Do you know the military history of your basic training unit?

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 12:42:30 -0400

I'm watching GLORY right now and reminiscing about my basic training unit. (NO, I did NOT serve during the Civil War!!!) I went to basic at Fort Benning, GA back in early 1990. We were the Echo "Gladiators" of 2/54 INF. Basic training units are RICH in history. The 54th Massachusetts was the first all black unit (Infantry) that our nation created to help turn the tide of the Civil War. What was your basic training unit? Bonus points if you know the history of it.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 30 at 2014 1:57 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 13:57:54 -0400

I went to Basic in the Marine Corps. It's a little different there. Basically, you have 4 Recruit Training Battalions (RTBN). I think it was 2 in the early 80's when I was there. each with a certain number of companies. The number of companies changes based on demand. The History of USMC training units are all the same.....training units. Typically, you would have a designation like Platoon 1127, A Co., 1st RTBN.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2014 2:48 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 14:48:12 -0400

A Co 1-48 IN. The only thing I remember regarding their history is they were significantly involved in WWI. At the time I was too busy making sure my DS (aka God) stayed happy, so learning the history was pretty low on my priority list.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Aug 30 at 2014 4:04 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 16:04:27 -0400

Don't know of any history. Just a numbered platoon, K co. 3rd RTBN. The only reason that I remember this much is that I painted the Bn. sign. And we were known, at least by our DIs, as the criminal platoon as we had a lot of "jail or the Marine Corps" volunteers.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Sep 3 at 2014 3:32 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 15:32:56 -0400

OK SFC Merino, now that I've spent way too much time trying to find out ANYTHING about my BT unit (Co C, 2nd Bn, 3rd Training Brigade, Ft. Dix, NJ) I have found that the unit was created about the same time as TRADOC (which was originally at Ft. Dix, NJ) and ceased to exist when Ft. Dix ceased BT as a result of BRAC. What a famed history! lol!

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Sep 3 at 2014 4:04 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:04:42 -0400

Here's a little history from my PI training platoon DIs. One of them SSgt Lameruiex was in the 1965 Dominican Republic fracas. At the height of the shooting he and another Marine were up on a rooftop intentionally drawing sniper fire. Every time he was fired on he would stand up and wave a rather large red flag. Those of you from the Marine Corps will recognize this as "Maggie's Drawers" that signifies a miss on the rifle range at PI. It is the ultimate embarrassment for a Marine rifleman. He was featured in either Look or Life magazine in a series of photos pulling this stunt. This is what Marine DIs are made of!

Response by SGT William B. made Sep 3 at 2014 4:06 PM

SGT William B. — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:06:47 -0400

I know somebody out there can tell us about the days when cavalrymen rode triceratops.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 3:36 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 15:36:40 -0400

MCRD - Trains Marines.

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Sep 4 at 2014 5:07 PM

SSgt Tim Ricci — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 17:07:53 -0400

A 4-4 Ft Leonard Wood, Standing on the Yellow prints Haloween night 1979!! History??? Marine Corps, April Fools 1985, M Co 3rd Bn, San Diego!! As far as I know just the Normal Marine Corps History!

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 6:20 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:20:40 -0400

SFC Merino, I was E Co 2/58 on sand hill. And nope I don't know the history about my basic training unit. I was just trying to survive day to day and graduate...lol

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 6:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:31:59 -0400

3rd PLT, A TRP, 5-15 CAV 8/98-12/98

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Cavalry_Regiment

15th Cavalry Regiment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 15th Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the United States Army. It was one of the Expansion Units originally established for the Spanish–American War, but has been a general workhorse unit ever since.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 10:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 22:56:41 -0400

A 1/38 IN, 2005, apparently they left sand hill and went back active a year later and are now at my next duty station. Rock of the Marne!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 7:07 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 07:07:09 -0400

SFC,
I'll be honest, I try my best to erase all memories from my Basic Training in Fort Knox. While it was still in the 2000's (2009's) which is considered the new Army, my Basic was Hardcore. It was all males and the Drill Sergeants acted just like the ones you see in the old school movies. They smoked the crap out of us, trained us and we earned being a soldier. It was not a cake walk by any means and I really do try to erase all the memories of Fort Knox. So short Answer No i do not know the basic history

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Sep 5 at 2014 10:12 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 10:12:17 -0400

The 787th Military Police Battalion was originally constituted on 12 November 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 787th Military Police Battalion. It activated on 28 November 1942 at Fort Custer, MI.

