It was then reorganized as Headquarters Company, 43d Infantry Brigade and now organized as the Headquarters Company, 143d Regional Support Group. The Connecticuters fought heavily at the Battle of Freeman's Farm on 19 September 1777, and at the Battle of Bemis Heights on 7 October. On 23–24 February, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 169th made an amphibious assault on the island of Pavuvu in the Russell Islands against no resistance. Once the Great War had ended and the Connecticut soldiers returned home in April 1919, Congress passed the National Defense Act of 1920, and the 169th Infantry regiment was officially born. The regiment moved back to Munda, and defended the airstrip until 19 January 1944, when 3-169 was ordered to Vella Lavella to defend the airstrip there. 3rd Battalion (3-169) was ordered to seize the island of Baanga northwest west of Munda Point and met heavy resistance and elements were soon pinned down on the beaches and in the dense jungle. The 169th embarked for Guadalcanal on 15 February 1943, and two days into the voyage, the convoy was attacked by Japanese torpedo planes. MILITARY UNITS - 169TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 43RD DIVISION VetFriends Veteran ID Card Quick Links. On 15 April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued a call for volunteers after the fall of Fort Sumter, and the 1st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered in on 22–23 April. I just found this at an antique mall in Little Rock, AR. The men had free time, furloughs, awards ceremonies, training exercises, and parades while in New Zealand. Free shipping . On 18 February, the convoy docked at Guadalcanal and bivouacked on the island. The militia regiment did much to keep the peace with the nearby Pequot Indians, and on 11 October 1739, the militia was organized into the First Connecticut Regiment, the officially recognized birthday of the 169th Infantry. The men then captured a nearby hill, Bald Hill, and held it against several enemy counterattacks on 9–10 March. In this particular fight, the 169th suffered 60 KIA, 285 WIA, and 2 MIA, while the 43rd Infantry Division as a whole killed over 750 enemy combatants. The 43rd Infantry Division landed in New Zealand on 23 October 1942. The 43rd Infantry Division was constituted on 19 October 1920, with the division headquarters being organized and federally recognized in Hartford, Connecticut, on 21 March 1925. [1], On 1 March, the 169th relieved elements of the 40th Infantry Division near Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg. [1] The 1st Connecticut militia was ordered to reinforce General Horatio Gates at Saratoga in the fall of 1777 and served under the command of General Enoch Poor. The Russell Islands were occupied without opposition, 21 February, and training continued. 43rd Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia, Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953), 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized), United States Army Center of Military History, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=43rd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)&oldid=997861293, Infantry divisions of the United States Army, United States Army divisions during World War II, Military units and formations established in 1925, Military units and formations disestablished in 1963, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. WWII US Army 343rd Infantry Regiment Officers Collar Insignia PAIR 86th Division. Originally there were two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. History. The division arrived in New Zealand on 23 October 1942, prior to being committed to combat in the South West Pacific Theater under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. [1] The Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 marked the entry of the United States in the Second World War. Private LaVerne M. Anderson 169th Field Artillery Battalion 01/10/1945 Captain Rollo C. Andross 169th Infantry Regiment 07/13/1943 First Lieutenant David S. Atkinson 43rd Reconnaissance Troop 01/09/1945 My brother is also a retired Army officer who served initially in the infantry. Russell Islands were occupied without opposition, 21 February, and training continued. Published by: The Army and Navy Publishing Co., Baton Rouge, La. The regiment then arrived in New Zealand for R&R on 1 March. Rhode Island was home to Headquarters, 43d Division Artillery; the 103d Field Artillery Battalion; the 118th Engineer Battalion; and the 43d Signal Company. $39.95. Here they suffered 4 killed and 29 wounded. 