Red Warriors History

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REGIMENTAL HISTORY

Regimental Coat Of Arms

CoatOfArms

Regimental Motto - Having Been Led By Love of Country"

After Belgium gave the 12th Infantry the Belgium Fouragere, it was written in the citationthat the Regiment must have been led by love of country to carry out its mission in defending Belgium and Luxembourg. It is from this citation that the Regiment adopted its official motto: "Ducti Amore Patriae" or " Having Been Led By Love of Country"

Regimental Lineage

Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as Company A, 1^st Battalion, 12^th Infantry.

Organized 20 October 1861 at Fort Hamilton, New York.

Reorganized and re designated 7 December 1866 as Company A, 12^th Infantry.

12^th Infantry assigned 17 December 1917 to the 8^thDivision.

Relieved 15 August 1927 from assignment to the 8^thDivision and assigned to the 4^thDivision.

Relieved 1 October 1933 from assignment to the 4^thDivision and assigned to the 8^thDivision.

Relieved 10 October 1942 from assignment to the 8^thDivision and assigned to the 4^thDivision (later re designated as the 4^thInfantry Division).

Inactivated 15 July 1947 at Fort Ord, California.

Reorganized and re designated 1 April 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1^st Battle Group, 12^th Infantry and remained assigned to the 4^thInfantry Division. (Organic elements concurrently constituted and activated).

Reorganized and re designated 1 October 1963 as the 1^st Battalion.

2018 Department of the Army - Distinctive Designation Certificate for the 12th Infantry Regiment to be known as the "Warrior Regiment." - 23 March 2018

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Regimental Campaigns

*Civil War*	World War II
Peninsula Manassas Antietam Frederiksberg Chancellorsville Gettysburg Wilderness Spotsyvania Cold Harbor Petersburg Virginia 1862 Virginia 1863	Normandy (with arrowhead) Northern France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe

Indian Wars	Republic of Vietnam
Modocs Bannocks Pine Ridge	Counteroffensive, Phase II Counteroffensive, Phase III Tet Counteroffensive

War with Spain	Iraq
Santiago	Operations Iraqi Freedom

*Philippine Insurrection*	Afghanistan
Malodos Tarlac Luzon	Operation Enduring Freedom Link to stories

VIETNAM ERA - 1966-1970

The 12th Infantry Regt deployed 5 Battalions to Vietnam, starting with 1/12 in July 1966.. All 5 battalions trained at Ft Lewis,WN and were assigned to the 4thID. However, after arrival in Vietnam,they were assigned as follows :1/12 and 3/12 remained with the 4th ID.. 2/12 was assigned to the 25th ID and the 4/12 and 5/12 were assigned to the 199th Bde.

As of 2021 Only the 1/12 and 2/12 remain active and both are assigned to the 4th ID at FT Carson.

. In August 2016, Ed Northrop, C COmpany 1/12th 1966/67 iwas asked and accepted the project of designing , funding and building of the 12th IN Regiment Monument at the NIM Monument area. Thefirst task was to surroundhimself with good people, which he was able to do. We dedicated the Monument on 31 May 2017. The 199th Bde provided the Color Guard, the dedication was attended by the then Bde CO , Col Streeter and his CSM. It is located toward the right rear of the Monument complex. A 20' foot tall Grey oblisck with a 5' high Black granite wall as a background. It is a beautiful monument dedicated to all those men and women that have and will continue to serve in the 12th. It reflects the history, campaigns and MOH recipients.

The 12th Regiment, throughout its history, has had 7 soldiers receive the Medal of Honor. Two searved in C Co,

The 4/12 and 5/12 received 3 Medals of Honor, all while assigned to the 199th

1/12^th was part of the 2nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division


1/12^th Battalion Commanders
12^th infantry regiment was the only regiment to send five units to Vietnam
LTC James R. Lay	5 July 66	13 February 67
LTC George Wilcox	Feb 67	March 67
Maj. Grady W. Williams	March 67	3 April 67
LTC Corey J. Wright	3 April 67	02 August 67
LTC Harold Birch	02 August 67	03 January 68
LTC George J. Schneider	03 January 68	01 August 68
LTC Joseph T. Palastra Jr.	01 August 68	69
LTC Robert Carter (KIA)	69	KIA 27 May 69
LTC Edward Fiora	28 May 69	July 69
LTC John B. Cottingham	July 69	Early 70
LTC Norris P. Sterling	Early 70	70
MAJ Donald Pastella (Acting)	70	70
LTC Arthur M. Harris	November 70	(Return to CONUS)

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DAILY WAR DIARIES 1966		1/12^th Daily logs for 1966
DAILY WAR DIARIES 1967		1/12^th Daily logs for 1967
DAILY WAR DIARIES 1968		1/12^th Daily logs for 1968
DAILY WAR DIARIES 1969		1/12^th Daily logs for 1969
DAILY WAR DIARIES 1970		1/12^th Daily logs for 1970
HILL 875		1/12^th Summary of 1/12ths involvement
AFTER ACTION REPORTS		4^th Division Unclassified Reports

