Wikipedia

351st Infantry Regiment (United States)

The 351st Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment first organized in the National Army for service in World War I as part of the 88th Division in Europe. During the interwar period, it was reconstituted in the Organized Reserve with the 88th Division and later served in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II. Since then, it has served as a training regiment, training Army Reserve and Army National Guard soldiers for service overseas after the September 11 terrorist attacks.[1][2]

351st Infantry Regiment
Regimental Distinctive Unit Insignia
Active1917–1919
1921–1945
1946–present
Country USA
BranchU.S. Army
RoleInfantry
SizeRegiment
Part ofFirst Army
Motto(s)TOUJOURS PRÊT (Always Ready)
ColorsBlue and Silver
AnniversariesConstituted 5 August 1917 in the National Army
DecorationsCroix de Guerre, Army Superior Unit Award
Battle honoursWorld War I
World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		William W. Eagles
Arthur S. Champeny

Service history

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World War I

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The regiment was constituted 5 August 1917 in the National Army as the 351st Infantry and assigned to the 176th Infantry Brigade of the 88th Division. It was organized at Camp Dodge, Iowa on 30 August 1917, and Herbert B. Crosby was named to command it. In August 1917, the regiment was organized with 3,755 officers and enlisted men:

  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company- 303
    • Supply Company- 140
    • Machine Gun Company- 178
    • Medical & Chaplain Detachment- 56
  • Infantry Battalion (x3)- 1,026
    • Headquarters- 2
    • Rifle Company (x4)- 256[3]

The doughboys of the regiment deployed to France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces .[4][5][6] After completing its war service in France it demobilized at Camp Dodge on 7 June 1919.[7]

Interwar period

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The 351st Infantry was reconstituted in the Organized Reserve on 24 June 1921, assigned to the 88th Division, and allotted to the Seventh Corps Area. The regiment was initiated on 12 October 1921 with regimental headquarters at St. Paul, Minnesota. Subordinate battalion headquarters were concurrently organized as follows: 1st Battalion at St. Paul; 2nd Battalion at Austin, Minnesota; and the 3rd Battalion at Willmar, Minnesota. The regiment typically conducted inactive training period meetings at the National Guard armory in St. Paul and at the American Legion Club in Austin. Summer training was held most years with the 7th Division's 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Infantry Citizens Military Training Camps were also supervised some years at Fort Snelling as an alternate form of summer training. The primary ROTC "feeder" school for new Reserve lieutenants for the regiment was the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The regiment was inactivated on 22 January 1942 by relief of remaining Reserve personnel.[8][9]

World War II

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The regiment was ordered into active military service 15 July 1942 and reorganized at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma using a cadre provided by the 9th Infantry Division.[10][11] The regiment participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers in June through August 1943. The regiment departed Camp Patrick Henry on 4 November 1943 through the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation as Shipment 8629-H. In July 1943, the regiment was organized with 3,256 officers and enlisted men:[12]

  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company- 111
    • Service Company- 114
    • Anti-Tank Company- 165
    • Cannon Company- 118
    • Medical Detachment- 135
  • Infantry Battalion (x3)- 871
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company- 126
    • Rifle Company (x3)- 193
    • Weapons Company- 156
  •  
    Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation
  •  
    Welcome Home, Camp Patrick Henry
  •  
    Spring Offensive, Italy 1945
  •  
    IV Corps operations, Italy April 1945

Trieste United States Troops

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The 351st Infantry was relieved from assignment to the 88th Infantry Division on 1 May 1947 and served as temporary military Government of the Free Territory of Trieste, securing the new independent State[13] between Italy and Yugoslavia on behalf of the United Nations Security Council.[14] Designated TRUST (Trieste United States Troops), the command served as the front line in the Cold War from 1947 to 1954, including confrontations with Yugoslavian forces. In October 1954 the mission ended upon the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding of London [15] establishing a temporary civil administration in the Anglo-American Zone of the Free Territory of Trieste, entrusted to the responsibility of the Italian Government.[16] TRUST units, which included a number of 88th divisional support units, all bore a unit patch which was the coat of arms of the Free Territory of Trieste superimposed over the divisional quatrefoil, over which was a blue scroll containing the designation "TRUST" in white. The 1948 organization of the regiment called for a strength of 3,774 officers and enlisted men organized as below:

