179th

179th Infantry

Constituted in 1890 as the 1st Infantry, Oklahoma Volunteer Militia, and organized 21 December 1895 from existing militia companies with Headquarters at Guthrie. Consolidated with elements from Indian Territory, and Territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and organized as the 1st Regiment, Territorial Volunteer Infantry, United States Volunteers, and mustered into Federal service 4-23 July 1898; mustered out 11-15 February 1899 at Albany, Georgia.
Oklahoma elements reorganized in 1899 as the 1st Infantry, Oklahoma National Guard, with Headquarters at Guthrie. Mustered into Federal service 17 June-1 July 1916 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for Mexican Border; mustered out 1 March 1917 at Fort Sill. Called into Federal service 31 March 1917. Assigned to the 36th Division 18 July 1917. Drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917 at Fort Sill.
Consolidated with the 7th Infantry, Texas National Guard, and reorganized and redesignated as the 142d Infantry 15 October 1917. (2d Infantry, Oklahoma National Guard, organized in Central Oklahoma and Federally recognized 31 August 1918 with Headquarters at Pawnee.) Relieved from the 36th Division and demobilized 17 June 1919 at Camp Bowie, Texas. Central Oklahoma elements of former 142d Infantry merged with Central Oklahoma elements of the 2d Infantry, Oklahoma National Guard, during 1920 and 1921; former elements of 142d Infantry in eastern part of State merged with 3d Infantry, Oklahoma National Guard.
2d Infantry, Oklahoma National Guard, redesignated as the 179th Infantry and assigned to the 45th Division 14 October 1921. Inducted into Federal service 16 September 1940 at Oklahoma City. (45th Division redesignated 45th Infantry Division 11 February 1942.) Inactivated 17-29 November 1945 at Camp Bowie, Texas.
Reorganized and Federally recognized 10 September 1946 with Headquarters at Edmond. Ordered into active Federal service 1 September 1950 at Edmond. (179th Infantry [NGUS] organized and Federally recognized 15 September 1952 with Headquarters at Edmond.) Released from active Federal service 30 April 1954 and reverted to State control; concurrently, Federal recognition withdrawn from the 179th Infantry (NGUS).
Relieved from the 45th Infantry Division 1 May 1959 and (less the 2d Battalion) reorganized as the 179th Infantry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System.

Company C of the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, deployed in September 2000 to Bosnia for a six-months rotation as part NATO Stabilization Force 8.

Company A of the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, deployed in January of 2004 to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as Site Security for Patriot Missile Batteries.

Company B of the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, deployed in January of 2004 to Kuwait in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom as Site Security for Patriot Missile Batteries. Then in May of 2004 redeployed to Iraq for combat operations, Soldiers of Company B 1st Battalion 179th Infantry were the first men from the 179th to be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Combat Field Medic Badge since the Korean War.

CAMPAIGN STREAMERS
World War I
Meuse-Argonne

World War II
Sicily (with arrowhead)
Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead)
Anzio
Rome-Arno
Southern France (with arrowhead)
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe

Korean War
Second Korean Winter
Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
Third Korean Winter
Korea, Summer 1953

DECORATIONS
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War Il, Streamer embroidered ACQUAFONDATA (45th Infantry Divison cited; DA GO 43, 1950)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (179th Infantry cited; DA GO 30, 1954)
COAT OF ARMS
SHIELD: Azure a tomahawk and pipe argent, crossed in saltire.
CREST: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Oklahoma Army National Guard;
On a wreath of the colors argent and azure, an Indian's head with war bonnet, all proper.
MOTTO: In Omnia Paratus (Prepared in all things)
The shield is blue for infantry. The tomahawk and peace pipe are the Indian emblems of war and peace and refer to the heritage of the personnel of the organization.
DISTINCTIVE INSIGNIA
The insignia is the shield, crest and motto of the coat of arms. The sample of the insignia was approved 9 August 1927.