3rd US Infantry Regiment

3rd United States Infantry Regiment
3rd United States Infantry Regiment coat of arms
Active	3 June 1784 – present
Country	United States
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry Regiment
Role	Memorial Affairs, Ceremonies and Special Events (two battalions) Stryker Infantry (one battalion)
Size	Four battalions (three active)
Garrison/HQ	1st Battalion – Fort Myer, VA 2nd Battalion – Fort Lewis, WA 3rd Battalion – (Inactive) 4th Battalion – Fort Myer
Nickname	The Old Guard[1]
Motto	Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)
Colors	Blue and White (Modern) Buff and Black (Historical)[2]
March	The Old Guard March, available at [4]
Engagements	Indian Wars *Hardin's Defeat *Battle of the Wabash *Battle of Fallen Timbers *Battle of Sugar Point War of 1812 *Siege of Fort Meigs *Battle of Fort Stephenson Mexican War Civil War War with Spain Philippine Insurrection World War II Vietnam War Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Notable commanders	Lt. Col. Paul Octave Hebert
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 3rd United States Infantry Regiment is a regiment of the US Army. It currently has three active battalions, and is readily identified by its nickname, The Old Guard, as well as Escort to the President. The regimental motto is Noli Me Tangere (from Latin: – Touch me Not). The regiment is a major unit of the Military District of Washington (MDW).

The regiment is the oldest active unit of infantry in the army, having been first organized as the First American Regiment in 1784.^[3][4]

Mission

The regiment's mission is to conduct memorial affairs to honor fallen comrades and ceremonies and special events to represent the U.S. Army, communicating its story to United States citizens and the world. On order, it conducts defense support of civil authorities in the National Capital Region and deploys elements in support of overseas contingency operations.^[5]

Memorial affairs and ceremonial mission

Memorial affairs missions include standard and full honors funerals in Arlington National Cemetery and dignified transfers at Dover Air Force Base. Old Guard Soldiers also perform all dignified transfers of fallen soldiers returning to the United States.^{[citation needed]}

The Old Guard's ceremonial task list includes full honor Arrivals for visiting dignitaries, wreath ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and full honor reviews in support of senior army leaders and retiring soldiers. Special events include the Twilight Tattoo, a weekly performance in the adjacent Washington area on Wednesday evenings from May to July, and the Spirit of America, a historical pageant presented at three national venues in September.

The Old Guard is the only unit in the U.S. Armed Forces authorized, by a 1922 decree of the War Department, to march with fixed bayonets in parades.^[6] This was granted in honor of the 1847 bayonet charge by the regiment during the Battle of Cerro Gordo in the war with Mexico.

Specialty units

The Old Guard's Caisson Platoon at Arlington National Cemetery

In addition to the marching platoons, there are also elements of The Old Guard that serve special roles unique both to the regiment as well as the US Army. Among these include the Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns, maintaining a twenty-four hour watch over one of the nation's most sacred sites; the Continental Color Guard, which presents the nation's colors at special events across the Capitol Region; the Presidential Salute Battery, which renders honors to senior dignitaries at arrival and wreath ceremonies, reviews, and full honors funerals; and the US Army Caisson Platoon, which provides horses and riders to pull caisson (the wagon that bears a casket) in military and state funerals. Caisson Platoon also provides the riderless horses used in full honors funerals and supports wounded warriors participating in the Therapeutic Riding Program.

The United States Army Drill Team

Other elements of The Old Guard include the Commander-in-Chief's guard (Company A), replicating the personal guard of General George Washington; wearing Colonial blue uniforms, powdered wigs, and tricorn hats; and bearing Brown Bess muskets and halberds at ceremonies and special events; the US Army Drill Team, which demonstrates its skill and precision around the nation, and Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, which plays traditional arrangements of marching music, dating back to the time of the Continental Army. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps marches in Colonial style red coated uniforms—to be "better seen through the smoke of battle"; the uniforms also include tricorn hats and white powdered wigs. The drum major of the Fife and Drum Corps traditionally bears an espontoon^[7] (an historic pike-like weapon) in his right hand to direct and command his unit.^[8] As such, he is the only soldier in all the U.S. Armed Forces authorized to bear a spontoon and to salute with the left hand^{[citation needed]} (although US Navy personnel are allowed to salute with the left hand under certain conditions).^{[citation needed]} Rounding out The Old Guard are the 289th Military Police Company, the 947th Military Working Dog Detachment, the 529th Regimental Support Company, two battalion headquarters companies, and the regimental headquarters company.

