Posted on Aug 30, 2014
Do you know the military history of your basic training unit?
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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.
Boot Camp
Military History
Basic Training
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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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).
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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).
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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.
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.
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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
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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.
As previously mentioned, the Church is all gone except in our memories. Sad day indeed.
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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).
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Alpha company, 1st battalion, 3rd basic training brigade. Fort Dix N.J. 1981
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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.
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.
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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.
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