  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company- 289
    • Service Company- 186
    • Tank Company- 148
    • Heavy Mortar Company- 190
    • Medical Company- 214
  • Infantry Battalion (x3)
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company- 119
    • Rifle Company (x3)- 211
    • Weapons Company- 165

Returning home

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The regiment departed Leghorn, Italy on 30 November 1954 aboard the Military Sea Transportation Service USNS General Sturgis as shipment #19069-A. Returning to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, the regiment inactivated at Fort Rucker, Alabama on 30 September 1956. Personnel and equipment were used to reactivate the 99th Infantry Battalion of World War II fame. This unit was in turn inactivated on 24 March 1958 when the U.S. Army adopted the Pentomic force organization and the infantry unit at Fort Rucker was reorganized and reflagged as the 2nd Battle Group, 31st Infantry, a unit organized for Aviation Center training support. When the U.S. Army reorganized into brigades and battalions in the early 1960s, the designation of 2-31st Infantry was reassigned to the 7th Infantry Division in Korea and the unit at Fort Rucker was reflagged as the 5th Battle Group, 31st Infantry. The 5-31st Infantry lineage, less personnel and equipment, was later reassigned to the 197th Infantry Brigade (Separate) at Fort Benning, Georgia, effective 23 June 1967 as the 5th Battalion, 31st Infantry; however, an infantry presence remained at Fort Rucker in the form of Company E (Ranger), 30th Infantry, activated on 25 August 1966 and later inactivated on 1 July 1978. Additionally, the Pathfinder Team, HHC, 2d Battle Group, 31st Infantry, formed in 1960, was reflagged as 5th Infantry Detachment (Pathfinder) effective 24 June 1963, and later expanded and reflagged as Company C (Pathfinder), 509th Infantry, activated effective 1 July 1975. C-509th was inactivated on 31 May 1993 and its personnel and equipment were reflagged as Company A (Pathfinder), 511th Infantry, and activated on 1 June 1993. A-511th was inactivated due to lowered budget ceilings on 31 October 1995, ending the post-war infantry presence at Fort Rucker that had begun with the 351st Infantry Regiment.[citation needed]

 
2nd Battalion conducting Annual Training at Fort McCoy in the 1980s

Under the 84th Training Division

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The 351st Infantry was redesignated as the 351st Regiment, and reorganized to consist of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, elements of the 84th Division (Training) on 31 January 1968. On 16 September 1995, the regimental headquarters and the 3rd Battalion were inactivated.[17]

Current Assignment

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The 1st Battalion is a Regular Army Logistics unit assigned to the 181st Infantry Brigade at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin with a mission to train echelon above brigade Combat Sustainment Support Battalions and a Medical brigade.[18] The 2nd Battalion is a Regular Army Infantry unit assigned to the 177th Armored Brigade at Camp Shelby, Mississippi with a mission to train infantry units of the National Guard.[citation needed]

The 3rd Battalion is a Regular Army Aviation unit assigned to the 166th Aviation Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas with a mission to train Aviation Battalions.[19]

Campaign streamers

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Conflict Streamer Year(s)
World War I
  		Alsace 1918
World War II
 
  		Rome-Arno[20] 1944
North Apennines[21] 1944-1945
Po Valley[22] 1945

[17][23][24]

Decorations

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Ribbon Award Embroidered Year Earned by
  Presidential Unit Citation MT. CAPELLO, ITALY 1944 2nd Battalion
  Presidential Unit Citation LAIATICO, ITALY 1944 3rd Battalion
  Meritorious Unit Commendation Afghanistan Retrograde 2021-2022 2021-2022 1st Battalion
  Army Superior Unit Award 2007-2008 2007-2008 1st Battalion
  Army Superior Unit Award 2008-2011 2008-20011 1st and 2nd Battalions
  Croix de Guerre Central Italy 1944-1945 Entire Regiment
None
 
Secretary of the Army Superior Unit Certificate
 None 1962 Headquarters Company of 2nd Battalion

[25][26][27] [28]

Shoulder sleeve insignia

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  • Description: On a background equally divided horizontally white and red, 3+1⁄4 inches (83 mm) high and 2+1⁄2 inches (64 mm) wide at base and 2+1⁄8 inches (54 mm) wide at top, a black block letter "A", 2+3⁄4 inches (70 mm) high, 2 inches (51 mm) wide at base and 1+5⁄8 inches (41 mm) wide at top, all members 7⁄16 inch (11 mm) wide, all enclosed within a 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) Army Green border.
  • Symbolism:
  1. The red and white of the background are the colors used in flags for Armies.
  2. The letter "A" represents "Army" and is also the first letter of the alphabet suggesting "First Army."
  • Background:
  1. A black letter "A" was approved as the authorized insignia by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Force, on 16 November 1918 and approved by the War Department on 5 May 1922.
  2. The background was added on 17 November 1950.

