382nd Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 382nd Infantry Regiment was an infantry
regiment
in the United States Army
. The unit served as a reserve
regiment until it was called to active duty during World War II
, whereupon it saw action in the Pacific theater
as part of the 96th Infantry Division. The unit returned to reserve status after the war until being deactivated in 1952.
The regiment was reconstituted on June 24, 1921, in the Organized Reserves (predecessor of the U.S. Army Reserve
) and was assigned to the 96th Division (later re-designated as the 96th Infantry Division). The 382nd was organized in December 1921 with its headquarters at Medford, Oregon
.
Ordered into active-duty service on August 15, 1942, the unit was reorganized at Camp Adair
, Oregon, for service in World War II
. As part of the 96th Infantry Division, the 382nd participated in the Battle of Leyte
from October to December 1944 and the Battle of Okinawa
from April to June 1945. The regiment returned to the U.S. and was inactivated on February 3, 1946, at Camp Anza
, California.
A year later, on January 10, 1947, the 382nd Infantry was re-activated into the Organized Reserves (re-designated as the Army Reserve in 1952) with its headquarters at Boise, Idaho
. It was inactivated again on March 1, 1952, and relieved from its assignment to the 96th Infantry Division. Re-designated on October 17, 1999, as the 382nd Regiment, the unit was reorganized to consist of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, elements of the 75th Division (Training Support).
Unit decorations
Individual decorations
Three men earned the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
, while serving with the 382nd Infantry. These were Private First Class Clarence B. Craft
of Company G, for assaulting Japanese-held Hen Hill on Okinawa; Private Ova A. Kelley
of Company A, mortally wounded after leading an attack during the Battle of Leyte; and First Lieutenant Seymour W. Terry
of Company B, mortally wounded during the fight for Zebra Hill on Okinawa.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The unit served as a reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
regiment until it was called to active duty during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, whereupon it saw action in the Pacific theater
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
as part of the 96th Infantry Division. The unit returned to reserve status after the war until being deactivated in 1952.
Service history
The 382nd Infantry Regiment was first constituted on September 5, 1918, in the National Army and assigned to the 96th Division. It was demobilized less than three months later, on November 30, 1918.The regiment was reconstituted on June 24, 1921, in the Organized Reserves (predecessor of the U.S. Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
) and was assigned to the 96th Division (later re-designated as the 96th Infantry Division). The 382nd was organized in December 1921 with its headquarters at Medford, Oregon
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
.
Ordered into active-duty service on August 15, 1942, the unit was reorganized at Camp Adair
Camp Adair
Camp Adair was a United States Army division training facility established north of Corvallis, Oregon, operating from 1942 to 1946. Part of the site is now contained within the E. E...
, Oregon, for service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As part of the 96th Infantry Division, the 382nd participated in the Battle of Leyte
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
from October to December 1944 and the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
from April to June 1945. The regiment returned to the U.S. and was inactivated on February 3, 1946, at Camp Anza
Camp Anza
Camp Anza was a United States Army installation near Riverside, California during World War II. Construction began on July 3, 1942, and was completed on February 15, 1943....
, California.
A year later, on January 10, 1947, the 382nd Infantry was re-activated into the Organized Reserves (re-designated as the Army Reserve in 1952) with its headquarters at Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. It was inactivated again on March 1, 1952, and relieved from its assignment to the 96th Infantry Division. Re-designated on October 17, 1999, as the 382nd Regiment, the unit was reorganized to consist of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, elements of the 75th Division (Training Support).
Awards and honors
Campaign participation credit- World War II:
- Leyte (with arrowhead)
- Ryukyus
Unit decorations
- Presidential Unit Citation for Okinawa
- Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation for October 17, 1944 to July 4, 1945
Individual decorations
Three men earned the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, while serving with the 382nd Infantry. These were Private First Class Clarence B. Craft
Clarence B. Craft
Clarence B. Craft was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
of Company G, for assaulting Japanese-held Hen Hill on Okinawa; Private Ova A. Kelley
Ova A. Kelley
Ova A. Kelley was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
of Company A, mortally wounded after leading an attack during the Battle of Leyte; and First Lieutenant Seymour W. Terry
Seymour W. Terry
Seymour W. Terry was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
of Company B, mortally wounded during the fight for Zebra Hill on Okinawa.