Task Force Warrior Unit Awards October '66 - October '70

Depending upon the years you served, every Red Warrior should qualify for at least two of the following: Valorous Unit Award Ribbon ,Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Ribbon with Palm , Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Ribbon with Palm. Every Red Warrior deserves at least two of these unit awards. If you don't, you can order them through your county VA Rep. To see which awards you deserve, and to print out a copy of the orders to show your VA Representative. Scroll down to the awards section, print off the orders that pertain to you...and that's all it takes. Awards are given based upon your dates of service in Vietnam. Check the description, and get the award you deserve! They pin over your left breast pocket.


Valorous Unit Award Ribbon	Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Ribbon with Palm	Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Ribbon with Palm
see details below Top of page	see details below	see details below
Task Force Warrior Vietnam Unit Awards If you do not have these awards, print out the orders and take to your county VA rep to apply.

1^st Bn, 12^th Inf
Award	Dates	Orders
Valorous Unit Award	11 Nov -13 Nov 1966	DAGO 17,1968
Valorous Unit Award	1 Jan - 5 Apr 1967	DAGO 43, 1970
RVN Gallantry Cross	1 Oct 1966 - 28 Jul 1969	DAGO 3, 1970
RVN Gallantry Cross	29 Jul 1969 - 17 Nov 1970	DAGO 52, 1971
RVN Civil Actions	1 Oct 1966 - 31 Oct 1969	DAGO 53, 1970
B Btry, 4^th Bn, 42d Arty
Valorous Unit Award	11 Nov -13 Nov 1966	DAGO 17,1968
Valorous Unit Award	1 Jan - 5 Apr 1967	DAGO 43, 1970
1^stPlt, B Co, 4^thEng
Valorous Unit Award	11 Nov -13 Nov 1966	DAGO 17,1968
Note: Some believe the battalion earned a Presidential Unit Citation. It did, but not during the Vietnam Era. It won the honor for its WWII action.

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Vietnam Significant Highlights
July 21, 1966	Red Warriors departed from t he Port of Tacoma, WA on the USS Nelson M. Walker to Vietnam
August 6, 1966	Red Warriors went ashore in Qui Nhon, Vietnam
August 13, 1966	SP4 Gerald Menzer is the first Red Warrior to be killed in Vietnam. Hand Grenade accident.
October 6, 1966	A Company first Red Warrior fire fight in Vietnam. Coordinates YA-726-530
December 6, 1966	LT Mark Enari, A Company, was killed and the 4th Infantry Division Base Camp was named in his honor.
February 15, 1967	Louis E. Willett, C Company, was KIA and received the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously.
July 12, 1967	Nathan Henry, Richard Perricone, Cordine McMurray, Stanley Newell, Martin Frank, James VanBendegom, and James Schiele were captured. *Died in captivity. Highest casualties in a s ingle day occur this date
May 16, 1968	Anund C. Roark, C Company, was KIA and received the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously.
May 27, 1969	LTC Robert H. Carter, Jr. Commander of 1st Battalion 12, Infantry "Red Warriors" was killed. He is the highest ranking "Red Warrior" killed in Vietnam.
October 1969	Battalion begins move to Camp Radcliff as Camp Enari prepares to be abandoned.
May 5, 1970	Red Warriors move into Cambodia
November 11, 1970	SP4 Francis Bunk, HHC, is the last Red Warrior KIA in Vietnam. He was a cook. Artillery attack.
November 1970	Red Warriors Leave Vietnam
March 5, 1973	POW's released

Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered LUXEMBOURG (12 Infantry cited; WD GO 54, 1945) Valorous Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE (1^st Battalion, 12^th Infantry cited; DA GO 17, 1968) Click to link to General Order 17and citation Valorous Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL HIGHLANDS (1^st Battalion, 12^th Infantry cited; DA GO 43, 1970) Click to link to General Order 43 and citation Belgian Fourragere 1940 (12^th Infantry cited; DA GO 43, 1950) Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in BELGIUM (12^th Infantry cited; DA GO 43, 1950) Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES (12^th Infantry cited; DA GO 43, 1950) Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1969 (1^st Battalion, 12^th Infantry cited; DA GO 53, 1970) Click to see General Order 53 (viewed as PDF) Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1969 (1^st Battalion, 12^th Infantry cited; DA GO 53, 1970)Click to see General Order 53 (viewed as PDF) Company B and Company C each additionally entitled to: Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered KONTUM (Company B and Company C, 1^st Battalion, 12^th Infantry cited; DA GO 43, 1970

patch

Having Been Led by Love of Country

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