115th Infantry Regiment (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=115th Infantry Regiment


caption=115th Infantry Regiment coat of arms
nickname=
motto=Rally Round The Flag/"Old Line State"
colors=
march=
ceremonial_chief=
type=Infantry
branch=Army National Guard
dates=June 14, 1775 - Present
country=USA
allegiance=Maryland
command_structure=Organic
size=
specialization=Domestic Security
current_commander=LTC Robert J. Howell, Jr.
garrison=Silver Spring, Maryland, Frederick, Maryland, Olney, Maryland, Greenbelt, Maryland
battles=Revolutionary War *Battle of Long Island American Civil War *Battle of Front Royal War with Spain World War I World War II Global War on Terror.
notable_commanders=Colonel John R. Kenly Colonel Bradley T. Johnson Major Milton A. Reckord Major D. John Markey
anniversaries=June 14, 1775US Regiments
previous=114th Infantry Regiment
next=116th Infantry RegimentThe U.S. 115th Infantry Regiment is a Maryland Army National Guard regiment that traces its roots back to the American Revolutionary War, although its official U.S. Army lineage begins in 1881. The units to which the 115th Regiment claims lineage served in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, but the 115th itself is only credited with service in World War I, World War II, and the Global War on Terror. Prior to the reorganization into the 58th Brigade Combat Team, the 1-115th was part of the Third Brigade, 29th Infantry Division (Light). In 2006, the 115th was merged with the 175th Infantry Regiment.

Missions

The 1-115th IN has two major missions:
# As part of the US Army under the "Total Army" concept, to deploy anywhere in the world and engage and defeat the enemies of the United States.
# As part of the legitimate military force of the State of Maryland, to assist the state authorities in providing emergency relief to the people of Maryland in the event of natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and snowstorms, and to secure persons and property in times of civil disturbance. The unit also serves the community in other ways.

Organization

HHC

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-115 Infantry, is located in Silver Spring, Maryland. While the rifle companies make up the bulk of the personnel and combat power of the battalion, the headquarters company is made up of specialties that extend and expand the capabilities of the battalion. It leads, supports, sustains, and protects.

Included in the headquarters company are:

*Anti-armor Platoon
*Communications Platoon
*Medical Platoon
*Mortar Platoon
*Reconnaissance Platoon
*Support Platoon

A Company

Alpha Company, 1-115 Infantry, located in Frederick, Maryland, is an Infantry Rifle Company. Its motto is "Predators -- not Prey!"

Included in the company are:

*3 Rifle Platoons
*Mortar Section
*Anti-Armor Section

B Company

Bravo Company, 1-115 Infantry, located in Olney, Maryland, is an Infantry Rifle Company.

Included in the company are:

* 3 Rifle Platoons
*Mortar Section
*Anti-Armor Section

C Company

Charlie Company, 1-115 Infantry, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, is an Infantry Rifle Company.

Included in the company are:

* 3 Rifle Platoons
*Mortar Section
*Anti-Armor Section

History

Revolutionary War

The 115th Infantry claims lineage back to the earliest militia units formed to protect the frontier of western Maryland. The birthdate of the unit, June 14, 1775, is also the birthdate of the United States Army. The first two companies to leave Maryland were assembled in Frederick in the summer of 1775 under the command of Captains Cresap and Price; they were organized in response to the Continental Congress' call to active duty. They left Frederick in August and marched convert|551|mi|km in 21 days to report to General Washington in September for the defense of Boston. These personnel later became part of the "Maryland 400" or "Maryland Line," who repeatedly charged a numerically superior British force during the Battle of Long Island, sustaining heavy casualties, but allowing General Washington to successfully evacuate the bulk of his troops to Manhattan. This action is commemorated in Maryland's nickname, the "Old Line State."

:See 1st Maryland Regiment

Civil War

During the Civil War, the First Maryland Infantry (USA), organized by Colonel John R. Kenly, and the First Maryland Infantry (CSA), commanded by Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, constituted the major part of the forces engaged at the Battle of Front Royal on 23 May 1862. During this battle, in which the Confederates were successful, Colonel Kenly gave utterance to the famous command, "Rally round the Flag," which is to this day the motto of the 115th Regiment. This was the only time in United States military history that two regiments of the same numerical designation and from the same state engaged each other in battle.

1880s to 1910s

A direct descendant of this regiment was organized 29 September 1881 as the First Battalion of Infantry, Maryland Army National Guard, from existing independent companies at Hagerstown and Frederick, Maryland. This is the date of organization officially recognized as the start of the regiment's lineage by the U.S. Army. It was expanded and redesignated First Regiment of Infantry on 7 May 1886 by the consolidation of the First Battalion of Infantry with several more independent companies of infantry throughout the state.

The unit mustered into federal service 11 May 1889 as the First Maryland Infantry Regiment, U.S. Volunteers, and was assigned to the Second Army Corps during the Spanish-American War. The regiment was mustered out of the Federal Service 15 March 1890 without serving outside the continental United States. On 28 June 1916 the Regiment was again called into active servcie and saw duty at Eagle Pass, Texas during the Mexican Border Incident. Two of the battalion commanders who served during this period were Majors Milton A. Reckord (future Adjutant General, State of Maryland) and D. John Markey (future Regimental Commander). The unit was mustered out of federal service on 4 November 1916.