The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps on parade

Other operations

Although The Old Guard primarily functions in a ceremonial role, it is an infantry unit and thus required to meet standards for certification in its combat role. The unit also trains for its support role to civil authorities in a wide-range of scenarios and for deployments in support of overseas contingency operations.^[9]

In 2003, The Old Guard deployed for the first time since the Vietnam War. Bravo Company was dispatched to the Horn of Africa, where it established a forward base in rural Ethiopia.^[10][11] The base and missions, intended primarily to train Ethiopian military personnel, were part of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), a Global War on Terrorism operation.^[10] In 2007, the regiment's Delta company was deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti as part of CJTF-HOA, supporting humanitarian missions and local military training in the region.^[12] Charlie Company deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, in 2009 to execute its theater internment support mission.^[13]

1st Battalion

A gun salute being fired by the Presidential Salute Guns Battery

A member of Caisson Platoon escorts 'Sergeant York', the riderless horse used during the funeral procession for the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

• • HHC, 1st Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG)
    • Caisson Platoon
    • Presidential Salute Battery
    • Headquarters Platoon
    • Battalion Staff Sections: (S1, S2, S3, S4, S6)
  • Bravo Company
    • Escort Platoon
    • Casket Platoon
    • Firing Party Platoon
    • Headquarters Platoon
  • Charlie Company
    • Escort Platoon
    • Casket Platoon
    • Firing Party Platoon
    • Headquarters Platoon
  • Delta Company
    • Escort Platoon
    • Casket Platoon
    • Firing Party Platoon
    • Headquarters Platoon
  • Hotel Company
    • Escort Platoon
    • Casket Platoon
    • Firing Party Platoon
    • Headquarters Platoon

4th Battalion

The 4th Battalion was reactivated on Fort Myer in 2008. Corresponding with the regimental realignment, the battalion is composed of the following units:

• • Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 4th Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG)
    • Tomb Guards, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
    • The United States Army Drill Team
    • Battalion Staff Sections: (S1, S2, S3, S4, S6)
  • Alpha Company (Commander-In-Chief's Guard)
    • Three Colonial Marching Platoons
  • Echo Company (Honor Guard Company)
    • Escort Platoon
    • Casket Platoon
    • Firing Party
    • Continental Color Guard
  • 289th Military Police Company
    • Special Reaction Team
    • 947th MP Detachment (K-9)
  • The Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps

Regimental separate companies

• • HHC, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (TOG):
    • Coordinating Staff
    • Ceremonial Equipment Branch
    • Communications Platoon
    • Chaplains Office
    • Public Affairs Office
    • Regimental Recruiters
    • The Old Guard Museum
  • 529th Regimental Support Company
    • Headquarters Section
    • Food Service Platoon
    • Maintenance Platoon
    • Transportation Platoon
    • Medical Platoon

2nd Battalion

Stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment, serves as one of three infantry battalions of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division ('Indian Head'). After a 31-year hiatus from service, the 2nd Battalion was reactivated on 15 March 2001 as part of the US Army's first Stryker brigade combat team. It served as part of the first deployment of a Stryker brigade combat team in 2003. It then served a 15 month deployment in 2006–2007. It deployed to Iraq again in 2009 and Afghanistan in 2011.