It reorganized and was re-designated on 5 June 1945 as the 787th Military Police Service Battalion. It inactivated on 31 December 1946 in France.

Re-designated on 16 September 1986 as the 787th Military Police Battalion, it was allotted to the Regular Army. It Headquarters was concurrently transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and organized at Fort McClellan, AL where I attended from 1987-1988.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 10:14 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 10:14:07 -0400

B Battery 1ST BN 22nd FA

I do not know the history of it, nor am I able to find any. I have tried a couple times, though not very hard to be honest. Maybe I will continue the search now that I have a better reason1

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2014 11:46 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:46:46 -0400

I was in 1/38th, Harmony Church, Fort Benning, GA. "Rock of the Marne". The 38th formed after the civil was also as an all black unit. After serving in WWI, WWII and Korea, it eventually ended up with TRADOC in the late 1980s. Now it is assigned with 4th ID @ FT Carson.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Oct 1 at 2014 11:58 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:58:31 -0400

I'm a Sailor don't think we have basic training "Units" as such. I was Company 443 Battalion 5 RTC Orlando, FL. Now my CC Company Commander was a CT Cryptologic Technician and I went into the same field and well versed in the History of my Community from the Black Chamber in New York to the On the Roof Gang in Washington DC to the Puzzle Palace Ft Meade Md.

Response by SPC Richard White made Oct 1 at 2014 1:28 PM

SPC Richard White — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 13:28:30 -0400

I have 2 basic training units 46th Infantry-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/46th_Infantry_Regiment_%28United_States%29
Also 13th Cav-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Cavalry_Regiment
I was E-1-46 at ROTC Basic Camp at Knox in 1988 and the C 2-13 at OSUT at Knox in 1989

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Oct 1 at 2014 2:11 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:11:45 -0400

I went through C Co, 3/61 Inf BN out of Ft. Jackson, SC in 1987. I know nothing else about them!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2014 2:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 02:21:12 -0400

Oh...... history, now lets see. I went to 1/33 FA. Alpha Battery Wolfpack FT. Sill, OK September 1995 and honestly I don't know much of the unit's history. Sad, because I am insterested in history. Went to Delta Battery 2/80 FA for AIT also FT. Sill, OK.

Response by MAJ Skip Bebernitz made Oct 3 at 2014 6:55 AM

MAJ Skip Bebernitz — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:55:21 -0400

I was in A Co/11/4 at Fort Knox. It was located in the "Temporary Barracks" off of Gold Vault Blvd. July 71-Sep 71. I have no idea of the history.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2014 3:28 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 15:28:15 -0400

My basic training unit was Delta "Devastators" 2/54 so my history is the same as your

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 11:46 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 11:46:50 -0500

A co. 2/39th....The 39th Infantry Regiment is a parent regiment in the United States Army. Originally organized for service in World War I, the 39th fought in most of the conflicts involving the United States during the 20th century, and since 1990 the 2nd Battalion has served as a training unit stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Nov 27 at 2014 12:01 PM

MSG Gene Potocki — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:01:00 -0500

Here's some history for 2nd Bn 58th Inf (I was a Drill Sergeant with this unit 85-87)

Echo and Foxtrot Companies deployed to Vietnam as Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Companies assigned to the 4th Infantry Division (July 5th, 1968 - February 1, 1969) and 101st Airborne Division (January 10, 1968 – February 1, 1969), respectively.

In May 1987, the 58th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Training Brigade, Harmony Church, Fort Benning, Georgia, which was subsequently re-designated as the 198th Infantry Brigade.

