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In 1843, LTC Riley, who commanded the 2nd Infantry through the Seminole and Mexican Wars, presented the Regiment with a drum major’s baton, made from a ramrod, with a silver knob inscribing the date of presentation, the name of the officer giving it, and the regimental motto, “Noli Me Tangere.” After a heroic assault to capture the fortress at Chapultapec, the flagstaff from that fort was used to make another baton with the silver mountings transferred to it. The baton remains with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry to this day, and the symbol of the battalion nickname: “Ramrods.” Returning to the United States in 1848, the Regiment moved to California to quell Indian uprisings, a mission which continued through the West until the beginnings of the Civil War. During the Civil War the 2nd Infantry fought in 23 major engagements. From 1877 to 1898, the 2nd Infantry fought in a series of Indian campaigns in the Pacific Northwest. In 1898 the regiment fought in the Spanish-American War, participating in the battles of Santiago and San Juan Hill, where it fought side by side with teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders.” In 1899 the 2nd Infantry went to the Philippines to deal with the Philippine insurrection. Four years later, the regiment returned to duty in the western United States, only to be re-deployed to the Philippines in 1906. World War I found the regiment on duty in the Hawaiian Islands, and the war ended just as the regiment was about to deploy to France. In World War II, the regiment fought as part of the Fifth Infantry Division in Patton’s famous Third Army, leading the way in the breakout from the beaches of Normandy in operation Cobra, capturing the ancient capital of Rheims and seizing Metz after a major battle at Fort Driant. The 2nd Infantry Regiment forced a crossing of the Sauer River and attacked into the Seigfried Line. The Regiment Crossed the Rhine River near the Oppenheim and secured crossing for other Third Army units. The unit then spearheaded the attack into Czechoslovakia and was located near the town of Voltray when the word came to cease all forward movement at 0831 hours on 7 May 1945. In 1965 the 2nd Infantry again answered the call to duty and deployed to Vietnam. Assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, the 2nd Infantry regiment fought initially as light infantry in the North and West of Saigon. Major operations include: Junction City, the larges operation conducted at that time, Lam Son II, Paul Bunyon, An Loc and An Loc II, plus numerous smaller operations. The 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry received three Valorous unit awards and two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Cross of gallantry, with Palm, for its distinguished service. The 2nd battalion, 2nd Infantry was relieved from assignment to the 1ist Infantry Division (M) and reassigned to the 9th Infantry on 21 March 1973. The Battalion was activated on 6 November 1987 as a Combined Arms Battalion-Heavy (CAB-H) and was deactivated in April of 1991. The 2nd battalion, 2nd Infantry was reassigned to the 1st Infantry Division and reactivated on 15 April of 1991. The 2nd battalion, 2nd Infantry was reassigned to the 1st Infantry Division and reactivated on 15 February 1996 at Rose Barracks, Vilseck Germany. Since its reactivation in Vilseck, the Battalion has successfully deployed to Bosnia in support of operation Joint Guard, where the Unit was awarded the Amy Superior Unit Award for actions such as Brcko riots and Hill 562. The 2nd battalion, 2nd Infantry redeployed to Vilseck in October 1997. On the 24th of November 1999, the Battalion deployed to Camp Monteith, Kosovo to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the Kosovo Protection Corps Agreement, the basic law and order in order to create a safe and secure environment for the local populace. The battalion redeployed to Rose Barracks, Vilseck on 7 June 2000 and stands ready for its next call to duty. |
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The modern 2nd Infantry Regiment traces
its lineage to 12 April 1808. It was on this date that the 2nd
Regiment of Infantry was constituted in the regular Army as a Company of the
5th Infantry. Soon after its birth, the Regiment was baptized by
fire during the War of 1812. In the years that followed, the 2nd
Infantry fought in the Seminole War and numerous other Indian Campaigns.
During the Mexican War, the 2nd Infantry Campaigned from the Rio
Grande to Vera Cruz to Mexican city.
