161st Infantry Regiment
OUR HERITAGE
| [Introduction] | [Before World War II] | [161st Infantry in WWII] | [After World War II] |
| [Coat of Arms and Insignia] | [Lineage] | [Campaigns] | [Unit Decorations] |
The 161st Infantry Regiment served with the 25th Infantry Division from 3 August 1942 to 1 November 1945, participating in three World War II Asiatic-Pacific campaigns, Guadalcanal, Northern Solomons and Luzon. The Regiment was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its valor in the liberation of the Philippines.
THE REGIMENT BEFORE WORLD WAR II
Origins
The 161st Infantry was first organized on 9 March 1886 as the 1st Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Infantry Regiment (on 7 April 1887) from existing independent militia companies which traced their origins back to 1855 when the Federal Government granted permission to the Washington Territory to raise a voluntary militia to defend settlers against attacks by the Yakima Indians.
The Philippine Insurrection
During the War with Spain the United States seized the Philippine Islands in 1898. Elements of the Filipino army, who wanted independence and resented the seizure of their islands by the United States, began hostilities against U.S. Army units stationed in the Philippines. To reinforce these units, the War Department mustered National Guard units into Federal service. Among them were ten companies of the 1st and 2nd Infantry Battalions of the Washington National Guard mustered into Federal service 6-13 May 1898 at Tacoma The Washington National Guardsmen were then reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Regiment, Washington Volunteer Infantry.
The Regiment was dispatched to the Philippines where it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, VIII Corps. In what is known officially as the Philippine Insurrection, the 1st Washington participated in the Manila campaign as well as seeing additional action against the Filipino insurgents on the island of Luzon in 1899. The Regiment was cited for valorous conduct at the Battle of Santa Ana. The First Washington spent a week in Japan enroute back to America. It was mustered out of Federal service on 1 November 1899 at San Francisco, CA.
The Mexican Border
In 1916, the War Department once again mustered National Guard units into Federal service to reinforce Regular Army units protecting our southern border from raids by the Mexican rebel Pancho Villa. The First Washington – now designated the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Washington National Guard – was mustered into Federal service on 28 June 1916 at Camp Elmer M. Brown, WA and was dispatched to Calexico, CA for duty. Three months later the Regiment returned to American Lake, WA where it was mustered out on 8 October 1916.
World War I
As war clouds gathered, the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Washington National Guard was called back into Federal service on 25 March 1917. In July 1917 the War Department set up a new numbering system for infantry regiments with National Guard regiments to be numbered 101-300. One hundred and sixty seven National Guard Regiments were renumbered. From 19 September to 20 October 1917, the 2nd Infantry Regiment was consolidated with elements of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, District of Columbia National Guard to form the 161st Infantry Regiment. The 161st was assigned to the 41st Division on 19 September 1917. Sent overseas to France, the 161st was not committed to combat. Rather, the personnel of the 161st were used as replacements for other units. For its service the Regiment was awarded the World War I campaign streamer without inscription. The 161st was demobilized 1-8 March 1919 at Camp Dix, NJ and Camp Dodge, IA.
Between the Wars
The 161st Infantry was reconstituted and federally recognized on 30 September 1919 at Spokane, WA. Reassigned to the 41st Division on 1 May 1921, the regiment conducted routine National Guard duties and training. In 1935 the 161st was called out by the Governor to restore order during a statewide strike of sawmill and lumber workers. On 16 September 1940 the peacetime routine would come to an end as the 161st – along with the rest of the 41st Division – was called into Federal service.
THE 161ST INFANTRY IN WORLD WAR II
When the 41st Infantry Division was called to active duty on 16 September 1940 it was still configured as a square division with two brigades of four infantry regiments, of which one was the 161st Infantry. Initially ordered to Camp Murray, Washington on 20 September 1940, the Division was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington on 20 March 1941. Between 5 June and 2 July 1941 the 41st participated in the IX Corps maneuvers at Hunter Leggett Military Reservation, California. Returning to Washington State, the Division next participated in the Fourth Army maneuvers at Fort Lewis from 15 through 30 August 1940.
