52nd Infantry Regiment ( United States ) The 52nd Infantry Regiment ( " Ready Rifles " ) is an infantry regiment of the United States Army . The charges on the canton of the regiment ' s coat of arms represent the 11th Infantry from which this regiment was formed in 1917 . Its first combat service was in World War I in the Gerardmer Sector in Alsace , a short distance west of Colmar . The bend from the arms of Alsace has been charged with the 6th Division shoulder sleeve insignia to show that the regiment was with that Division in France . The coat of arms was originally approved for the 52d Infantry Regiment on 29 June 1921 . It was redesignated for the 52d Armored Infantry Regiment on 29 September 1942 . The insignia was redesignated for the 52d Armored Infantry Battalion on 6 January 1944 . It was redesignated for the 52d Infantry Regiment on 31 October 1958 . History . The regiment was first activated 16 June 1917 , at Chickamauga , Georgia . The unit first saw combat in Meuse - Argonne , in Northern France , and in Alsace , France , during World War I . World War I . After the 52nd Infantry Regiment ' s activation in 1917 , the regiment was assigned to the Sixth Infantry Division . The Sixth Division was organized in November 1917 as a square division consisting of the 51st , 52nd , 53rd , and the 54th Infantry Regiments , the 16th , 17th and 18th Machine - Gun Battalions and the 3rd , 11th and 78th Field Artillery Regiments . The units of the division gathered in New York and left for France in July 1918 . After marching and training all over western France , the Sixth was assigned on 31 August to the Vosges sector . There , a chain of lofty wooded peaks had stalemated both the French and German armies . Their mission was the defense of a 21 - mile front . The division engaged in active patrols in no man ' s land and behind the German lines . In addition infantry platoon strongpoints defended against German raiding parties which launched their attacks using liquid fire and grenades . The division developed its reputation for hiking and nickname of “ The Sightseeing Sixth ” when , prior to the Argonne offensive , it engaged in extensive fake marches , often under enemy artillery and air bombardment , to deceive the Germans into thinking a major attack was to take place in the Vosges sector . After another short period of training , consisting primarily of forced marches , the division hiked itself into the closing campaign of the war , the Meuse - Argonne offensive . In corps reserve , the 6th was used in place of an unavailable cavalry division to try to maintain contact with the rapidly retreating Germans . During its three months at the front , the 6th Division lost 227 men killed in action or died of wounds . It maintained an active defense in one important sector and played a major role in the tactical plan in another . After the armistice , the six - point Red Star was adopted as the division insignia on 19 November 1918 . This six - point Red Star became a part of the 52d Infantry ' s crest to mark the regiment ' s first combat with the 6th Division . The bulk of the division returned to the States in June 1919 aboard the USS Leviathan . The division continued its service at Camp Grant , Illinois and was deactivated on 30 September 1921 . World War II . After a period of inactivation , C Company , 52d Infantry Regiment was redesignated and activated as C Company , 52d Armored Infantry on 15 July 1942 as an element of the 9th Armored Division at Fort Riley , Kansas . They would deploy with the 9th Armored Division to France , Luxembourg , Belgium , and Germany after a two - month train up in England . The company served in Europe with the 9th Division from 31 July 1944 to 6 May 1945 , including a weeklong attachment to the 8th Infantry Division from 23 October 1944 to 30 October 1944 . The 9th Division was one of several real US Army divisions that participated in Operation Fortitude , the deception operation mounted by the US - British to deceive the Germans about the real landing site for Operation Neptune , the amphibious invasion of Northern France . The 9th was assigned to a camp on the British coastline opposite of the German defenses in Pas - de - Calais , ostensibly as part of the " First US Army Group " ( FUSAG ) under General Patton . While its members undertook training for the real invasion of the Normandy coast , the divisional headquarters was used to convey phony radio messages with the fake FUSAG HQ to make the Germans believe that an invasion of Pas - de - Calais by a massive army was the real intent of the Allies . The ruse was so successful that the German high command was completely fooled , and concentrated their reserves away from the Normandy coast . In honor of their participation in this deception , the 9th was officially nicknamed the " Phantom Division . " The 9th Armored Division landed in Normandy late in September 1944 , and first went into line , 23 October , on patrol duty in a quiet sector along the Luxembourg - German frontier . When the Germans launched their winter offensive , the 9th , with no real combat experience , suddenly found itself engaged in heavy fighting . The division saw its severest action at St . Vith , Echternach , and Bastogne , its units fighting in widely separated areas . Its stand at Bastogne held off the Germans long enough to enable the 101st Airborne to dig in for a defense of the city . After a rest period in January 1945 , the division made preparations for a drive across the Rur river . The offensive was launched , 28 February , and the 9th smashed across the Rur to Rheinbach , sending patrols into Remagen . The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen was found intact , and was seized by elements of the 9th Armored minutes before demolition charges were set to explode on 7 March 1945 . The division exploited the bridgehead , moving south and east across the river Lahn toward Limburg an der Lahn , where thousands of Allied prisoners were liberated . The 52d Armored Infantry Battalion held back an advancing Nazi armor and infantry force while the 101st Airborne set up defenses in Bastogne , resulting in successful retention of the city . Soldiers of C Company , 52d Armored Infantry Battalion rescued four American tanks caught in a Nazi complex attack . Following operations at the Remagen Bridgehead , the division drove on to Frankfurt and then turned to assist in the closing of the Ruhr Pocket . In April it continued east , encircled Leipzig and secured a line along the Mulde river . The division was shifting south to Czechoslovakia when the war in Europe ended . Vietnam . During the Vietnam War , the 52nd Infantry participated in multiple counter offenses , earning one Presidential Unit Citation and three Meritorious Unit Commendation s for operations in Saigon and other areas of Vietnam . C Company , 52d Infantry in Vietnam . C Company , 52d Infantry served in Vietnam from 1 December 1966 to 15 August 1972 . In 1971 , the company had an authorized strength of 137 infantrymen . Three years earlier in 1968 , C Company , 52d Infantry had an authorized strength of 151 infantrymen . The company was a rifle security company assigned to bolster the infantry capabilities of the 716th MP Battalion ( 89th Military Police Group , 18th Military Police Brigade ) , which was responsible for providing security to the US facilities in the Saigon area . The status of forces agreement between the US and the South Vietnamese government prohibited stationing US combat forces in Saigon . As a result , the only forces within Saigon , C Company , 52d Infantry , with the 716th Military Police Battalion , the 527th Military Police Company , and the 90th Military Police Detachment , were equipped only with hand - held light arms . They were on alert and expected isolated terrorists attacks . However , they would soon face the Tet offensive , an all out communist attack throughout the whole of Vietnam . The North Vietnamese violated the Tet holiday cease - fire in order to gain surprise against U . S . and South Vietnamese forces . Although U . S . intelligence anticipated the cease - fire would be violated , no one expected an all out attack within the city of Saigon . Instead , they would face some 4000 Viet Cong guerillas , many of whom had infiltrated Saigon during holiday festivities and were nearly indistinguishable from the local populace . In the early morning hours of 31 January 1968 , these forces attacked facilities throughout Saigon almost simultaneously . C Company , 52d Infantry , along with the 716th MP and attached forces , would find themselves defending the US Embassy , Saigon against not only superior numbers but superior armament as well . The security policemen on the perimeter could hear muffled gunfire as the VC shot up some of the bachelor officers ' quarters and bachelor enlisted quarters along Plantation Road , which ran south through Cholon from the main gate of Tan Son Nhut . Five troops were killed , including a young enlisted man passing through on a Honda motorcycle