th Squads, 2d Section Machine Gun Platoon
:Recoilless Rifle Platoon
:Forward Observers, 81 MM Mortar Platoon, Company D
Actor
James Garner
James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including ''The Great Escape (film), The Great Escape'' (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy ...
(''
The Rockford Files
''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investiga ...
'') served in the 5th RCT during the Korean War, when he was awarded two
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...
s.
Vietnam War
In 1959 the 1st Battle Group, 5th Infantry was assigned to the
1st Infantry Division at
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...
,
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to th ...
. It was reassigned to the 25th Division on 1 February 1963 and reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry on 12 August.
It was sent to Vietnam in January 1966 and it was one of the few mechanized units to serve in that war.
The 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry won a
Valorous Unit Award
The Valorous Unit Award (VUA) is the second highest United States Army unit decoration which may be bestowed upon an Army unit after the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The VUA is awarded by the United States Army to units of the United State ...
as part of the 2nd Brigade Task Force, 25th Infantry Division, which:
distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism in ground combat against the Viet Cong in the Republic of Vietnam during the period January through April 1966. Ordered to secure a base of operations for itself and the remainder of the 25th Infantry Division in the vicinity of the town Tan An Hoi in the Cu Chi District of Vietnam, the Brigade Task Force embarked on 66 days of continuous combat operations in a completely Viet Cong dominated, heavily entrenched and fiercely defended area. On January 1966, combat operations began to seize, clear and secure the area selected for a base of operations. For the initial four days, brigade combat elements moved forward against devastating automatic weapons and continual harassing sniper fire, well established mine fields and vast underground systems of tunnels, trenches, spider holes and fortifications unrivaled in Vietnam. Displaying extraordinary heroism and unwavering determination, task force elements methodically cleared the area of a fanatical enemy force that was manning the fortifications. This entire action was characterized by numerous acts of personnel sacrifice and heroism. During the period 30 January to 5 April, the Brigade conducted eleven major operations against the Viet Cong with battalion or larger sized forces engaged in fierce battle against a hostile enemy. On 5 April 1966, after 66 days of continuous combat, the Brigade had seized, cleared and secured the base of operations and surrounding area in the vicinity of Cu Chi, Republic of Vietnam. A total of 449 Viet Cong had been killed by body count. Viet Cong activities throughout the Cu Chi District were severely disrupted and the Viet Cong greatly discredited in the eyes of the local populace. During those momentous 66 days, the Brigade displayed utmost courage and indomitable spirit, and as a unit it demonstrated extraordinary heroism as it unwaveringly and unceasingly pitted itself against hard core, experienced, and entrenched and determined enemy forces. The indomitable spirit and extraordinary heroism with which the 2nd Brigade Task Force engaged, battled and defeated a fortified and determined enemy during this period of continuous combat operations is in keeping with the finest tradition of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon all members of the Task Force who participated in the Battle for Cu Chi.
Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Andrew H. Anderson, the 5th Infantry (Mech) received its third
Presidential Unit Citation:
The 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division and its attached units distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroism in combat operations against numerically superior enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam from 18 August to 20 September 1968. During this period the 1st Battalion Task Force, through reconnaissance in force, ambush, counterambush, and reaction missions effectively destroyed a regimental-size enemy force and prevented the enemy from seizing the initiative in its "third offensive." The officers and men of the Task Force displayed outstanding bravery, high morale, and exemplary esprit de corps in fierce hand-to-hand combat and counteroffensive action against well disciplined, heavily armed and entrenched enemy forces. An example of the outstanding bravery and aggressiveness occurred 21 August during a reconnaissance in force mission. The lead elements of Company C, 1st Battalion came under heavy mortar, rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun, and automatic weapons fire. The company deployed against the enemy forces while the scout platoon protected the company flank and prevented reinforcement by a battalion-size enemy unit. Through skillful use of close supporting fires from artillery, helicopter gunship and tactical air, the officers and the men of the Task Force repulsed human wave counterattacks and defeated a numerically superior enemy force, which left one hundred and eighty-two dead on the battlefield. The individual act of gallantry, the teamwork and the aggressiveness of the officers and men of the 1st Battalion Task Force continued throughout the period of prolonged combat operations, resulting in the resounding defeat of enemy forces in their operational area. The heroic efforts, extraordinary bravery and professional competence displayed by the men of the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry and attached units are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon themselves, their units, and the Armed Forces of the United States."