With the 41st Division being reconfigured to the new triangular division, the 161st was considered excess. The War Department ordered the 161st Infantry to the Philippine Islands to reinforce American forces there in anticipation of a possible Japanese invasion. The Japanese attacked Hawaii and the Philippines before the 161st was to depart San Francisco. In reaction the War Department directed the 161st to Hawaii to reinforce the defenses there. The Regiment sailed from San Francisco on 16 December 1941, arriving in Hawaii on 21 December 1941. On 17 February 1942 the 161st Infantry was reassigned from the 41st Division to the Hawaiian Department. On 23 July 1942 the War Department reassigned the 298th Infantry Regiment of the Hawaiian National Guard, which had been assigned to the 25th since the Division’s activation on 1 October 1941, to the 24th Infantry Division and replaced it on 3 August 1942 with the 161st Infantry.
The 161st, along with the rest of the 25th Infantry Division, was alerted for shipment to Guadalcanal to reinforce the American forces already there and to provide sufficient combat strength to allow the US XIV Corps to launch offensive operations to destroy the Japanese forces on the island. The 25th was reconfigured into three regimental combat teams (RCT). The 161st RCT was composed of the 161st Infantry, the 89th Field Artillery Battalion and other combat support units under the command of Colonel Clarence A. Orndorff. The 25th departed Hawaii at the end of November 1942.
Guadalcanal
The 35th RCT arrived at Guadalcanal on 17 December 1942, followed by the 27th RCT on 1 January 1943, with the 161st RCT arriving on 4 January 1943. The 25th Division was assigned to the XIV Corps composed of the 25th, the Americal Division and the 2nd Marine Division. Chosen to lead the first offensive actions were the 35th RCT against the Mt. Austin area and the 27th RCT against a series of hills called Galloping Horse. The 161st was placed in division reserve minus the 1st Battalion, which was attached to the 27th as a reserve. (Division personnel strength reports for that period show the 161st Infantry Regiment to be seriously under-strength, being short close to 1300 personnel). While in in reserve manning defensive positions around the airstrip, named Henderson Airfield, the 161st was also handed the assignment of eliminating a concentration of Japanese troops in what became known as the Matanikau River Pocket. The Pocket, estimated to hold 500 enemy troops, was a dense jungle redoubt positioned between a steep hillside and a high cliff over the Matanikau River. The heavy undergrowth masked the well-camouflaged Japanese positions, both on the ground and high in the trees, and made dislodging them a slow, grim task. The combination, though, of frequent patrols, heavy artillery bombardment, and starvation served to eliminate this strongpoint in the end. On 10 January 1943 the offensive was launched and successfully completed by 21 January with the seizure of Galloping Horse by the 27th Infantry and Mount Austin and the Gifu strongpoint by the 35th Infantry.
The second phase of the Corps offensive was to drive to the Poha River. The 161st Infantry was designated to lead the Division attack. The 27th Infantry was to conduct a holding attack on Hill 87 to tie down the Japanese units while the 161st flanked the Japanese positions from the southwest. However the 27th found that the Japanese had withdrawn, thus negating the 161st flanking attack. Because of a feared reinforcement of Japanese forces on Guadalcanal which never came, the 25th Division was ordered to guard the airfields while the 161st Infantry was placed under Corps control and ordered to continue the drive north. On 6 February two battalions of the 161st reached the Umasani River and then crossed the Tambalego River. On 8 February they met light Japanese resistance prior to seizing Doma Cove. The next day the 1st Battalion of the 161st linked up with a battalion of the Americal Division at the village of Tenaro effectively ending organized Japanese resistance on Guadalcanal.
The 25th Division remained on Guadalcanal to defend against any Japanese attempts to recapture the island. The 161st along with the rest of the Division spent the spring and summer of 1943 training and recuperating.
Northern Solomons
With Guadalcanal secured, attention turned to recapturing the remaining Solomon Islands, particularly the island of New Georgia where the Japanese had built a key airfield at Munda. Initially the 25th Division, now known as the Tropic Lightning Division for its swift combat actions on Guadalcanal, was not included in the invasion plans for New Georgia as resistance was anticipated to be light. However once US forces landed on New Georgia, Japanese resistance stiffened and Corps requested a regiment from the 25th Division. The 161st was selected, landing on New Georgia on 22 July 1943 and was attached to the 37th Division.
The mission of the 37th Division was to take Bibilo Hill. As the attack commenced the 3rd Battalion of the 161st ran into stiff resistance while approaching the line of departure for the attack, coming under heavy fire from a ridgeline later called Bartley’s Ridge. This ridgeline contained numerous pillboxes which were well hidden and mutually supporting.