on his way to his duty station . An MP jeep patrol was pinned down upon responding to the attack . The reaction team that arrived to reinforce the situation was headed by Staff Sergeant Jimmy Bedgood of C Company , 52d Infantry , a security - guard company made up of combat infantry veterans that was attached to the 716th Military Police Battalion . The reaction team provided the cover fire that allowed the jeep patrol to get out of harm ' s way . In the process , an RPG slammed into the reaction team ' s jeep , wounding several GIs and killing Bedgood , a twenty - one - year - old wild Georgia boy who was already on his third tour in Vietnam , having previously humped the bush as a grunt with the Big Red One and the 9th Infantry Division . An article in a Military Police publication described the actions of SSG Herman Holness that day : Staff Sergeant Herman Holness served in Company C , 52d Infantry , 716th Military Police Battalion . Company C , along with other infantry rifle companies , was assigned to the 716th Military Police Battalion and the 18th Military Police Brigade to reinforce security forces . These Soldiers performed numerous tasks and duties alongside their military police counterparts . Security guard duty and work with the military police led to “ SG ” markings on their helmet liners and brassards . On 31 January 1968 , Staff Sergeant Holness was part of a reaction force sent to relieve a fellow unit that was under attack in the vicinity of the Phu Tho racetrack . While moving through the city , the lead vehicle of his unit was attacked by Viet Cong forces using mines and machine guns . The men in the vehicle were seriously wounded and trapped out in the open . Staff Sergeant Holness advanced to the disabled vehicle and caught the attention of the enemy , who diverted fire to his location , allowing the wounded men to exit the vehicle . When Staff Sergeant Holness reached cover behind the vehicle , he returned fire on the enemy position with devastating effect . While still under enemy fire , he began pulling the wounded Soldiers to safety . Although badly injured himself , Staff Sergeant Holness refused medical aid until his fellow Soldiers had been evacuated . In recognition of his selfless service , Staff Sergeant Holness was awarded the Silver Star . As both military police and marine reaction forces responded to the embassy , a stalemate ensued . Military police surrounded the compound and exchanged fire with the guerillas on the grounds , but could not enter the compound due to the volume of fire and uncertainty as to the enemy ' s disposition . The Viet Cong could not enter the embassy building and could not exit the compound . Additionally , an infantry reaction force that attempted to land by helicopter on the roof of the embassy was repulsed by enemy fire . At dawn , the order was given to retake the compound . Military police rammed the embassy ' s main gate and stormed the compound led by PFC Paul Healy of B Company , 716th Military Police Battalion . When the embassy was resecured , 19 dead Viet Cong were found and one was captured . Despite being outnumbered and outgunned , none of the facilities in the charge of C - 52d Infantry and the 716th MP Battalion were captured during the VC assault . The company ' s performance during Tet was recognized by the Presidential Unit Citation , but the award came at a high price . Along with 27 soldiers of the 716th MP , nine C - 52d soldiers gave their lives during the first day ' s fighting in defense of the U . S . Embassy : For their actions in Saigon and in defense of the U . S . Embassy , four soldiers of C - 52d IN received the military ' s third highest award , the Silver Star : SFC James R . Lobato , SSG Herman Holness , SPC Bruce McCartney , and SPC Vincent R . Giovanelli . A 20 - year - old native of Perryopolis , Pennsylvania , SPC Giovanelli also was awarded " the Combat Infantryman Badge , Purple Heart , and Bronze Star Medal for heroism . " The " presentation [ of his Silver Star ] was made 12 April [ 1968 ] near Saigon by Gen . Creighton W . Abrams , [ then ] deputy commanding general , U . S . Military Assistance Command , Vietnam . " 21st century . In May 2000 , the Army stood up its first Stryker Brigade Combat Team ( 3d Brigade Combat Team , 2d Infantry Division , stationed at Fort Lewis , WA ) under former Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki ' s Stryker Interim - Force Brigade Combat Team initiative . In September 2000 , A - D Companies of 1st Battalion , 32nd Armor