3rd Battalion arrived on Pavuvu on 27 March. It got wet when I was bringing it inside through the rain. On 28 July 1814, the Connecticut militia deployed along the coast from Stonington to Greenwich to deter an enemy invasion. The German 169th Infantry Division was a German military unit during World War II.. The 86th Brigade was made up of the 172nd Infantry Regiment in Vermont and the 103rd Infantry in Maine. The 85th Brigade included the 102nd and 169th Infantry Regiments, both based in Connecticut. In addition, the 68th Field Artillery Brigade was based in Providence, Rhode Island. Under the command of COL Kenneth F. Cramer, the 169th trained hard for 13 weeks, and from 17–28 June, the regiment received 950 draftees to fill their ranks. The 86th Brigadewas made up of the 172nd Infantry Regiment in Vermont and the 103rd Infantry Regiment in Maine. The 86th Brigade was made up of the 172nd Infantry Regiment in Vermont and the 103rd Infantryin Maine. It was reorganized as a "triangular" division meaning that it had three infantry regiments, rather than four infantry regiments organized into two brigades. This page was last edited on 2 January 2021, at 16:18. The 43rd Infantry Division became an active National Guard unit in 1923 in accordance with the National Defense Act of 1916. During the period of 15–21 January 1945, all three infantry battalions of the 169th Regiment earned the Distinguished Unit Citation award for their gallantry in action amid the rugged hills of Luzon. 2-169 landed on Baanga to reinforce the attack, but the Japanese resistance on the islands was much stronger than anticipated and the advance made slow, if any, progress. The 43rd Division consisted of two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. The 43d Infantry Division landed in New Zealand on 23 October 1942. I and M Companies hailed from New Britain, K Company came from Manchester, and L Company was recruited from Willimantic. The 169th, along with 103rd and 172nd Infantry Regiments, made up the fighting arm of the 43rd Infantry Division. Nearby hills and ridges were secured against heavy enemy resistance, and the 169th continued to slog on through the island against determined defenders until 28 June 1945, when the 43rd Division was relieved by the 38th Division. On 1 June, the 1st Connecticut relieved the 12th New York Volunteer Infantry and engaged in their first engagement of the Civil War at Vienna, Virginia, where they were ambushed by Confederate troops, and PVT George H. Bugbee of A Company was wounded; the regiment's first casualty of the war. The 85th Brigade included the 102nd and 169th Infantry Regiment, both based in Connecticut. Volunteers from Hartford, Simsbury, and Windsor were enlisted, and it is unknown whether these militiamen saw action in combat. The 172d Regiment arrived at Espiritu Santo, 26 October. [1] Patrolling and encountering the enemy was commonplace in the Aitape region, and the men experienced hard fighting along the Drinuimor River and nearby ridges on 31 July. They wer published as a set of 43 volumes between 1893 and 1905. The regiment was garrisoned first around Munich then around Nurnburg. The 85th Brigade included the 102nd and 169th Infantry Regiment, both based in Connecticut. 43rd Division Artillery, 103rd Field Artillery, 43rd Division, 152nd Field Artillery Battalion, 43rd Division, 169th Field Artillery Battalion, 43rd Division, 192nd Field Artillery Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division, United States Army, World War 1939-1945, … On 30 September 1942, the 169th Infantry Regiment left San Francisco, California and sailed to New Zealand with a total strength of 139 officers, 5 warrant officers, and 3,138 enlisted men.[1]. What appears to be a stain is not one. [2]" The main attack was scheduled to begin on 9 July 1943, but the 169th (unaccustomed to combat) was exhausted after spending a sleepless night shooting at real and imagined enemy patrols. [1] From 23 December 1920 to 23 June 1923, the new 169th Infantry expanded until it possessed 15 company sized units, a medical detachment, a band, and three Headquarters detachments. The 143rd Regional Support Group of the Connecticut National Guard now carries on the heritage. It engaged in patrols and reconnaissance at Tadji and along the Drinumor River, 25 July, and took the offensive, 8 August 1944, ending organized resistance on the 25th. The 85th Brigade included the 102nd and 169th Infantry Regiments, both based in Connecticut. The 169th Infantry Regiment was ordered to mobilize on 24 February 1941 and join the 43rd Infantry Division, the "Winged Victory" Division. During the French and Indian War, the 1st Connecticut was called up on 7–8 August 1757 for a period of two weeks to man fortifications. Rosters of the New York Infantry Regiments during the Civil War. On 3 April, they were attached to the 112th Cavalry Regiment to conduct reconnaissance against the formidable Shimbu Line. Campaigns: New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Luzon. In addition, Connecticut was also home to the 143d Tank Battalion. There are 100 soldiers of the 43rd Infantry Division World War II still listed as missing in action. [1] From 25 August to 9 September, the regiment patrolled and guarded Munda Airfield until they were ordered to