16th Infantry Regiment (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 16th Infantry Regiment


caption=16th Infantry Regiment coat of arms
dates= 3 May 1861 to present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= U.S. Army
type=
role=
size= 2 active battalions
command_structure=
garrison= Fort Riley, Kansas
garrison_label=
nickname= 1st Bn: "Iron Rangers"
2nd Bn: "Rangers"
patron=
motto= "Semper Paratus"
colors=
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march=
mascot=
equipment=
equipment_label=
battles=American Civil War
*Manassas
*Antietam
*Fredericksburg
*Gettysburg
*Spotsylvania
*Cold Harbor
*Wilderness
*Petersburg
Indian Wars
Spanish-American War
*San Juan Hill
Philippine Insurrection
World War I
*Meuse-Argonne
World War II
*Battle of Kasserine Pass
*Sicily
*Normandy
*Operation Cobra
Kosovo Campaign
Iraq Campaign
anniversaries=
decorations= 5 Presidential Unit Citations
battle_honours=
commander1=
commander1_label=
commander2=
commander2_label=
commander3=
commander3_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Unit crest
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=
aircraft_attack=
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter=
aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_trainer=
aircraft_transport=US Regiments
previous=15th Infantry Regiment
next=17th Infantry RegimentThe 16th Infantry Regiment is a regiment in the United States Army.

History

Formation

The 34th and 11th Infantry Regiments consolidated into the 16th Infantry Regiment on 3 March 1869. The 11th Infantry's history prior to the consolidation is normally included with the 16th's.

U.S. Civil War

The regiment took part in some of the hardest-fought battles of the war, including Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Wilderness, and Petersburg. They took significant losses during Gettysburg from a position between the Wheatfield and Devil's Den.

Following the Civil War the 16th took part in the reconstruction of the south and then performed duty on the frontier-the Indian Wars.

panish-American War

The 16th participated in the capture of San Juan Hill with the V Corps.The 16th later fought in the Philippine Insurrection. It fought 27 engagements with the greater part of its activities concentrated against the rebels in the Cagayan Valley.

Pancho Villa Expedition

World War I

The 16th was one of 4 original regiments to form the 1st Expeditionary Division, later know as the 1st Infantry Division. Throughout WWI the 16th participated in every major 1st Division campaign. It was the first regiment to engage the enemy during the war.

On July 4 1917, the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, paraded through Paris. At Lafayette's tomb, one of General John J. Pershing's staff uttered the famous words, "Lafayette, we are here!"

On October 4 1918, near Fleville, France, the 16th was the only Allied unit to take its objective during the opening drive of the Meuse-Argonne Campaign. 4 October is still celebrated as the 16th Infantry organizational day. The coat of arms pattern from Fleville was later included in the 16th's regimental crest.

The 16th twice earned the Croix de Guerre, France's highest military honor, for actions at Soissons and Fleville. Today 16th Infantry soldiers wear the fourragère on their uniform.

In September 1919, the Regiment was stationed at Ft. Jay, New York on Governor's Island. New York City Mayor La Guardia named the 16th "New York's own" and the "Sidewalks of New York" became the Regimental song.

World War II

The 16th Infantry Regiment, organized as part of the US 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One) took part in the landings in Africa, Sicily, and Normandy. They participated in Operation Cobra. The US 16th Infantry Regiment's 1,700 soldiers were the first American infantry to land on the beaches of North Africa during Operation Torch. Fox Company, 2nd Battalion of the 16th Infantry was the first unit in the 1st Division to take part in an offensive operation when Fox Company supported by Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, and George Company, 3rd Battalion supported by tanks from 1st Armored assaulted the Le Senia Airfield just south of Oran, Algeria. The 400 Americans killed 270 French soldiers and captured 700 of them with out loss. During the Battle of Kasserine Pass the 16th Infantry counterattacked a line that had been left open by retreating units of the 26th Infantry Regiment. During Operation Husky (Invasion of Sicily) the 16th was the first American unit to land on the beaches of Sicily near Gela and capture the city with heavy losses on the beach. On July 15, elements of the 16th Infantry raced north to rescue units of the 82nd Airborne Division near Piano Lupo and engaged the Herman Goring Panzer Division resulting in heavy German losses. The regiment then moved north taking several key cities and towns before taking part in the battle of Troina. Following Sicily, the 16th Infantry took part in the invasion of Europe when they landed at Omaha beach. With the rest of the 1st Infantry Division the 16th Infantry Regiment fought its way across Europe, ending the war in Czechoslovakia.

Vietnam

Gulf War

Bosnia-Herzegovina

1st Battalion deployed to Bosnia in August 1999 through March 2000 along with supporting elements Fort Riley for peacekeeping operations. They were assigned under the 10th Infantry Division as part of SFOR 6. They were assigned primarily to Camp Dobol but also had elements assigned to Camp McGovern and Camp Comanche.

Global War on Terrorism

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOMIn Oct 2003 1st Bn 16th deployed To Ramadi and Returned to Ft Riley in Oct 2004. While in Iraq the battalion was attached to 82nd Airborne and then 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit. They fought in many skirmishes most notably the battle of Ramadi on Apr 6 2004 with the First MEU in order to establish peace in the city. In 2006 1st Bn was split into 3 deployed companies and 6 training companies. Aco served in Africa while Bco and Cco served in Iraq respectively. Dco, Ico, Kco, Lco, Mco, Nco all took up the Army's newest and most important mission training and deploying MiTTs. In 2008 Kco became HHC while Dco became Bco and Mco became Cco (Bandido Charlie). During fiscal year 2009 the most decorated US Army Infantry Battalion will begin its transformation back to a regular unit and begin training to be deployed in the future.

The 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment was stood up in 2005 under the new expeditionary brigade doctrine as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. In February 2007, 2nd Battalion deployed to eastern Baghdad as part of the big Surge. They were attached to 2d Brigade 2d ID and later 4th Brigade 10th MTN. They fought alongside their National Police partners to pacify 4 very violent neighborhoods. They assisted in the creation of literacy programs, refurbishment of schools and the installation of sewage systems. Ultimately, their section of Baghdad would be the quietest sector in the city, but that was not achieved cheaply. 2nd Battalion suffered 14 KIA and many more WIA.The 2nd Battalion was also featured in the US Army's new recruiting campaign "Army Strong". At the time of filming 2-16 IN was the only active Infantry battalion to not deploy in support of the Global war on Terror.

Notable 16th Infantry Members

*Timothy McVeigh, convicted of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing
*Samuel Fuller, film director
*Gregan Wortman, guitar player, composer and film-maker
*Mark Connors (LT), squad then platoon leader in F. Company WWII)

Medals of Honor

The following were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions while serving in the 16th

Trivia

*The 16th Infantry was the featured unit in the motion picture The Big Red One

*The 16th is also the regiment Fox Company of is a part of.
*The 16th Infantry Regiment (Fox Company) is the main topic unit in the World War II novel Bonded by Blood, A story of Mark Connors a leader of Fox Company during the war

External links

* [http://www.riley.army.mil/Units/1BCT1ID/1-16IN.asp 1st Battalion 16th Infantry on Ft. Riley's web site]
* [http://www.riley.army.mil/Units/4IBCT1ID/2BN16IN.asp 2nd Battalion 16th Infantry on Ft. Riley's web site]
* [http://16thinfantry-regiment.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx 16th Infantry Regimental Association]
* [http://www.bandidocharlie.org/ The U.S. Army's only officially Named Company C 1-16 INF]