On 25 July the attack on Bartley’s Ridge commenced. While the 3rd Battalion attacked the ridgeline frontally, the 1st Battalion flanked the position. While partially successful the attack stalled. Resuming the attack on 28 July, the 161st was successful in clearing the ridgeline. The Regiment then moved on to attack Horseshoe Hill, which had the same type of defenses as Bartley’s Ridge. By 1 August, using every weapon available, including flamethrowers, the 161st cleared the hill, pillbox by pillbox and closed on Bibilo Hill.
The XIV Corps ordered the 25th Division to New Georgia on 2 August. The 161st, back under 25th control, along with the 27th Infantry was ordered to attack north from Bibilo Hill and clear the Japanese between them and the sea. The 27th Infantry overcame stiff resistance in their drive to the north. The 161st, probing west of the Bairoko River and on to Bairoko Harbor, found the Japanese had fled before them. On 25 August, the 161st and the 27th linked up and fighting on New Georgia ended.
Recuperation and Training
With the battle for the Solomon Islands over, the Tropic Lightning Division returned to Guadalcanal in early November 1943 and then moved on to New Zealand. Here the Division was brought back to full strength and in February 1944 it sailed to New Caledonia for intensive training. Throughout the summer the 25th trained hard from squad level up to division, with the 35th Infantry serving as an opposing force. In the fall the Division became proficient in conducting amphibious landings in preparation for its participation in the liberation of the Philippine Islands.
Luzon
On 9 January 1945 the Sixth Army landed at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. The 25th Division was held as Army reserve and was not committed to the fighting until 17 January when the 25th Division was assigned to I Corps. Significantly the commitment of the 25th Division brought the return to Luzon after a 46-year absence, of the 1st Washington Volunteer Infantry, now the 161st Infantry, not to fight the Filipinos as their grandfathers had done but to liberate them from their Japanese conquerors.
The 27th and 161st Infantry were given the mission of liberating three villages. Both regiments were entering combat for the first time in over a year. The 27th Infantry encountered only light resistance in taking their objective but the 161st ran into stiff resistance as they attacked the village of Binalonan. The 161st turned back counterattacking Japanese tanks and infantry as they secured the village on 18 January.
The 161st was next given the mission of clearing the town of San Manuel of Japanese forces. The Japanese forces were well dug in and determined to hold San Manual. Seizing the high ground northwest of the town on 22 January, the Regiment found itself in a fierce fight with a determined foe. The Japanese force consisted of some 1,000 troops supported by approximately forty tanks. As the 2nd Battalion, 161st Infantry supported by Cannon Company, 161st Infantry advanced to the edge of the town, the Japanese counterattacked. In extreme close combat the brunt of the attack fell on Company E supported by Cannon Company equipped with self-propelled direct-fire 105mm howitzers. In the two hour battle Cannon Company destroyed nine enemy tanks as Company E, while sustaining fifty percent casualties in close combat, turned back the Japanese attack. On 25 January the 2nd Battalion resumed its advance into the town led by Cannon Company which destroyed some twenty dug-in enemy tanks and four artillery pieces and some 150 enemy soldiers while the 2nd Battalion inflicted additional heavy casualties on the retreating Japanese forces as the 161st completed the liberation of San Manuel by 28 January. For their extreme gallantry both Company E and Cannon Company were each awarded a Presidential Unit Citation.
The 161st next occupied the recently abandoned village of San Isidro on 6 February. By this date the operation to secure the central plains of Luzon was complete. The I Corps was directed to turn north into the mountains of northern Luzon to attack the main Japanese stronghold.
The 25th Division was given the mission of clearing Highway 5 from San Jose north to the village of Digdig. The 161st cleared the ridges west of the road and the 27th Infantry cleared on the east while the 35th Infantry conducted a flanking movement to the enemy rear. The Japanese put up only minimal resistance and Highway 5 to Digdig was secure by 5 March 1945.
The 25th was directed by I Corps to continue the advance north on Highway 5. The Division maintained the same formation with the 161st west of the road, the 27th on the east side and the 35th leading the attack with an enveloping maneuver to take the town of Putlan. The 35th reached the town on 8 March but was halted when the Japanese destroyed the bridge over the Putlan River and put up a fierce defense of the town. The advance was stalled until 10 March when the 27th and 161st relieved the 35th and cleared the Japanese from the area.
On 13 March, I Corps ordered the Tropic Lightning to continue its successful advance up Highway 5 to seize the town of Kapintalan, then attack through Balete Pass to the town of Santa Fe. The area was a series of rugged ridges and thick forests, making progress against a determined, well fortified enemy extremely difficult. The Battle of Belete Pass was to prove to be one of the toughest fights the 25th Division faced in WW II, with all three regimental combat teams seeing heavy combat.