2d Battalion, 58th Infantry

Consolidated 10 July 1951 with Company B, 58th Armored Infantry Battalion (see ANNEX), and consolidated unit designated as Company B, 58th Armored Infantry Battalion, an element of the 8th Armored Division

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Nov 27 at 2014 12:38 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:38:10 -0500

I did OSUT at Ft Sill B Btry 1/31. I have no idea what its battle history is. I was too worried about surviving long enough to graduation.

Response by SFC Tom Allen made Dec 29 at 2014 11:48 AM

SFC Tom Allen — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 11:48:55 -0500

I went to 11B COHORT OSUT in 1987 with (B/4/2) Bco. 4th Bn, 2nd Training BDE at Harmony Church on Ft Benning, Ga.

Response by SSgt Kevin Hopkins made Dec 29 at 2014 11:58 AM

SSgt Kevin Hopkins — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 11:58:15 -0500

*i was in the 3723rd BMTS at Lackland AF base but i dont know any of its history

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 1:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 13:03:11 -0500

B Co, 10th BN, 2nd Training BDE, Harmony Church, 1987.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 1:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 13:02:33 -0500

1987, B Co, 10th Bn, 2nd Training BDE, Harmony Church. Will look for my unit book to see if I have the history.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 3:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:24:03 -0500

795th Military Police Battalion

795th Military Police Battalion Lineage Constituted 23 June 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 795th Military Police Battalion

Activated 7 July 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida

Inactivated 30 May 1947 in the Philippines

Allotted 16 September 1986 to the Regular Army; Headquarters concurrently transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and activated at Fort McClellan, Alabama

Inactivated 1 September 1999 at Fort McClellan, Alabama

Activated 1 October 1999 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

Attended by PVT Hempel in July of 2013!

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jan 5 at 2015 1:34 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 01:34:09 -0500

C Company 13th Battalion 4th Regiment. As for the history of someone's Basic Training Unit, that would also depend upon the era that you are talking about. For mine, it was a Training Unit only and was never a combat unit as units are once again using for linage purposes today as they also did before my time. Some individuals can claim a 101st Airborne Division Unit as a Basic Training Unit, if you have someone from the appropriate period asked the question.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 7 at 2015 2:31 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 14:31:53 -0500

SFC Mark Merino, I was in D-3-1 at Fort Jackson (Tank Hill), SC, beginning 11NOV69 and ending 16JAN70. More specifically, I was the acting squad leader for 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Basic Combat Training Brigade. This was before the regimental affiliation process created all that rich history!

In reality, “the Army just resurrected inactivated organizations to ‘create’ lineage and history through the Regimental affiliation system, implemented in 1981.” Old D-3-1, I'm sure was rolled into either the 165th or the 193rd Infantry Brigades.

Another example is, when service members go to jump school now, they're attached to the 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was part of the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. However, when I went to the same jump school in MAR-APR70, I was attached to the 47th Company, 4th Student Battalion, the School Brigade. Not quite as exotic is it?!”

Smoke and mirrors!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2015 4:27 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 16:27:44 -0500

Army - Delta Co., 4th Bn, 10th Infantry Regiment at Fort Leonard Wood in 1994.
Air Force - Hotel Flight, Commissioned Officers Training at Maxwell AFB in 2006.
Navy - Sierra Company, Officers Development School at Naval Station Newport in 2009.

I know I'm a glutton for punishment. I've been through initial entry training 3 different times in 3 different services. I think I'm done jumping around though. At 43 years old I don't think they'll let me join up anywhere else. Although I am currently the chaplain for a Marine artillery battalion and as a Navy chaplain I can serve with the Coast Guard also, so maybe I'll get all 5 branches under my belt. :)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2015 5:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:56:12 -0500

Delta company 3-10 chemical infantry Fort Leonardwood Don't know the history just know summer of 2010 was damn hot wake up sweating go to sleep sweeting got moved from ftx2 because a marine EOD unit was coming in using live testing so we moved three ranges away heard that stuff for a week