Regiment were reflagged as 1st Squadron , 14th Cavalry Regiment ( RSTA ) while Company E , 1 – 32 AR was reflagged as Company C , 52d Infantry Regiment . The company is commonly referred to as C - 52 , " Charlie , 52nd " and is nicknamed " Hellcat " . As the Army stood up a total of six Stryker brigades by 2008 , each anti - tank company was flagged as a separate company of the 52d Infantry Regiment . The commander of Company C , 52d Infantry Regiment , as the first company reactivated under the 52d Infantry , holds the regimental colors and is the regimental commander . From September 2000 , C - 52d IN has served as the anti - tank company in support of 3d Brigade , 2d Infantry Division . The company holds a strength of 54 soldiers and 11 Stryker vehicles and has been most notably utilized to provide auxiliary infantry support to the brigade ' s three Infantry battalions ( 1 – 23 IN , 2 – 3 IN , 5 – 20 IN ) and other task forces operating in or near the brigade ' s area of operations . Most recently , Company C , 52d Infantry 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 the 3d BCT , 2d Infantry Division . Presidential Unit Citation ( Army ) for : LUXEMBOURG , ST . VITH , BASTOGNE , REMAGEN BRIDGEHEAD , SAIGON - TET OFFENSIVE Army Superior Unit Award for 1988 , 1991 , 2000 History . World War II service . In World War II , the 52nd Infantry , as the 60th Armored Infantry , battled the Germans in central Europe . For actions in Luxembourg , Bastogne , and the Remagen Bridgehead in Germany , the unit was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations . Company C . C Company , 52d Infantry Regiment ( Anti - Tank ) is a Stryker anti - tank company task organized under 3rd Brigade , 2nd Infantry Division ( 3 - 2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team ) . As a company of 54 infantrymen , the company , nicknamed " Hellcat , " has conducted primarily infantry operations during three deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . During the first deployment of a Stryker brigade to Iraq ( OIF 01 - 02 ) , soldiers of C - 52d IN earned five Bronze Stars , a Meritorious Unit Commendation , and a Superior Unit Award . In the most recent deployment ( OIF 06 - 08 ) which saw C - 52d IN operating in many significantly different roles and environments , Avalanche soldiers earned one Silver Star , 16 Bronze Star s , 17 Purple Heart s and received honors from the Washington State Senate as a company of 3 – 2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team . C - 52d IN was again deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF 09 - 10 ) in the Diyala province . Soldiers of C - 52d IN worked along the eastern border with Iraqi police and regional border control units . Upon returning to the Fort Lewis , the company changed its nickname from " Avalanche " to " Hellcat " as a reference to the World War II anti - tank infantry . Iraq ( OIF 01 - 02 ) . C Company , 52d Infantry Regiment was assigned to 3d Brigade , 2d Infantry Division during its deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 01 - 02 from November 2003 – November 2004 . From December 2003 – January 2004 , it supported 4th ID and 3 - 2 SBCT , the Army ’ s first Stryker brigade , during Operations Arrowhead Blizzard and Arrowhead Polaris , the brigade ’ s successful attack of insurgents in and around Samarra , Iraq During twenty seven days of continuous combat operations in Samarra , the company contributed to significant losses to the enemy in terms of personnel and equipment and neutralized enemy activity throughout their battalion ’ s area of operations . Upon completion , the company followed the brigade ’ s movement north in order to conduct a relief in place with 101st Airborne Division in Mosul , Iraq , where they operated out of Forward Operating Base Marez . Avalanche Company was assigned to Task Force Minute , 1st Battalion , 37th Field Artillery under command of LTC Sliwa . During combat and stability operations in the Upper Tigris River Valley south of Mosul , the company conducted over 150 full spectrum missions totaling over 18 , 000 Stryker miles . The company regularly served as the Task Force Main Effort on many cordon and searches , convoy security , area and route reconnaissance , counter improvised explosive device ( IED ) sweeps , and counter mortar / area security operations , which resulted in significant losses to the enemy in terms of personnel and equipment , as well as neutralizing enemy activity in the company ’ s area of operations . Such