The 1st Battalion of the 161st assaulted Norton’s Knob, west of Highway 5 on 15 March 1945. The battalion met heavy opposition from well dug-in Japanese forces. For ten days the battle raged, with the 1st Battalion finally seizing the ridge on 26 March.
At the same time the 3rd Battalion of the 161st attacked Highley Ridge north of Norton Ridge. A heavily defended Japanese position dug into caves on Crump’s Hill stopped the battalion’s advance. The battle for the hill was stalemated until the battalion captured the west side of Crump’s Hill on 8 April. Reinforced by the 2nd Battalion, the 3rd Battalion then eliminated the last Japanese resistance.
Meanwhile, the 35th and 27th Infantry battled to clear Mount Myoko, Kapintalin and Balete Pass. After clearing Crump’s Hill the 161st Infantry assaulted the Kembu Plateau west of Balete Pass in support of the overall drive to seize the pass. By 6 May, the 161st secured the plateau. Three days later, on 9 May, the 161st linked up with the 27th Infantry at Balete Pass, opening the pass for the advance to the town of Santa Fe.
On 19 May the 25th resumed its drive along Highway 5. The 35th attacked astride the highway with the 27th on the right flank and the 161st advancing on the west side of the highway. On 22 May the 161st turned west to clear the Japanese off of Mount Haruna and then continued north over the Haruna ridge to reach the Villa Verde Trail, west of Santa Fe. Except for mopping up actions in support of the clearing of the Old Spanish Trail by the 27th and 35th Infantry, there were no further major combat actions conducted by the 161st Infantry before the campaign for Luzon was officially declared ended on 4 July 1945.
The 25th Infantry Division then went into rest and recuperation. It had served in continuous combat longer than any division in the Sixth Army. Plans called for the Division to take part in the invasion of Japan and exercises for the assault landings were undertaken. But with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the war ended, and soldiers of the 25th could thankfully land on Japanese soil without taking casualties.
The 161st Infantry entered Japan peacefully, as the regiment had done as the 1st Washington Volunteers after the Philippine Insurrection. The stay of the 161st in Japan, however, would only be slightly longer than its stay in 1899. On 1 November 1945, the 161st Infantry Regiment was inactivated and replaced on that date by the 4th Infantry Regiment.
(Note: the combat actions of the 161st Infantry described above were excerpted from Department of the Army publications prepared by the U.S. Army Center of Military History.)
The 161st Infantry Regiment was reassigned to the 41st Infantry Division on 17 June 1946 and federally recognized, with headquarters at Spokane, WA. Reorganized under the Combat Arms Regimental System on 15 April 1959, the 161st consisted of the 1st and 2nd Battle Groups. In 1963, the battle groups were reorganized as battalions. In 1968 the elements of the 161st Infantry were assigned to the 81st Infantry Brigade. In August 2000 the brigade was reorganized and redesignated as the 81st Armor Brigade. By 2003 the 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry was the only active element of the regiment and was assigned to the 81st Armor Brigade (Separate), Washington National Guard.
THE 161ST INFANTRY IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
The 1st Battalion, 161st along with the other elements of the 81st Armor Brigade was called to Federal service in 2003 and arrived in Iraq in April 2004. The 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. The battalion was based at Logistical Support Area Highlander adjacent to the International (Green) Zone in Baghdad. The battalion provided security for the Green Zone and conducted combat operations as well as civil affairs reconstruction activities in southeast Baghdad. The battalion also occupied Forward Operating Base Gunner located in Al Taji. The 1st Battalion completed its tour of duty and returned home in April 2005.
 Motto: First In War – First In Peace
Symbolism: The shield is white, the old Infantry Color, and across it is a bend in the colors of the Philippine flag, red and blue, embattled to indicate that the regiment was engaged in actual combat in the Philippine Insurrection. The scorpion indicates duty on the Mexican Border, and the fleur-de-lis service in France in World War I. The fleur-de-lis is rayed to indicate that the regiment in this war was broken up and its personnel used as replacements, yet in that capacity delivered forcible and effective service against the enemy.
The crest is that of George Washington, and of the regiments and separate battalions of the Washington National Guard: On a wreath whose twists are white and blue, a raven with wings endorsed issuing out of a ducal coronet.