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jan 7 at 2015 9:18 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:18:17 -0500

I reclassed as an MP in 2009. I went to MP school as a NCO, and I had to ride with the Privates a few times on one those "cattle" trailers.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2015 3:45 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 03:45:24 -0500

Dude control yourself. Talking about privates? Oh, nevermind....lol

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2015 6:39 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 06:39:26 -0500

A 1/38 IN "Rock of the Marne" Fort Benning, Georgia

The 38th Infantry was first established on July 28, 1866, as part of the Regular Army, one of six segregated, all-black regiments created following the Civil War. It was organized on October 1 of that year at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and was stationed in New Mexico Territory and along the transcontinental railroads then under construction. On March 15, 1869, the 38th was consolidated with the 41st Infantry Regiment and redesignated as the 24th Infantry Regiment.

Bonus: I still remember our company song from when I went to basic training

We're the men from Alpha you heard so much about, your mothers hide their daughters whenever we're about. We fight with guns and knives and sticks and broken bottles too, we're the men from Alpha who the hell are you!

Response by SP5 Keith Browning made Jan 26 at 2015 8:19 AM

SP5 Keith Browning — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 08:19:50 -0500

Wow, have not thought of or seen a "cattle truck" since the first day of basic training in June of 1972. My first experience of "Do I look like your mama" LOL. Funny now but an eye opener then.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Mar 13 at 2015 4:20 PM

SFC Collin McMillion — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:20:06 -0400

I was at Ft. Knox, drafty wooden barracks, steel bunks with no springs, and a 2in mattress. Great place....lol

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Sep 4 at 2015 7:14 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 07:14:29 -0400

I didn't even realize the 54th was still an active unit. Thats pretty cool. Did they make you aware of this in BCT? Thanks for sharing Mark!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2015 10:49 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 22:49:13 -0500

C 2-10 Infantry Regiment of Chemical Brigade. Fort Leonard Wood. Summer 2011. 4th Platoon. We were the Hellraisers! Hooah!

Response by CPL Rich Vargas made Jul 8 at 2016 3:59 PM

CPL Rich Vargas — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 15:59:40 -0400

Need history info, was at harmony church in May 1980.
The first barracks on the corner right across from the training brigade building.
A-4-1 Alpha Gators still have my year book and platoon photo.
Any help to this matter would be most appreciated.

Response by SP5 Bobby Kiger made Sep 6 at 2016 2:42 PM

SP5 Bobby Kiger — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 14:42:22 -0400

I have spoken of the way harmony church was to various people over the years. I don't think people really can comprehend it because truth is you had to have lived it to truly know it...

B 2 1 Bravo Rangers, 20 May 1981, Harmony Church, Ft Benning, GA. Where boys who thought they were men, became men...
These are the Soldiers who trained B-2-1
CPT John S Chappell
1LT Daniel A Uhrin
1SG Irvin M Parker
SFC George Young
SFC Willie Brown
SSG Virgil Gibson
SSG Freddie Gosa
SSG Allen Hendricks
SSG Stephen Adams
SSG Marion Redding
Looking back I can say every one of these men had a impact on my life then and even more so now. Much respect to each of them and to my fellow trainees who earned their Blue and became soldiers/men, 20 May 1981.

Bobby Kiger from North Carolina

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2016 2:48 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 14:48:26 -0400

The Air Force was only 13 years old when I attended basic training. Not a lot of time to have a history.

And no it was not the civil war then either.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2016 12:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 12:14:19 -0400

Mark, they are actually two different units. The movie Glory is the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which was a unit that existed from 13 March 1863 to 4 August 1865. However, in 2008 the Massachusetts Army National Guard activated the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, to serve in a ceremonial capacity. The 54th Infantry Regiment is the regiment which you were a part of during your basic training. This 54th was constituted on 15 May 1917, and has been active thru WWI, WWII, Vietnam, and as you know is currently stationed at Fort Benning.

