31st Infantry Regiment
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The 31st Infantry Regiment (31st INF) of the United States Army was formed on August 13, 1916, and was part of USAFFE's Philippine Division during World War II.
History of the 31st Infantry Regiment
During World War I, on August 13, 1918, the 31st moved from Fort William McKinley to Manila, and there set sail for Vladivostok, Siberia, arriving on August 21. The regiment was then broken into various detachments and used to guard the Trans-Siberian railway, as well as 130 km of a branch line leading to the Suchan mines.
The regiment suffered its first battle casualties on August 29, 1918, in action near Ugolnaya. During the Siberian deployment, 30 soldiers of the 31st INF were killed (including one officer) and some 60 troops were wounded in action. In addition, a large number of troops lost limbs due to frostbite. During this deployment, the regiment received one Congressional Medal of Honor and 15 Distinguished Service Crosses.
In April of 1920, the regiment returned to Fort McKinley and, in December, was moved to the Post of Manila.
On February 1, 1932, the regiment was ordered to Shanghai, China, arriving on February 4. There, the unit guarded a section of the International Settlement, during a period of considerable fighting between Japanese and Chinese troops. On July 5, 1932, the unit returned to the Philippines.
In 1942, Japanese forces invaded the Philippines. This unit was forced to surrender to the Japanese 14th Army on April 9 of that year. After the war, on January 19, 1946, this unit was reorganized in Korea. It participated in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War; however, in 1967, it ceased to be a true fighting unit, instead becoming a parent regiment.
Formation of the 31st Infantry Regiment
The 31st Infantry Regiment was created from elements of the 8th, 13th, 15th, and 27th Infantry Regiments. The 1st Battalion was formed at Regan Barracks, the 2nd at Camp McGrath, and the 3rd at Fort William McKinley.
Commanders of the 31st Infantry Regiment
- August 13, 1916 - ? -- Colonel Walter H. Gordon