• • HHC, 2nd Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment
    • Reconnaissance Platoon
    • Mortar Platoon
    • Medical Platoon
    • Mobile Gun System (MGS) Platoon
  • A Company
    • First Platoon
    • Second Platoon
    • Third Platoon

• • B Company
    • First Platoon
    • Second Platoon
    • Third Platoon

• • C Company
    • First Platoon
    • Second Platoon
    • Third Platoon

• • 18th Engineer Company
    • First Platoon
    • Second Platoon
    • Third Platoon
    • MS Platoon
    • Headquarters Platoon

3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th Battalions, 3rd United States Infantry Regiment

The 3rd Battalion, was inactivated on 25 August 1994. From 1963 until its inactivation, it was one of the three light infantry battalions that made up the Army Reserve's 205th Infantry Brigade (Light)(Separate), which in turn was the round-out brigade for the Regular Army's 6th Infantry Division (Light), based at Fort Richardson and Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The 205th Infantry Brigade was headquartered at Fort Snelling, Minnesota until its inactivation. The 3rd Battalion was scheduled to activate at Fort Carson as part of the 5th IBCT/4th Infantry Division. The activation was cancelled when the army froze at 45 brigades.

The 5th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 21 July 1969 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The 6th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 1 February 1969 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The 7th Battalion, was activated on 24 November 1967 and assigned to the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division on 24 July 1968, and inactivated on 25 July, concurrent with the inactivation of the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Medals of Honor

The following 3rd Infantry soldiers have been awarded the Medal of Honor:

• Indian Wars

Sergeant James Fegan, Company H, March 1868, Plum Creek, Kansas

Corporal Leander Herron, Company A, 2 September 1868, near Fort Dodge, Kansas

Private Robert Smith, Company M, 9 September 1876, Slim Buttes, Montana

Oscar Burkard

Oscar Burkard of the U.S. Army Hospital Corps, attached to the 3rd U.S. Infantry, received the Medal of Honor for his actions on 5 October 1898 in the Battle of Sugar Point at Leech Lake, Minnesota.^[14][15] It is listed by the U.S. Office of Medical History as the last Medal of Honor awarded in an Indian campaign.^[16] The Old Guard participated in one of the first battles of the Indian Wars – the Harmar Campaign in 1790- and one of the last battle of the Indian Wars- the Battle of Sugar Point in 1898.

• Vietnam War

Corporal Michael Fleming Folland, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 3 July 1969, Long Khanh (posthumous)

Lineage

• Constituted 3 June 1784 in the Regular Army as the First American Regiment to consist of companies from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

• Organized August–September 1784 in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (New York and Connecticut companies organized in 1785)

• Redesignated 29 September 1789 as the Regiment of Infantry

• Redesignated 3 March 1791 as the 1st Infantry Regiment

• Redesignated in 1792 as the Infantry of the 1st Sub-Legion

• Redesignated 31 October 1796 as the 1st Infantry Regiment

• Consolidated May–October 1815 with the 5th Infantry Regiment (constituted 12 April 1808), the 17th Infantry Regiment (constituted 11 January 1812), the 19th Infantry Regiment (constituted 26 June 1812), and the 28th Infantry Regiment (constituted 29 January 1813) to form the 3rd Infantry

• Consolidated August–December 1869 with one-half of the 37th Infantry Regiment (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit designated as the 3rd Infantry

• (2nd and 3rd Battalions inactivated 18 November 1921 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota; activated 8 June 1922 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota)

• Assigned 24 March 1923 to the 7th Division

• Relieved 15 August 1927 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 6th Division

• Relieved 1 October 1933 from assignment to the 6th Division and assigned to the 7th Division

• Relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 6th Division

• Relieved 10 May 1941 from assignment to the 6th Division

• (1st Battalion inactivated 1 June 1941 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; activated 14 February 1942 in Newfoundland)

• (2nd Battalion (less Headquarters and Headquarters Company) inactivated 1 September 1942 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota (Headquarters and Headquarters Company concurrently inactivated in Greenland); battalion activated 22 October 1943 at Camp Butner, North Carolina)

• Inactivated 20 November 1946 in Germany

• Regiment (less 2nd Battalion) activated 6 April 1948 at Fort Myer, Virginia (2nd Battalion concurrently activated at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.)

