52nd Infantry Regiment (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=52nd Infantry Regiment


caption=52nd Infantry Regiment distinctive insignia
country=United States of America
allegiance=
type=Regiment
branch=U. S. Army
dates=June 16, 1917 – present
specialization= Stryker
command_structure=
size=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
nickname= "Ready Rifles"
motto= "Fortis et Certus"
("Brave and True")
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=World War I
World War II
Vietnam War
Iraq Campaign
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=US Regiments
previous=50th Infantry Regiment
next=54th Infantry Regiment

The 52nd Infantry Regiment ("Ready Rifles") was first activated June 16, 1917, at Chickamauga, Georgia. The unit first saw combat in Meuse-Argonne, in Northern France, and in Alsace, France, during World War I.

In World War II, the 52nd Infantry, as the 52nd Armored Infantry, battled the Germans in central Europe. For actions in Luxembourg, St. Vith, Bastogne, and the Remagen Bridgehead in Germany, the unit was awarded four Presidential Unit Citations.

During the Vietnam War, the 52nd Infantry Regiment participated in multiple counter offenses, earning one Presidential Unit Citation and three Meritorious Unit Commendations for operations in Saigon and other areas of Vietnam. The Regiment was reflagged with the establishment of the Army’s first Stryker Brigade Combat Team in May 2000. Most recently, the unit deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, initially helping to facilitate the first democratic election in the country's history and secondly serving as a reserve element for 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team. There are currently six different active-duty Stryker Anti-Tank Companies operating under the 52nd Infantry Regimental colors, spread across the Army’s Stryker Brigades.

Campaign Participation Credit

*World War I: Meuse-Argonne; Alsace 1918
*World War II: Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe
*Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I; Consolidation II; Cease-Fire
*War on Terrorism: Campaigns to be determined

Decorations

*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered LUXEMBOURG
*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ST. VITH
*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BASTOGNE
*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered REMAGEN BRIDGEHEAD
*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SAIGON - TET OFFENSIVE
*Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered NINEVEH PROVINCE 2005
*Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967
*Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
*Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969
*Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003-2004
*Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1988
*Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1991
*Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 2000
*Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 2002-2003
*Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm, Streamer embroidered BASTOGNE; cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Bastogne

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