assist the 172nd Infantry in clearing Arundel Island which they managed to secure on 21 August. The 43d Brigade was relieved from assignment to the 26th Division on 1 September 1993, when the 26th Division was inactivated. Elements of the 169th soon landed on the southern coast of New Georgia on 2 July and began to march alongside the 172nd Infantry Regiment toward Munda Point to capture the Munda Airfield there. After training at Munda, the 43rd moved to Guadalcanal and thence to New Zealand for rest and rehabilitation. The 43rd Division consisted of two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. The 86th Brigade was made up of the 172nd Infantry Regiment in Vermont and the 103rd Infantry in Maine. The 43rd Division consisted of two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. There, they were scheduled for a year’s worth of military training to bring them up to speed on current tactics and techniques suited to modern warfare. [1] On 1–2 February, the regiment repulsed tenacious enemy Banzai charges and managed to capture the imposing Hill 1500 on 5 February, and were relieved on 14 February by elements of the 33rd Infantry Division and enjoyed some R&R behind the lines. B. Lyon Company, 1912. Ordered into federal service: 24 February 1941. The 1st Connecticut Infantry was recalled to federal service on 26 April 1898 for duty in the Spanish–American War. The men of the regiment "were soon introduced to the harsh realities of jungle warfare. The 43rd Division was mobilized for federal service on 24 February 1941. At Bemis Heights, they lost more men than any other regiment engaged, and General Gates referred to them as the "excellent militia regiment from Connecticut. Hard fighting in the hills, jungles, and villages near Aitape continued until long after the area was officially declared secure on 25 August 1944. 43rd Infantry Division – “Winged Victory Division” Back to all Infantry Divisions. On 1 October … On 15 June 1954, the 43d Infantry Division was released and returned to state control. Originally there were two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. The regiment fought in the First Battle of Bull Run on 21 July, where they engaged in constant activity against the enemy, and repelled infantry and cavalry attacks from 1,000–1,600. 1-169 and 3-169 followed shortly after and pressed the attack. The regiment arrived at Washington D.C. on 13 May, and camped at Glenwood, 2 miles to the north of the capitol. Combat Support units were based throughout all three states. The hills and rugged countryside of Luzon proved to be very difficult ground, and tenacious Japanese defenders made the drive painful. [1], The 169th Infantry Regiment was ordered to mobilize on 24 February 1941 and join the 43rd Infantry Division, the "Winged Victory" Division. [1] The 1st Connecticut remained in Washington until 27 July, and were mustered out in New Haven, Connecticut on 31 July 1861 when their period of enlistment expired. On 12 January, SSG Robert E. Laws (G Company, 2-169) earned the Medal of Honor for his actions while attacking an enemy controlled ridge. The Connecticut veterans who will observe the training served during World War II in the 169th Regiment of the old 43rd Division, a National Guard unit. Puglisi said the 43rd Infantry Division, which holds its reunions every year, included the 102nd and 169th infantry regiments from Connecticut, … The 43rd Division consisted of two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. For the next few months, the 169th conducted jungle warfare training on the island and honed their battle skills before their next assignment. The 172d Regiment arrived at Espiritu Santo, 26 October. It was activated in 1920 as a National Guard Division in Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The 169th threw this charge back and inflicted 274 deaths on the enemy. On 28 November, the 169th arrived in Nouméa, New Caledonia and garrisoned the island while conducting intensive jungle warfare training, loading and unloading ships, and guarding Japanese prisoners of war. The regiment was ordered to construct defensive lines in the area to support the 32nd Infantry Division already fighting in the area. "The History of the 43rd Infantry Division" by Colonel Joseph E. Zimmer (Retired). The 169th Infantry Regiment arrived at Aitape, New Guinea on 17 July 1944, to reinforce General Walter Krueger's Sixth Army. They continued their training at Fort Huachuca on 24 August before returning to Nogales in September and continuing patrols in conjunction with the 2nd Connecticut, soon to be the 102nd Infantry Regiment. 169TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 43RD DIVISION. During the French and Indian War, the 1st Connecticut was called up on 7–8 August 1757 for a period of two weeks to man for… After heavy fighting along the line, the airfield was finally captured after heavy loss on 5 August 1943. The regiment arrived in New Zealand on 22 October, and engaged in intensive training on the island until 22 November 1942. The 169th trained in the states of Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina until 4 December. OFFICERS PENN. The 86th Brigade was made up of the 172nd Infantry Regiment in Vermont and the 103rd Infantry in Maine. This unit originated in Connecticut and Sgt. 43rd Infantry Division Insignia Originally approved for the 43rd Division on October 4, 1929. 169th Infantry regiment – 43rd Infantry Division . On 11 December 1941, 22 officers and 700 enlisted men of the 169th were transferred to the 102nd Regiment, who were detached from the 43rd Infantry Division. Japanese patrols constantly harassed the men, and they launched a counterattack on 22 July. The regiment trained at Camp Pickett and Camp A. P. Hill, Virginia from October 1950 to October 1951 filling to full establishment before deployment by ship to Germany to prevent possible Soviet attack. SSG Laws' heroic actions provided great inspiration to his comrades, and his courageous determination, in the face of formidable odds and while suffering from multiple wounds, enabled them to secure an important objective with minimum casualties. [1], It was reactivated on 23 October 1946 to serve the Connecticut National Guard in Hartford, CT. During the Korean War, the 169th was called up for service to train in the event the war escalated. These rosters were compiled by the New York State Adjutant General Office. He was given first aid and evacuated from the area while his squad completed the destruction of the enemy position. Sign up to receive timely, useful information in your inbox. The 43rd Infantry Division served for 370 days in Combat in The Asiatic Pacific Theater of operations; during this time they served in the campaigns of NEW GUINEA, NORTHERN SOLOMONS, and LUZON. [1], The 169th soon found themselves as part of the US Occupation of Japan, garrisoning Kumagaya Airdrome from 14 September – 12 October. Contact Us. Rendova served as the major staging point for the assault on the island of New Georgia. Cannon Co. Search for: Follow Us. The Division left Manila, 7 September 1945, and arrived in Yokohama, Japan on 13 September for occupation duty. [3] Its headquarters was reorganized as Headquarters Company, 43d Brigade, 26th Infantry Division aka the YANKEE Division. They were destined to invade the island of Puerto Rico, but they never saw active service and were mustered out on 31 October 1898. They had managed to inflict (by actual count) 2,786 Japanese dead. The 172d Infantry with the 206th Field Artillery Battalion were based in Vermont. Email * On 20 August they were relieved by elements of the 172nd Infantry Regiment. The 43rd Division consisted of two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. [3] By on 18 July, the Japanese attempted to drive the 1st Battalion (1-169) off of "Kelley Hill," but the Connecticuters killed 102 of their enemy and drove them back. [1] On 7 July, the Connecticuters began patrolling near Nogales, Arizona. worldwartwoveterans@gmail.com. The division moved to Noumea, New Caledonia, in November and to Guadalcanal, 17 February 1943. 169th Infantry regiment – 43rd Infantry Division. The 43rd Division consisted of two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. Vermont Route 100 is signed as the 43 Infantry Division Highway. [1] The militia regiment did much to keep the peace with the nearby Pequot Indians, and on 11 October 1739, the militia was organized into the First Connecticut Regiment, the officially recognized birthday of the 169th Infantry. In additi… Contributed photo William Pastor, now 88 of Torrington, pictured here as sergeant first class in the Connecticut National Guard of the 169th Infantry Regiment in the 43rd Infantry Division. Leading a charge, he was wounded again and killed three Japanese soldiers in close combat. The 85th Brigade consisted of the 102d Infantry and the 169th Infantry … After ending Japanese resistance in the Zambales Mountains with help from the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary, the 43rd swung south against the Shimbu Line. These recon patrols were costly, but they managed to contain the enemy in the area. The 43rd Division consisted of two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. U.S. Route 7 is signed as the 43rd Infantry Division Memorial Highway between Norwalk and Danbury, CT. The 43rd Infantry Division was first activated in 1923, with the division headquarters in Hartford, Connecticut. The 169th Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Army, Connecticut National Guard. Frederick Phisterer.Albany: J. To tell the story of the 43rd Infantry Division from its inception to inactivation (1923-1963) The 86th Brigade was made up of the 172nd Infantry Regiment in Vermont and the 103rd Infantry in Maine. It was a part of the 26th Infantry Division and the 43rd Infantry Division. ABMC Headquarters 