Tomahawks! As you know, the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment enjoys a storied legacy within the U.S. Army, marked by participation in numerous significant engagements throughout our country’s history.

American Civil War

The unit set out as the 1st Battalion of the 14th Infantry Regiment over 160 years ago on 8 July 1861 from Fort Trumbull, Connecticut. The following April it was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry. During the American Civil War, the regiment participated in 12 campaigns, including notable battles such as:

• Antietam
• Fredericksburg
• Gettysburg
• Chancellorsville
• The Wilderness
• Petersburg

Indian Wars & Expansion

After the war, on 21 September 1866, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 23rd Infantry and participated in various campaigns during the Indian Wars as our country expanded westward. Over the turn of the 20th century and on the heels of the Spanish-American War, the unit saw action in the Philippine-American War, from 1899 to 1902.

World War I

Assigned to the 2nd Division of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, the 1st of the 23rd saw action in major offensives that culminated in an Allied victory, including:

• The Battle of Belleau Wood (June 6, 1918)
• The Battle of Soisson (July 1918)

On 2 February 1945, a contingent of American infantrymen of Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, march past a ruined building as they return into the Monschau Forest in Germany. After they withdrew from this area, the Germans counterattacked in December. (Public domain photo by Boretsky, 165th Signal Photo Co.)

World War II

During World War II the unit received four Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry in battle, including:

• Brest, France
• Wirtzfeld, Krinkelt-Rocherath, St. Vith (Belgium)

The unit’s unwavering courage and effectiveness earned it another three PUCs for its efforts against overwhelming Chinese forces in the Korean War, including at Twin Tunnels; Chipyong-ni, or “The Little Dunkirk;” and Hongchon.

Vietnam War & Operations

The 1-24 Infantry engaged in various operations throughout the Vietnam War, particularly:

• Operation Wheeler/Wallowa (November 1967 to November 1968)
• Operations in Quang Ngai Province in early 1968

Global War on Terror

During the Global War on Terror, the 1st of the 23rd Infantry deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, adapting well to modern warfare challenges.

On 19 May 2004, soldiers dismounted a Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle to conduct a patrol in Mosul, Iraq. The soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The Stryker Soldiers were deployed from Fort Lewis, Wash., to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Public domain photo)