46th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 46th Infantry Regiment ("The Professionals") is a unit in the United States Army
that served in WWII.
, the 46th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 5th Armored Division. Landing at Normandy
in 1944, the 46th Infantry led the 5th Armored Division in five campaigns earning the nickname “Victory’s Spearpoint”.
For their repeated courage under fire, the 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry, was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations, the French Croix de Guerre, and the Luxembourg Croix de Guerre, those nation’s highest awards for gallantry in action.
During the Vietnam War, the 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry and the 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry were part of the Americal Division
. Both initially deployed to Vietnam with the 198th Infantry Brigade from Fort Hood, Texas
. But the 1-46th was placed under operational control of the 196th Infantry Brigade (Light)
and later became fully a part of the 196th Brigade. Though the 5-46th left Vietnam when the Americal Division cased its colors in the fall of 1971, the 1-46th deployed to Da Nang
with the rest of the 196th. The 1-46th left Vietnam in June 1972.
The 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry, also played a major role in preserving the peace in Europe
until September 1972, when it was deactivated.
In October 1987, the 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry, was reactivated at Fort Knox, Kentucky as a Basic Training battalion, (assets derived from the 13th training battalion), charged with providing the force with disciplined, highly motivated and physically conditioned soldiers. Note: the entire 4th Training brigade during this time consisted of the 1st,2nd,3rd,and 4th battalions of the 46th Infantry. Later the 3rd and 4th deactivated leaving only the 1st Battalion ("Lead to Victory") and the 2nd Battalion ("The Professionals") as the last two basic training battalions on Ft. Knox.
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, in pale a mullet and a flaming torch Or. On a canton Argent a Roman numeral “X” of the first superimposed on a Roman sword in scabbard palewise point down Or.
This Regiment was organized in 1917 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, from the 10th Infantry. The field is blue, the Infantry color. The charge, a gold torch and star, is taken from the flag of the State of Indiana, while the badge of the 10th Infantry is shown on the canton.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 46th Armored Infantry Regiment on 24 February 1942. It was redesignated for the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion on 30 November 1943. The insignia was redesignated for the 46th Infantry Regiment on 2 January 1959.
Azure, in pale a mullet and a flaming torch Or. On a canton Argent a Roman numeral “X” of the first superimposed on a Roman sword in scabbard palewise point down Or fimbriated of the field.
On a wreath Or and Azure between two pine trees eradicated Gules a spear issuant from base of the first charged on the point with a fleur-de-lis of the second and enfiled by a castle tower Sable masoned of the first charged with a lion rampant Argent.
Motto
VICTORY’S POINT.
This Regiment was organized in 1917 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, from the 10th Infantry. The field is blue, the Infantry color. The charge, a gold torch and star, is taken from the flag of the State of Indiana, while the badge of the 10th Infantry is shown on the canton.
The spearhead bearing a fleur-de-lis represents the unit’s participation in the drive from the Normandy Peninsula through Northern France. The black castle signifies the penetration of the Siegfried Line and the campaign in Luxembourg, for which the unit received the Croix de Guerre, is noted by the white lion rampant (adopted from the arms of the town of Diekirch). The red pine trees represent the bitter, arduous fighting in the area of the Hurtgen Forest of Germany.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 46th Infantry Regiment on 27 January 1921. It was redesignated for the 46th Infantry (Armored) Regiment on 29 December 1941. It was redesignated for the 46th Armored Infantry Regiment on 9 March 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion on 1 December 1943. It was amended to add a crest on 15 December 1965. It was amended to add a motto on 8 March 1988.
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...
that served in WWII.
History
During World War IIWorld 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...
, the 46th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 5th Armored Division. Landing at Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in 1944, the 46th Infantry led the 5th Armored Division in five campaigns earning the nickname “Victory’s Spearpoint”.
For their repeated courage under fire, the 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry, was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations, the French Croix de Guerre, and the Luxembourg Croix de Guerre, those nation’s highest awards for gallantry in action.
During the Vietnam War, the 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry and the 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry were part of the Americal Division
Americal Division
The 23rd Infantry Division, more commonly known as the Americal Division of the United States Army was formed in May 1942 on the island of New Caledonia. In the immediate emergency following Pearl Harbor, the United States had hurriedly sent three individual regiments to defend New Caledonia...
. Both initially deployed to Vietnam with the 198th Infantry Brigade from Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood is a United States military post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It islocated halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas....
. But the 1-46th was placed under operational control of the 196th Infantry Brigade (Light)
196th Infantry Brigade (United States)
The 196th Infantry Brigade , also known as the Charger Brigade was first formed on 24 June 1921 as part of the United States Army Reserve's 98th Division with the responsibility of training soldiers.-World War II:...
and later became fully a part of the 196th Brigade. Though the 5-46th left Vietnam when the Americal Division cased its colors in the fall of 1971, the 1-46th deployed to Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
with the rest of the 196th. The 1-46th left Vietnam in June 1972.
The 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry, also played a major role in preserving the peace in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
until September 1972, when it was deactivated.
In October 1987, the 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry, was reactivated at Fort Knox, Kentucky as a Basic Training battalion, (assets derived from the 13th training battalion), charged with providing the force with disciplined, highly motivated and physically conditioned soldiers. Note: the entire 4th Training brigade during this time consisted of the 1st,2nd,3rd,and 4th battalions of the 46th Infantry. Later the 3rd and 4th deactivated leaving only the 1st Battalion ("Lead to Victory") and the 2nd Battalion ("The Professionals") as the last two basic training battalions on Ft. Knox.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, in pale a mullet and a flaming torch Or. On a canton Argent a Roman numeral “X” of the first superimposed on a Roman sword in scabbard palewise point down Or.
- Symbolism
This Regiment was organized in 1917 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, from the 10th Infantry. The field is blue, the Infantry color. The charge, a gold torch and star, is taken from the flag of the State of Indiana, while the badge of the 10th Infantry is shown on the canton.
- Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 46th Armored Infantry Regiment on 24 February 1942. It was redesignated for the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion on 30 November 1943. The insignia was redesignated for the 46th Infantry Regiment on 2 January 1959.
Blazon
- Shield
Azure, in pale a mullet and a flaming torch Or. On a canton Argent a Roman numeral “X” of the first superimposed on a Roman sword in scabbard palewise point down Or fimbriated of the field.
- Crest
On a wreath Or and Azure between two pine trees eradicated Gules a spear issuant from base of the first charged on the point with a fleur-de-lis of the second and enfiled by a castle tower Sable masoned of the first charged with a lion rampant Argent.
Motto
VICTORY’S POINT.
-
- Symbolism
- Shield
This Regiment was organized in 1917 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, from the 10th Infantry. The field is blue, the Infantry color. The charge, a gold torch and star, is taken from the flag of the State of Indiana, while the badge of the 10th Infantry is shown on the canton.
- Crest
The spearhead bearing a fleur-de-lis represents the unit’s participation in the drive from the Normandy Peninsula through Northern France. The black castle signifies the penetration of the Siegfried Line and the campaign in Luxembourg, for which the unit received the Croix de Guerre, is noted by the white lion rampant (adopted from the arms of the town of Diekirch). The red pine trees represent the bitter, arduous fighting in the area of the Hurtgen Forest of Germany.
- Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 46th Infantry Regiment on 27 January 1921. It was redesignated for the 46th Infantry (Armored) Regiment on 29 December 1941. It was redesignated for the 46th Armored Infantry Regiment on 9 March 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion on 1 December 1943. It was amended to add a crest on 15 December 1965. It was amended to add a motto on 8 March 1988.