areas as Hammam Al Alil , Ash Sharuh , Qayyarah , Hatra , Makhmur , and Tal Abjah were frequently patrolled . Some of the operations the company conducted which led to the successful capture of both battalion or brigade high value targets , as well as a multitude of caches , included Operations Decimation , H3 , Thunderbolt , King ’ s Gambit , Warrior Strike , Avalanche Fury , and Operation Rude Awakening . In 4 June , C - 52d IN was also responsible for the training and equipping of the new “ Iraqi National Guard , ” in which the company trained 30 platoons comprising over 1 , 500 new Iraqi soldiers . The company successfully redeployed to Fort Lewis in November 2004 with no loss of equipment or life and was subsequently awarded with a Meritorious Unit Commendation and Superior Unit Award for their operations in theater . Avalanche was reassigned to 2nd Battalion , 3rd Infantry Regiment under the command of LTC Flowers and LTC Huggins . The company successfully completed reset in record time and deployed twice to the Yakima Training Center , successfully completing Operations Arrowhead Quiver and Arrowhead Warpath which included both platoon and company maneuver live fires , Stryker gunnery , ATGM gunner ’ s skills testing and TOW tables 1 – 12 . Iraq ( OIF 06 - 08 ) . During an extended 15 - month Iraq War deployment ( Operation Iraqi Freedom 06 - 08 ) from July 2006 – September 2008 , the Avalanche Company operated under the command of over eight different higher headquarters . Its operations spanned much of northern and central Iraq . In July and August 2006 , C - 52d manned a combat outpost in Rabiyah , Iraq in support of 200 personnel for over 30 days , overseeing various military transition teams and all life support operations . In the months of September and October , C - 52d operated under Task Force Red Lion in Q - West , conducting assessments of essential services and other security and support operations . Additionally , C - 52d conducted clearance operations of Route Tampa resulting in a 75 % reduction of IEDs . During late October and November , C - 52d operated under 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry Regiment in Mosul , Iraq . The Avalanche Company supported clearing operations and performed assessments of essential services that were valuable to restoring stability . December marked the Avalanche Company ’ s move to Baghdad as they operated under Task Force Tomahawk . The soldiers of C - 52d provided security and conducted several raids during major clearing operations in support of Multi - National Division Baghdad . In late December 2006 , C - 52d would move to Taji , Iraq , where they would remain through May 2007 in support of 2nd Battalion , 8th Cavalry Regiment . In the company ’ s most notable event , Third Platoon of C - 52d responded to a complex attack on a joint security station in Tarmiya , Iraq , enabling the successful evacuation of 21 wounded American soldiers and security of the site . Several members of Third Platoon were awarded Bronze Star Medals for their actions on 19 February 2007 . Third Platoon ' s platoon leader , SFC Ismael Iban , was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in action . In Sheik Hamed Village , the company conducted bilateral clearing operations with the Iraqi Army , executed several missions against time - sensitive targets , and trained basic soldier skills to an Iraqi Army Battalion , enhancing their ability to secure their area of operations . C - 52d also secured key infrastructure , specifically the Khark Water Treatment Plant , which supplies 75 % of Iraq ’ s drinkable water . In the brigade ’ s culminating mission to expel al Qaeda from Baqubah , their self - proclaimed capital of the Islamic State of Iraq , C - 52d conducted a 50 km attack from the march into battle during Operation Arrowhead Ripper . The Company ' s soldiers screened over 2 , 500 displaced Iraqis attempting to flee Baqubah , resulting in the capture of over 30 armed insurgents . Additionally , C - 52d conducted an air assault operation that resulted in the discovery and capture of numerous enemy caches including anti - aircraft artillery , indirect fire weapons , IED making materials and various small arms . It was thought that this operation might severely hamper the enemy ’ s ability to use indirect fire to inflict casualties and instill terror upon the civilian population . Led by CPT Erich B . Schneider for the entire deployment , the company redeployed to Fort Lewis in September 2007 with no loss of life .