The 5th fought for five years in Vietnam. For its participation in the Vietnam War, the 5th Infantry was presented the following campaign streamers: Counteroffensive, Counteroffensive Phase II, 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; Presidential Unit Citation, Ben Cui; Valorous Unit Award, Cu Chi.
In 1975 the 5th Infantry was deployed to
Orote Point,
Guam
Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
. Their mission was to build the first tent city to help process the refugees from Vietnam as part of
Operation New Life
Operation New Life (23 April – 1 November 1975) was the care and processing on Guam of Vietnamese refugees evacuated before and after the Fall of Saigon, the closing day of the Vietnam War. More than 111,000 of the evacuated 130,000 Vietna ...
. They not only built the city, but they also did supplies, cooking, and set up the electricity to maintain the city. Their mission lasted 90 days as part of the 5th Support Group.
Three 5th Infantry soldiers received the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam:
* First Lieutenant
Stephen Holden Doane
Stephen Holden Doane (October 13, 1947 – March 25, 1969) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Biography
Doane attended and ...
, Company B, 1st Battalion, 25 March 1969,
Hậu Nghĩa Province (posthumous)
* Staff Sergeant
Marvin R. Young, Company C, 1st Battalion, 21 August 1968, near Ben Cui (posthumous)
* Sgt
Daniel D. Fernández, Company C, 1st Battalion, 18 February 1966,
Củ Chi District,
Hậu Nghĩa Province (posthumous)
1975 to present
After the Vietnam War the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry returned to Hawaii where it served with the 25th Infantry Division until the late 1980s when it spent a brief period located at
Camp Howze/Camp Edwards East with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea.
In August 1995 the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment was reassigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, as part of the 1st Brigade "
Lancers," 25th Infantry Division (Light). In 1996 the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry participated in the Advanced Warfighting Experiment, which culminated with a National Training Center rotation in March 1997. The battalion received the Army Superior Unit Award for its outstanding contribution to the Advanced Warfighting Experiment. For its participation in the Advanced Warfighting Experiment the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry was presented with the Army Superior Unit Award, 1996–1997.
The 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry was reactivated on 16 August 1995 and assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. The 2nd Battalion served a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan from May 2004 to May 2005 as part of the 25th Division's Task Force Bronco. For its service in Afghanistan, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. As part of the modular conversion of the 25th Infantry Division, the 2nd Battalion was inactivated on 16 November 2005.
In early 2002 the 1st Brigade "Lancers" began its conversion from a light infantry brigade to a Stryker brigade. It began a one-year tour of duty in Iraq in October 2004 where they participated in
Operation Phantom Fury
The Second Battle of Fallujah, codenamed Operation al-Fajr ( ar, الفجر, ) and Operation Phantom Fury, was an American-led offensive of the Iraq War that lasted roughly 6 weeks, starting 7th November, 2004. Marking the highest point of the ...
. The brigade returned to Fort Lewis in September 2005. The 1st Brigade was temporarily inactive from June–October 2006.
In September 2011, the 3rd Brigade of the
1st Armored Division deployed to Afghanistan. 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment was responsible for operations in southern Wardak Province until July 2012.
In December 2013, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment once again deployed to Afghanistan, this time to Herat province. On 6 May 2014, the Battalion Command Sergeant Major, CSM Martin Barreras, was wounded in action during an engagement with enemy personnel. He later died from his injuries.
In September 2019, 1-5IN deployed to Iraq.
The 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment is now part of the 1st Infantry
Brigade Combat Team,
11th Airborne Division.
Lineage
Main unit
# Constituted 12 April 1808 in the Regular Army as the 4th Infantry
# Organized May–June 1808 in New England
# Consolidated May–October 1815 with the 9th and 13th Infantry (both constituted 11 January 1812), the 21st Infantry (constituted 26 June 1812), the 40th Infantry (constituted 29 January 1813), and the 46th Infantry (constituted 30 March 1814) to form the 5th Infantry
# Consolidated in June 1869 with one half of the 37th Infantry (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit designated as the 5th Infantry