Response by 1SG Paul Mahoney made Oct 11 at 2016 10:37 AM

1SG Paul Mahoney — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:37:51 -0400

I was assigned to B-2-1 at Fort Benning, GA in April of 1980. The unit was specifically designed as a training unit and had no real historical lineage. The most important historical fact was that we were trained at Harmony Church. It doesn't exist anymore. It was all WWII barracks with company mess halls and a real "old Army" feel to it. I was 17 years old and that place made me a man. Running down to Victory Lake and PT conducted by Drill Sergeants on the old PT stands. I went back for my Grandson's graduation in 2014. I took him there to see where the "old man" went to infantry training. Harmony Church was gone! All that was left was a broken company street and everything else was covered with pine trees. It was a sad thing to see. That part of the Army was long gone. The place where I became a man...gone in structures but not in spirit. I swear I could hear the old training units singing cadence in the wind in the trees. Good bye Harmony Church. I'll always carry your spirit with me.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made May 4 at 2017 6:07 PM

SGT Jim Arnold — Thu, 04 May 2017 18:07:15 -0400

I have to go digging up docs. I can barely remember it was at FT Jackson in the fall

Response by PVT Andrew Burd made May 4 at 2017 6:16 PM

PVT Andrew Burd — Thu, 04 May 2017 18:16:51 -0400

Army, D CO 31st ENG BN, 1 PLT. Fort Leonard Wood 1992
1. some dude got busted banging some chick while on phones in reception station.. lol..
2. one of the guys in my company farted when we were all in line and it smelled so bad it made the rifle range latrines seem like cupcakes.
3. I accidentally got the 2 guys in front of me smoked when we were leaving the cattle truck because one of the DS looked like Sgt. Slaughter from G.I. Joe, and I said so... whooopsie. lol.
4. Everyone got sick within the first few weeks.. it was slightly miserable late fall early winter weather.

Response by SGT Scott Gossett made May 4 at 2017 6:28 PM

SGT Scott Gossett — Thu, 04 May 2017 18:28:04 -0400

Alpha 2/54 INF, Sand Hill, Ft. Benning, GA. Same history as the op. Mailed foot!

Response by SGT Eric Hawkins made May 4 at 2017 6:33 PM

SGT Eric Hawkins — Thu, 04 May 2017 18:33:04 -0400

I probably will after I post this. But, honestly, no. I had, nor do I have, a clue as to the history of the 787th Military Police Battalion. As far as I was concerned it was the BN that the Army sent the meanest, roughest, and toughest MP NCO's in the Army to torture us. It was where we had to learn what made the grass grow, that our bayonet went in between the second and third ribs, and when Zaraga was done eating...we all were done eating.

Response by PFC Cedric Powell made May 4 at 2017 6:36 PM

PFC Cedric Powell — Thu, 04 May 2017 18:36:04 -0400

1-46 made their name during Vietnam

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2017 7:04 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 May 2017 19:04:24 -0400

Navy boot camp wasn't bad at all. I went through the brand new Battle Stations simulator where you experience a sinking ship. Based on everyone else's stories, I think the Navy is way softer than the other branches.

Response by MSgt George Cater made May 4 at 2017 7:52 PM

MSgt George Cater — Thu, 04 May 2017 19:52:49 -0400

Platoon 3301 - 3300 Series, Parris Island DEC 1969 - MAR 1970. Significant as the last series to go through only 8 weeks of Boot Camp under the Vietnam era 'speed up the pipeline flow' rules. The CY1970 platoons started off with 9 weeks and by 1973 when I came back for DI School, Boot Camp was back to 11 weeks.
Also, a rarity at PISC, in FEB 1970, we had a few minor frostbite cases during Range Week from prives pasting targets in the butts without gloves.