[29]

Distinctive unit insignia

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  • Description/Blazon A silver color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄16 inches (27 mm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, in chief three mullets one and two, the lower ones with two points up and one-half the size of the upper, in base a fleur-de-lis Argent.
  • Symbolism The shield is blue for Infantry; the three stars are taken from the state flag of Minnesota, the "North Star State," the large star at the top representing the North Star. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes the service of the organization in France during World War I.
  • Background The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 351st Regiment Infantry, Organized Reserves on 28 Apr 1928. It was redesignated for the 351st Regiment (AIT) on 12 Aug 1960.

[30]

Coat of arms

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  • Description/Blazon
    • Shield: Azure, in chief three mullets one and two, the lower ones with two points up and one-half the size of the upper, in base a fleur-de-lis Argent.
    • Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure, the Lexington Minute Man Proper. The statue of the Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H.H. Kitson, sculptor), stands on the Common in Lexington, Massachusetts.
    • Motto: TOUJOURS PRÊT (Always Ready).
  • Symbolism
    • Shield: The shield is blue for Infantry; the three stars are taken from the state flag of Minnesota, the "North Star State," the large star at the top representing the North Star. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes the service of the organization in France during World War I.
    • Crest: The crest is that of the United States Army Reserve.
    • Background : The coat of arms was originally approved for the 351st Regiment Infantry, Organized Reserve on 28 Apr 1928. It was amended to delete the crest on 2 Dec 1955. On 12 Aug 1960 the coat of arms was redesignated with the Army Reserve crest added for the 351st Regiment

[30]

References

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  1. ^ Mahon, John K.; Danysh, Romana (1972). Infantry Part I: Regular Army (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  2. ^ Unit page at Military.com[irrelevant citation]
  3. ^ Maneuver and Firepower p56
  4. ^ "ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE UNITED STATES LAND FORCES IN THE WORLD WAR p377" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  5. ^ Reports of the Commander-in-Chief, Staff Sections and Services p14-18
  6. ^ Maneuver and Firepower p69
  7. ^ "Order of battle for the 88th Infantry Division in World War I" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  8. ^ Maneuver and Firepower p103
  9. ^ The US Army Order of Battle from 1919-1941 p469
  10. ^ World War II Order of Battle, front cover chart
  11. ^ Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). World War II Order of Battle. New York, New York: Galahad Books.
  12. ^ Maneuver and Firepower p183
  13. ^ Article 21 and Annex VII, Instrument for the Provisional Regime of the Free Territory of Trieste. See: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%2049/v49.pdf
  14. ^ see: United Nations Security Council Resolution 16, 10 January 1947: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/16(1947)
  15. ^ UNTS Vol.235, 3297 Memorandum of Understanding of London
  16. ^ Memorandum of Understanding of London, article 2: see https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20235/v235.pdf
  17. ^ a b Regimental Lineage and Honors
  18. ^ https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4064674/1st-351st-assumption-command-fort-mccoy-2015 1-337th also reactivated soon after 1-351 at Fort McCoy
  19. ^ http://kdhnews.com/military/aviation-training-brigade-returns-to-fort-hood/article_579a12ec-a25f-11e8-ba38-f72cdd5b7d28.html Aviation training brigade returns to Fort Hood
  20. ^ http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-20/index.html Rome Arno Commemorative Publication
  21. ^ http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-34/index.html North Apennines Commemorative Publication
  22. ^ http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-33/index.html Po Valley Commemorative Publication
  23. ^ U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH). "Listing of the Campaigns of the U.S. Army Displayed on the Army Flag | U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH)". history.army.mil. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  24. ^ "War Department General Order #24 Listing Campaigns". Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  25. ^ "CMH". history.army.mil. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  26. ^ "Permanent Order 332-07" (PDF). Department of the Army. 27 November 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  27. ^ "Campaign Register Prior to 1962 pages 214 - 321" (PDF). United States Army Human Resources Command. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  28. ^ US Army Permanent Order 032-0001.pdf
  29. ^ "First Army insignia page at the Institute of Heraldry". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  30. ^ a b "Regimental DUI". Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
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