# Assigned 27 July 1918 to the 17th Division
# Relieved 10 February 1919 from assignment to the 17th Division
# Assigned 24 March 1923 to the 9th Division
# Relieved 15 August 1927 from assignment to the 9th Division and assigned to the 5th Division
# Relieved 1 October 1933 from assignment to the 5th Division and assigned to the 9th Division
# Relieved 15 July 1940 from assignment to the 9th Division
# Assigned 10 July 1943 to the 71st Light Division (later redesignated as the 71st Infantry Division)
# Relieved 1 May 1946 from assignment to the 71st Infantry Division
# Inactivated 15 November 1946 in Germany.
# Activated 1 January 1949 in Korea
# Assigned 10 October 1954 to the 71st Infantry Division
# Relieved 25 August 1956 from assignment to the 71st Infantry Division
# Assigned 1 September 1956 to the 8th Infantry Division
# Relieved 1 August 1957 from assignment to the 8th Infantry Division and reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
# Withdrawn 16 April 1987 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
# 1st Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment stationed Ft. Lewis Washington (Known between January 1999 and July 2005)
# 5th Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment "Golden Dragons" reflagged and activated as 2nd Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment "Bobcats" July 1995.
# Assigned Charlie Company, Heavy Weapons Platoon, 2nd Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment 5 July 1999.
# Reassigned Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment 19 July 1999.
# 2nd Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment "Bobcats", 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds", 2nd Battalion 35th Infantry Regiment "Cacti" make up 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division (Light).
# HHC "Vipers", Alpha Company "Quickstrike", Bravo Company "Bushmasters", Charlie Company "Cobras".
# 613 Man Battalion as of 20 February 2003.
# Deployed to Afghanistan.
# Returns to Hawaii in 2004 after a year in Afghanistan.
# 27 July 2005 unit deactivated.
# 27 July 2005 1st Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment reassigned, stationed at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska.
# 16 August 2009 2d Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment activated, stationed at Ft. Bliss, Texas.
Annex
# Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry
# Organized May 1865 – September 1866 at Fort Wayne, Michigan; Newport Barracks, Kentucky; and Fort Columbus, New York
# Reorganized and redesignated 23 November 1866 as the 37th Infantry
# One half of the 37th Infantry consolidated in June 1869 with the 5th Infantry and consolidated unit designated as the 5th Infantry (remaining half of the 37th Infantry consolidated August–December 1869 with the 3d Infantry and consolidated unit designated as the 3d Infantry—hereafter separate lineage)
# The 1st Bn, 5th Infantry was active at Camp Hovey Korea as part of 2nd Bde 2nd Infantry Division from October 1990 to 1996 where it moved from Camp Howze after its 1990 DMZ mission.
# The 1st Bn, 5th Infantry was active at Camp Howze Korea as part of 3rd Bde 2nd Infantry Division from 1987 to August 1990, when it moved temporally to Warrior Base to assume a 3-month DMZ mission, and to move the remainder of its assets to Camp Hovey. The unit was probably active prior to 1989 in 3rd Bde. In 1992 3rd Bde was deactivated at Camp Howze. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2id-3bde.htm
Honors
Campaign participation credit
Decorations
U.S. military decorations
# Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for CHINJU
# Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for SONGNAE-DONG
#
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for
BEN CUI 1968
# Valorous Unit Award for CU CHI DISTRICT
# Valorous Unit Award for NINEVEH PROVINCE 2005
# Army Superior Unit Award for 1996–1997
# Meritorious Unit Citation (1st Battalion) Iraq OIF 3
# Meritorious Unit Citation (2nd Battalion) for Afghanistan
Foreign decorations
# Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1950–1952
# Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1950–1953
# Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1952–1954
# Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1966–1968
# Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1968–1970
# Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1966–1970
See also
*
List of United States Regular Army Civil War units {{Short description, none
The following is a list of the units of the United States Regular Army during the American Civil War.
Infantry
* 1st Infantry Regiment
* 2nd Infantry Regiment
*3rd Infantry Regiment
* 4th Infantry Regiment
* 5th Infantry ...
Notes and references
Notes
References
References
:
* , in
* , in
*
*
* Curtis, Charles A. Army Life in the West (1862–1865). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 20 April 2017. .
External links
The War of 1812 Website5th Infantry Regiment Chapter website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:005
0005
Military units and formations established in 1808
Military units and formations of the United States in the Indian Wars
United States Regular Army Civil War units and formations
USInfReg0005
005th Infantry Regiment
1808 establishments in the United States