Response by SPC John Decker made May 4 at 2017 8:01 PM

SPC John Decker — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:01:35 -0400

Alpha company, 1st battalion, 3rd basic training brigade. Fort Dix N.J. 1981

Response by SPC John Parmenter made May 4 at 2017 8:16 PM

SPC John Parmenter — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:16:41 -0400

In August 1961, I graduated BCT from B Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 33rd Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, Camp Funston, Ft. Riley, KS -- making me one of the last Soldiers to undergo Basic in the Big Red One which became a TO&E, combat-deployable, Pentomic Infantry Division in response to the Berlin Crisis. Immediately following BCT graduation (which amounted to a talk by the DivArty CO) I got on a bus, rode across Ft. Riley to Camp Forsyth where I became a rompin' stompin' member of 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry "Lions of Cantigny" & remained in 1st Infantry Division until my ETS three years later -- lots of travel time including a Berlin tour (1st ID rotated four Battle Group Task Forces to augment Berlin Brigade).

Response by SSG Ray Murphy made May 4 at 2017 8:44 PM

SSG Ray Murphy — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:44:39 -0400

A-2-2, 4th Plt Hellraisers, 30 Apr 1982, Harmony Church, Fort Benning GA
As previously mentioned, the Church is all gone except in our memories. Sad day indeed.

Response by SGT Patrick Wells made May 4 at 2017 9:54 PM

SGT Patrick Wells — Thu, 04 May 2017 21:54:58 -0400

Echo 9-2 Ft Jackson. Graduated Nov. 1976.. Both my DS's were Rangers in Nam. When we got out of our cattle cars we were instructed to look around at each other because have would not be there at graduation. There were 65 of us in 4th platoon. We graduated 32. I ended up becoming Squad leader for 2nd squad . We marched/ Double timed past the new barracks daily. We were the last class to use our old ww2 barracks. Bottom of tank hill

Response by SGT Steve Hines-Saich B.S. M.S. Cybersecurity made May 4 at 2017 10:10 PM

SGT Steve Hines-Saich B.S. M.S. Cybersecurity — Thu, 04 May 2017 22:10:41 -0400

B 2/13 INF...

History,
1st Battalion 13th Infantry Regiment

The 13th Infantry Regiment (“First at Vicksburg“) is a United States Army infantry regiment whose battalions are currently tasked as basic training battalions.

History

War Department files of the 13th Infantry Regiment prior to its reconstitution in 1861 are unavailable. However, it has been established that during the first postwar expansion of the United States Army following independence, a 13th Regiment of Infantry was formed on 16 July 1798, and was mustered out 11 January 1800. Following the War of 1812 the first 13th Infantry was consolidated on 7 May 1815, with the 4th, 9th, 21st, 40th, and 46th Regiments into a new 5th Infantry Regiment whose lineage continues to the present.

The 13th Regiment was reconstituted in May 1861. General William Tecumseh Sherman was the colonel of the regiment and Philip Sheridan was one of its captains. It was organized as one of the nine “three-battalion” regiments of regulars, each battalion containing eight companies of infantry, in contrast to the original ten regular regiments of infantry, which were organized on the traditional ten-company line.

During the American Civil War, the unit earned its motto “First at Vicksburg”. It participated in the battles of Hayes Bluffs, Champion Hill, Black River, and on 19 May 1863 took part in the assault at Vicksburg. The 13th Regiment was the only Union unit to plant its colors on the Confederate positions.

Following the Civil War, the army was reorganized by Congress in July 1866, and the 13th was divided into three regiments, each battalion receiving two additional companies and being organized along traditional lines. The 1st Battalion retained the designation of the 13th Infantry, while the 2nd Battalion became the 22nd Infantry and the 3rd Battalion the 31st Infantry.

From 1867-71 the regiment fought in the Indian Wars in Montana and North Dakota.

In 1897 the 13th US Infantry had been filmed at Fort Jay on Governors Island, New York where they were posted in the years before World War I.

In June 1898 the regiment was sent to Cuba and led the 1st Infantry’s attack on San Juan Hill, capturing the Spanish flag.

The regiment saw combat in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War, and was assigned to the 8th Infantry Division in June 1918. As a member of this organization, the regiment did not participate in World War I.