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 571-842-0020 The regiment was ordered to attack Hill 1750, but were thwarted by strong Japanese resistance until 6 March. They trace their ancestry back to when militia units in the Connecticut colony organized for drill in 1672, but their official organization as the 1st Connecticut occurred on 11 October 1739. To tell the story of the 43rd Infantry Division from its inception to inactivation (1923-1963) The purpose and object of this webpage shall be to perpetuate the spirit, prestige, and memories of the 43rd Infantry Division, United States Army National Guard, and the accomplishments the units of the division achieved in World War II and Korea. Mopping-up activities continued until 30 June 1945. The division headquarters, 102d and 169th Infantry Regiments, and 963d Field Artillery and 192d Field Artillery were organized in Connecticut. [1] Static warfare in the dense jungle made the drive on Munda Point bitter and frustrating for the men of the 169th. [1], When the United States began their involvement in First World War, the 1st Connecticut donated many men to the newly formed 102nd Infantry Regiment, but the new US infantry regiment claimed its heritage from the 2nd Connecticut Infantry Regiment. The 43rd was originally sent to Camp Blanding, Florida where it was based prior to participating in the Louisiana Maneuvers of 1941 and the Carolina Maneuvers later than same year. My memories of the 169th Infantry and the 43rd Division, two of my father's brothers also served in the Division, were of such character that I served in the infantry for 22 1/2 years retiring as a LTC in 1992. The 43d Infantry Division became an active National Guard unit in 1923 in accordance with the National Defense Act of 1916. The 169th Infantry Regiment traces its heritage back to when militia units in Hartford County, Connecticut organized into the Regiment of Hartford County in 1672. The 43rd Infantry Division was a formation of the United States Army from 1920 to 1963, serving in the Pacific during World War II. They set sail for San Francisco separately, and the last men to return home passed under the Golden Gate Bridge on 29 October 1945 to a cheering crowd. [1], In the summer of 1776, General George Washington called upon the state militias to meet the British Empire's suspected attack on New York. 169th Infantry Regiment Civil War Troy Regiment. During the Korean War, the 43d Division was again ordered into active Federal Service on 5 September 1950 and was moved to Seventh United States Army, VII Corps in West Germany in 1951. Jones joined as a replacement after the unit was already deployed in the Pacific. By 17 July, the main line of Japanese resistance had not been reached, but the regiment had already suffered 90 men killed and 600 men wounded along with many psychoneurotic casualties. WWII U.S. ARMY 28th INFANTRY DIV. 6 were here. During this period, the 169th Infantry Regiment was under the command of the 38th Infantry Division, and were returned to 43rd Divisional control on 24 March. On 19 July 1944, the division was deployed to the Aitape-Wewak campaign, assuming defensive positions at Aitape. Keywords. [1], American Civil War and Spanish–American War, 1st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, https://www.army.mil/article/51848/The_Harsh_Realities_of_Warfare, https://medium.com/the-bridge/all-hell-broke-loose-f99fb13d0cb#.pckl36tff, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=169th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)&oldid=992144918, Infantry regiments of the United States Army, Infantry regiments of the United States Army National Guard, Military units and formations established in 1672, Military units and formations disestablished in 1992, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 December 2020, at 19:07. [1] Aboard the USS President Hayes, CPL John E. A. Gagnon, of H Company, 169th Infantry, managed to shoot down an enemy plane with a .50 caliber machine-gun. Ipo Dam was secured and enemy opposition smashed in the Ipo area, 19 May. The regiment moved to Camp Blanding, Florida and upon induction, consisted of 132 officers and 1,825 enlisted men. $27.97. [1] The regiment's first casualties came during their occupation of Pavuvu when Japanese planes strafed their positions. Since then, the 169th and its predecessor units have fought in numerous American wars until its deactivation in 1992. The Division moved to Noumea, New Caledonia, in November and to Guadalcanal, 17 February 1943. The 1st Regiment of the Connecticut militia responded, and they reported for duty on 11 August 1776. It took part in Operation Fall Gelb and stayed in France until being transferred to Finnish Lapland in 1941. After extensive training maneuvers the 169th was briefly stationed at Fort Ord, California, where it was refitted for overseas duty. This guidon is from E Company 1-169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Division.