153rd Infantry Regiment (United States): Difference between revisions

The 153rd INFANTRY REGIMENT is a United States infantry regiment, currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, Headquartered at Malvern, Arkansas, and 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, Headquartered at Searcy, Arkansas, elements of the 39th Brigade Combat Team.^[1] The Regiment was also represented by the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Headquarted at Warren, Arkansas until that unit was deactivated on 5 September 2005.

153rd Infantry Regiment
153rd Infantry Regiment, Coat of Arms
Active	1917-Present
Country	, United States
Branch	Arkansas Army National Guard
Motto(s)	Let's Go!
Engagements	World War I *Streamer without Inscription World War II *Aleutian Islands Campaign *Iraq Campaign
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shoulder sleeve insignia

There were two units that claimed the name 1st Arkansas Volenteer Infantry during the Civil War, one Confederate and one on the Union side. The 1st Arkansas CSA spend most of the War assigned to the Confederate Army of Tennseee and was eventually surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 27, 1865. ^[2] However the connection between these organizations and the 1st Arkansas Volenteer Infantry from which the 153 Infantry Regiment was created is in name only. The Arkansas State Guard was very poorly organized and equipped following the Civil War and did not begin to take it's modern form until the late 1890's.

The 1st Arkansas Infantry was organized 1890- 1894 in the Arkansas State Guard as the 1st Regiment of Infantry with Headquarters in Little Rock. ^[3].

The 1st Arkansas was consolidate in part with teh 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Regiments of Infantry, Arkansas State Guard, and reorganized and resignated and mustered into Federal Service 14-25 May 1898 at Little Rock as the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volenteer Infantry for service in the Spanish American War. This consolidation and reorganization occured because the state guard was poorly organized and funded and only two companies of state guard troops were judged to be organized well enough to be mustered in intact.^[4] The decission was made to create two new infantry regiments from the available manpower. ^[5]

The newly formed 1st Arkansas Volenteer Infantry did not see combat during the Spanish American War. The Regiment, commanded by Colonel Elias Chandler, along with the 2nd Regiment to Camp George H. Thomas at Chickamauga Park, Georgia was sent in May 1898. ^[6] The 1st Arkansas was still there participating in basic training when the war effectively ended with the fall of Cuba and the signing of an armistice in early August.

The 1st Regiment mustered out of Federal Service 19-24 February 1917 at Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas.

In July 1916, the entire Arkansas National Guard was mobilized for federal service on the Mexican border. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiments were stationed near Deming, New Mexico, as part of support troops for General John J. Pershing’s expedition searching for Poncho Villa. The Arkansas troops were not engaged in Mexico and returned to Little Rock in March 1917.^[7] This mobilization of the National Guard along the Mexican border was the training ground for many future leaders of the Arkansas National Guard. Many of the officers who led Arkansas National Guard units in the early years of World War I and World War II began their service on the Mexican border.

The United States declared war on Germany 6 April 1917. The 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment mobilized 5 August 1917 and was encamped around the new state capitol by 8 August 1917. After completing mobilization paperwork and physicals, the Regiment, along with the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiments, moved to Fort Roots, and then to Camp Pike on 24 April 1917. In mid-September the Arkansas units were notified that they were to be part of a newly created division, initially called the 18th but later named the 39th Division.^[8]

The 1st Regiment became the 153rd Infantry Regiment, the 2nd Regiment became the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment, and the 3rd Regiment was split between the 154th Infantry Regiment and 141st Machine Gun Battalion. ^[9]

The first unit of the 39th Division arrived in France on August 12, 1918, and the last unit arrived on September 12, 1918. It was then sent to the St. Florent area, southwest of Bourges, where it was designated as a replacement division. In November, 1918, it moved to St. Aignan. There several of the units were transferred to combat divisions. With the war ended, the 153rd Infantry landed in Hoboken, New Jersey, February, 27, 1919, making the crossing aboard the USS. President Grant.^[10]

The follow unit locations were reported in the Arkansas Adjugant General's Report for 1926.