In 1939 the regiment was ordered to the Panama Canal Zone and a year later, after having been disbanded, was reconstituted at Camp Jackson, South Carolina. The regiment found itself fighting through the hedgerows of France in July 1944 as a member of the 8th Infantry Division and led the drive to the Ay River. The regiment spent ten months in combat in Northern France, The Rhineland and Central Europe. It occupied a position on the Siegfried Line and was involved in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. Private First Class Walter C. Wetzel was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save his comrades.

Following World War II the unit was inactivated at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on 18 November 1945. On 17 August 1949 the regiment was activated once again at Fort Jackson, South Carolina as part of the 8th Infantry Division where it remained until 1 August 1954. The 8th Infantry Division was transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado and the 13th went with it where it resumed its training mission. In 1955 the 8th ID was designated an Operation Gyroscope division and as part of the division the 13th completed its last training cycle in December,1955. In January the regiment began to get permanent party personnel and new recruits, Basic training for these recruits began in mid February and segued immediately into advanced training. Both training blocks were completed by mid June and the regiment achieved “combat ready” status. The regiment under the command of Ellis W. Williamson left Fort Carson for its new assignment in Germany where it replaced the 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th ID. Regimental headquarters and the 3rd Battalion were stationed at Wiley Barracks in Neu Ulm.

In August 1957 the regiment was reorganised under the Pentomic system as the 1st Battle Group, 13th Infantry Regiment and the old guidons (for A though M companies) were retired and new ones for the 1st Battle Group were issued. In January, 1958 the 1st BG, 13th Infantry Regiment moved from Neu Ulm to Sandhofen. The First Battalion was posted to Baumholder whilst the Second Battalion was posted to Mannheim and remained there until 1 August 1984 when it was inactivated and relieved from assignment to the 8th Infantry Division.

On 27 February 1988, the 13th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and reorganized at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Currently, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 13th Infantry Regiment, as part of the 193rd Infantry Brigade, conduct Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Forty Rounds

The regiment’s motto that became a greeting by members of the unit originated during the American Civil War. A soldier of the 13th was asked what his Corps badge was that was then worn on the kepi. The soldier replied by tapping his cartridge box saying “Forty rounds in the cartridge box and twenty in the pocket!” with the cartridge box being used in the insignia of XV Corps.

Response by SPC John Leite made May 4 at 2017 11:41 PM

SPC John Leite — Thu, 04 May 2017 23:41:13 -0400

I had BCT in the summer of 1975 at Fort Dix, NJ. one of the strongest memories I have is when that bus arrived at the base, I hadn't been off of that bus for 2 seconds before I was on my face knocking out pushups, (that was true for everyone getting off that bus), I remember a hellish stint of KP and since I was one of very few guys that had a driver's license I spent some time as an "ambulance driver" picking up sick calls in the battalion area, that wasn't so bad but it sure was a long day, speed marches on sandy soil was also a treat, as far as the unit's History I only remember that it was B Company 3rd Battalion 3rd BCT Brigade, (I think, not at all sure about that, I'll have to look at my DD214).

Response by PO1 Randy Morse made May 7 at 2017 2:20 PM

PO1 Randy Morse — Sun, 07 May 2017 14:20:22 -0400

I don't recall there was any history involved with the training units in RTC Great Lakes. My company, the summer of '72, was different and never repeated, I believe. We were designated as Co. 285, but were better known as the Buffalo Bills company. We were sponsored by the Bills, all of us were from western NY, and were all 6 yrs enlistees......either Et or Nuke program (mostly Nuke).

Response by CPL Leo Meza made May 8 at 2018 12:45 AM

CPL Leo Meza — Tue, 08 May 2018 00:45:42 -0400

I was in Oct 1984 E company right by the Post Office not sure what the unit was like to find out

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 22 at 2018 6:57 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 06:57:50 -0400

I don't, but I remember those trailers though.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2020 8:45 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 08:45:53 -0500

In boot camp, and later in service. Cattle car. Kids jumping out while still rolling to get to head of Armory line.