• Reorganized 1 July 1957 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System

• Withdrawn 16 January 1986 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System

ANNEX

• Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment.

• 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 Regiment.

• One-half of the 37th Infantry consolidated August–December 1869 with the 3rd Infantry and consolidated unit designated as the 3rd Infantry (remaining half of the 37th Infantry consolidated in June 1869 with the 5th Infantry and consolidated unit designated as the 5th Infantry—hereafter separate lineage)

3rd US Infantry honors

Campaign participation credit

War of 1812

1. Canada
2. Chippewa
3. Lundy's Lane

Mexican-American War

1. Palo Alto
2. Resaca de la Palma
3. Monterey
4. Vera Cruz
5. Cerro Gordo
6. Contreras
7. Churubusco
8. Chapultepec

American Civil War

1. Bull Run
2. Peninsula
3. Manassas
4. Antietam
5. Fredericksburg
6. Chancellorsville
7. Gettysburg
8. Appomattox
9. Texas 1861
10. Florida 1861
11. Florida 1862
12. Virginia 1863

Indian Wars

1. Miami (Ohio 1794)
2. Seminoles (1840–1843)
3. Comanches (1868)
4. New Mexico 1856
5. New Mexico 1857
6. New Mexico 1858
7. New Mexico 1860
8. Montana 1887

Spanish-American War

1. Santiago

Philippine-American War

1. Malolos
2. San Isidro
3. Luzon 1899
4. Luzon 1900
5. Jolo 1911

World War II

1. American Theater, Streamer without inscription;
2. Northern France

Vietnam

1. Counteroffensive, Phase II
2. Counteroffensive, Phase III
3. Tet Counteroffensive
4. Counteroffensive, Phase IV
5. Counteroffensive, Phase V
6. Counteroffensive, Phase VI
7. Tet 69/Counteroffensive
8. Summer-Fall 1969
9. Winter-Spring 1970
10. Sanctuary Counteroffensive
11. Counteroffensive, Phase VII
12. Consolidation I

Iraq War

1. Ballad, Tikrit, Mosul (2003–2004)
2. Mosul, Baghdad, Zarqa, Taji, Karbala (2006–2007)
3. Muqdadiyah (Diyala Province) (2009–2010)

Operation Enduring Freedom

1. Africa (2003–2004)
2. Africa (2007–2008)
3. Afghanistan (2011)

Decorations

• Valorous Unit Award for SAIGON – LONG BINH
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for WASHINGTON, D.C., 1969–1973
• Army Superior Unit Award for 1984–1985
• Army Superior Unit Award for 1993
• Army Superior Unit Award for 2004^{[citation needed]}
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Awarded to BDE Taskforce which included 2nd Battalion) for 2006
• Valorous Unit Award for NAJAF, IRAQ January 2007 (2nd Battalion)

Notes

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

• U.S. Army. "Regimental Home". (U.S. military website.) 3rd United States Infantry Regiment. Retrieved on 18 October 2009.
• First American Regiment at ArmyHistory.org. Accessed on 10 August 2008
• McKeeby, Eric M. (30 June 2004.) "MDW commander visits deployed Old Guard unit". (U.S. military website.) US Military District of Washington PAO. Retrieved on 4 October 2007.
• McKeeby, Eric M. (11 May 2004.) "U.S. Army Capt. Michael J. Trotter: Company commander juggles Old Guard's diverse missions in Africa". (U.S. military website.) Defend America. Retrieved on 4 October 2007.
• (22 May 1997.) "Lineage and honors information: 3rd Infantry (the Old Guard)". (U.S. military website.) United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved on 4 October 2007.
• "Medal of Honor Citations". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html. Retrieved 30 October 2008. 

External links

• The short film Big Picture: Prelude to Taps is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film Washington Soldier is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-30A (1966) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]