The 153rd Infantry Regiment was ordered to active duty December 23, 1940, as a part of a one year mobilization of the National Guard in preparation for World War II and spent the next 10 days at what is now the University of Central Arkansas.^[11]

The 153rd then moved to Camp Robinson and completed basic training. Moving to Camp Forrest, TN, the regiment spent six week in maneuvers and returned to Camp Robinson for a few days of leave before shipping out to Camp Murray, WA August 20, 1941.

The 153rd, along with the 206th Coast Artillery Regiment arrived in Alaska in August of 1941. ^[12] The 1st and 3rd Battalions were then posted to Annette Island and Seward, Nome and Yakutat, Alaska.

The 2nd Battalion was stationed on Umnak Island, west of Dutch Harbor and took part in the occupation of Adak Island and the assault on Kiska,^[13] 15 August 1943, part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign. The Japanese had secretly abandoned Kiska only days before the invasion by U.S. Forces. The recapture of Kiska brought the Aleutian Islands Campaign to a close.^[14]

The 153rd returned to Camp Shelby, MS March 21, 1944 and was deactivated on June 30th and its soldiers assigned as replacements. Many returned to Camp Robinson as cadre.^[15]

The 39th Infantry Division was reconstituted on 30 September 1946. It was composed of units Arkansas and Louisiana, with its headquarters stationed at New Orleans, Louisiana and the Arkansas portion Headquartered in Little Rock Arkansas.^[16] During this period the division included the 153rd Infantry Regiment; the156th Infantry Regiment; and the 206th Artillery Regiment.

On 1 December 1967, 39th Division was reorganized and redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade.^[17] By this point in army history, regiments had ceased to exist as a battle field command. Regiments were now represented by their individual battalions. The new 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was comprised of elements of the following regiments:

1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment

2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment

3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment

Troop E, 151st Cavalry Regiment

5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment

39th Support Battalion

For Information on the 153rd Infantry Regiment after 1967, please see 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States) or the individual battalion histories.

The Arkansas portion of the 153rd Infantry was ordered into active Federal service 24 September 1957 at home stations, in support of the Little Rock Central High School Integration Crisis in Little Rock Arkansas; The 153rd was released 24 October 1957 from active Federal service and reverted to state control.^[18]

A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a bend wavy between a fleur-de-lis and a giant cactus Argent; on a chief of the last a Great Bear's face of the like fimbriated of the first, lips and tongue Gules. Attached below the shield is a blue motto scroll inscribed "LET'S GO" in silver letters.

Symbolism: The shield is blue for Infantry. The wavy bend, representing the Arkansas River, refers to the geographic location of the regiment. The cactus symbolizes service on the Mexican border and the fleur-de-lis service in France during World War I. The Great Bear's face from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Alaskan Department symbolizes service in that area in World War II.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 153d Regiment infantry on 6 Jan 1930. It was amended on 30 Jun 1930. On 4 Jun 1951 the insignia was amended to show additional war service.

Blazon: Shield: Azure, a bend wavy between a fleur-de-lis and a giant cactus Argent; on a chief of the last a Great Bear's face of the like fimbriated of the first, lips and tongue Gules.

Crest: That for the regiments of the Arkansas National Guard: On a wreath of the colors (Argent and Azure) above two sprays of apple blossoms Proper a diamond Argent charged with four mullets Azure, one in upper point and three in lower, within a bordure of the last bearing twenty-five mullets of the second.

Symbolism: The shield is blue for Infantry. The wavy bend, representing the Arkansas River, refers to the geographic location of the regiment. The cactus symbolizes service on the Mexican border and the fleur-de-lis service in France during World War I. The Great Bear's face from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Alaskan Department symbolizes service in that area in World War II.

Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 153d Regiment Infantry on 6 Jan 1930. It was amended on 4 Jun 1951 to show additional war service

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Inf/153InfantryRegiment.htm