World War I

During World War I the First Maryland was consolidated with elements of the Fifth Maryland Infantry Regiment to form the 115th Infantry Regiment. The 115th became one of the four regiments brought together into the Twenty-Ninth Division, which was formed in July 1917, at Sea Girt, New Jersey. The division wasn't even a year old when it received its baptism of fire in France.

During the Meuse-Argonne offensive they would fight for 21 straight days, moving over convert|6|mi|km, throwing back elements of 6 enemy divisions, and suffering a staggering 4,781 casualties in the process. After the Armistice was signed, the Twenty-Ninth Division would be brought home in July, 1919 and dissipated. The 1-115th is authorized two campaign streamers for its service in World War I: one for Alsace and one for Meuse-Argonne. The next time the division would be reformed was for the maneuvers in 1936.

World War II

On February 3, 1941, the 115th Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard, was inducted into Federal Service at Frederick, Maryland as part of the second partial mobilization of the National Guard for World War II, and then moved to Fort George G. Meade on February 18, 1941 to join the 29th Infantry Division. The regiment completed in-processing, traded in its equipment for modern equipment, and started to repeat its Division Level training. It was then transferred to the A.P. Hill Military Reservation on April 22, 1942 to participate in Maneuvers, and then moved to the Carolina Maneuver Area to participate in large unit maneuvers on July 8, 1942. It then moved on to Camp Blanding to fill its empty personnel slots on August 19, 1942, and then Staged at Camp Kilmer on September 20, 1942, and shipped out from the New York Port of Embarkation on October 5, 1942 on the RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth. They arrived in England on October 11, 1942, and then were attached to the U.S. 1st Infantry Division in preparation for the D-Day invasion. They moved with the 1st ID from June 2, 1944, and remained with 1st ID until June 7, 1944, when they returned to the 29th ID for further operations. Their participation in the Normandy Campaign continued until it was over on July 24, 1944. They immediately moved into the Northern France Campaign on July 25, 1944, which continued until it was over on September 14, 1944. 115th IR then started participation in the Rhineland Campaign on September 15, 1944, whereapon 115th IR crossed from France to Belgium and Holland both on September 27, 1944, and entered Germany on September 30, 1944. This campaign continued unabated until March 21, 1945, and 115th IR did not take part in the Ardennes Campaign. With the end of the Rhineland Campaign, 115th IR moved to the Central Europe Campaign on March 22, 1945, which continued until the end of Hostilities, which took place on May 8, 1945, but the campaign was not declared terminated until May 11, 1945.

The 115th Infantry was on Occupation Duty at Bremen, Germany on VE Day, and this continued through 1946. 115th IR returned to the New York Port of Embarkation on January 16, 1946, and Mustered out at Camp Kilmer the next day.

The 115th Regiment sustained 5,948 casualties during the fighting in Europe. Campaign streamers for Normandy (with arrowhead), North France, Rhineland, and Central Europe were added to the colors. Additional decorations included a distinguished unit streamer embroidered "St. Laurent-Sur-Mer," a streamer in the colors of the French Croix du Guerre with palms embroidered "St. Laurent-Sur-Mer," and, for the First Battalion, a streamer in the colors of the French Croix du Guerre with Silver Star embroidered "St. Lo."

Post-War to Present

After the war the 29th Infantry Division came home; however, unlike the end of WWI, the division was be retained as a National Guard division. In 1968, due to changing requirements, the division's colors were retired and its elements broken up into separate brigades. The 115th became part of the 28th Division, the Keystone Division of Pennsylvania. Later the 1-115th and other Maryland units were organized into the 58th Infantry Brigade, whose units were located entirely in Maryland.

In 1984 requirements changed again, prompting the reactivation of the 29th Infantry Division as a new, streamlined "Light" Infantry Division, ready to meet the demands of an ever-changing national defense, now and into the 21st century. The division was reactivated on 5 Oct 1985, and included the 115th and other historic regiments from Maryland and Virginia. As part of this reactivation, the 58th Infantry Brigade became the 3rd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division. Elements of the brigade included the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 115th Infantry.

In October 2001, in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the continental United States, the battalions of the 115th were called to active federal service as part of Operation Noble Eagle. The 115th carried out critical security duties, protecting US federal installations from threats to the national security.

On January 6, 2005, Company B, 1-115th Infantry, mobilized again for active duty as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were assigned as part of the 48th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), based in Georgia, for this operation. They spent a year in Iraq. For the first 5 months they conducted operations in a small town called Sabba Al boor north of Baghdad. For the remaining 7 months they performed convoy security operations out of the Marine base at Al Asad.

In the beginning of 2006, the elements of the 115th were reorganized, along with the rest of the 3rd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, as part of the 58th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. In August 2006 the colors for the 115th Infantry Regiment were cased and Companies A and B were reflagged as elements of the division's 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment.

Since 2003 the heritage of the regiment lives on along Route 15 through Maryland, where the Maryland Senate dedicated it as the 115th Infantry Regiment Memorial Highway.