Constituted and organized 9 March 1886 and 7 April 1887 from existing companies in the Washington Territorial Militia as the 1st (west of Cascade Mountains) and 2d (east of Cascade Mountains) Regiments of Infantry
(Active militia Washington Territory redesignated Washington [Territory] National Guard 28 January 1888)
2d Infantry Regiment reorganized and redesignated 23 July 1895 as 1st Infantry Battalion
1st Infantry Regiment reorganized and redesignated in 1897 as 2d Infantry Battalion
Elements of 1st and 2d Infantry Battalions consolidated in part, redesignated 1st Regiment, Washington Volunteer Infantry, and mustered into Federal service 6-13 May 1898 at Tacoma; mustered out 1 November 1899 at San Francisco, California
Remaining companies of 1st and 2d Infantry Battalions reorganized as Independent Battalion, Washington Volunteer Infantry, and mustered into Federal service 2-15 July 1898 at Tacoma; mustered out 28 October 1898 at Vancouver Barracks
Elements reorganized and consolidated with 1st and 2d Infantry Regiments, Washington National Guard. (organized in 1898), and redesignated 9 November 1899 as 1st Infantry Regiment
Redesignated in May 1903 as 2d Infantry Regiment
(Companies C,K, and M withdrawn, converted, and redesignated 5th, 3d, and 2d Companies, Coast Artillery Reserve Corps; Company A disbanded, then reorganized in 1909 as 4th Company, Coast Artillery Corps)
Mustered int Federal service 28 June 1916 at Camp Elmer M. Brown, Washington, for Mexican Border; mustered out 8 October 1916 at American Lake
Called into Federal service 25 March 1917; drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917
Consolidated with elements of 3d Infantry Regiment, District of Columbia National Guard, and redesignated 19 September 1917 as 161st Infantry, an element of the 41st Division
Demobilized 1-8 March 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey and Camp Dodge, Iowa
State of Washington elements reorganized 1 January 1921 in the Washington National Guard as 161st Infantry; assigned to the 41st Division
(1st Battalion and Supply Company withdrawn, converted, and redesignated 10 May 1921 as 146th Artillery Regiment)
Inducted into Federal service 16 September 1940 at Spokane
Relieved from assignment to the 41st Division 14 February 1942
Assigned to the 25th Infantry Division 3 August 1942
Relieved from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division and inactivated 1 November 1945 at Nagoya, Japan
Assigned to the 41st Division 17 June 1946
Reorganized and Federally recognized 24 March 1947 with Headquarters at Spokane
Reorganized 15 April 1959 as 161st Infantry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st and 2d Battle Groups, elements of the 41st Infantry Division
Reorganized 1 March 1963 to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions
Reorganized 1 January 1968 to consist of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions, elements of 81st Infantry Brigade
Reorganized 1 May 1971 to consist of the 1st and 3d Battalions, elements of 81st Infantry Brigade,and the 2d Battalion
Reorganized 1 January 1974 to consist of the 1st and 3d Battalions, elements of 81st Infantry Brigade
Withdrawn 1 May 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System with Headquarters at Spokane
Reorganized 1 October 1998 to consist of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 81st Infantry Brigade
Philippine Insurrection
Manila
Luzon 1899
World War I
Streamer without inscription
World War II
Guadalcanal
Northern Solomons
Luzon
*******************************************************************
Company A (Wenatchee), 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to:
World War II – EAME
Rhineland
Central Europe
*******************************************************************
Company E (Spokane), 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to:
World War II – EAME
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
*******************************************************************
Headquarters Company (Kent), 3rd Battalion, additionally entitled to:
World War II – AP
New Guinea (with arrowhead)
Southern Philippines
*******************************************************************
Company B (Kent), 3rd Battalion, additionally entitled to:
World War I
Champagne-Marne
Aisne-Marne
St. Mihiel
Meuse-Argonne
Champagne 1918
World War II – AP
Papua
New Guinea (with arrowhead)
Southern Philippines
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945
*******************************************************************
Company C (Pullman), 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to:
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered LUZON
Note: Served as Company E, 161st Infantry in WWII
*******************************************************************
Company E (Spokane), 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to:
Belgian Fourragere 1940
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in BELGIUM AND GERMANY
*******************************************************************
Company B (Kent), 3rd Battalion, additionally entitled to:
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PAPUA
*******************************************************************
Cannon Company (Disbanded) additionally entitled to:
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered LUZON
*******************************************************************
— Information on this page provided by the Washington National Guard State Historical Society, the U.S. Army Center of Military History, and by John Keliher.