16th Infantry Regiment ( United States ) The 16th Infantry Regiment ( " Semper Paratus " ) is a regiment in the United States Army . History . Formation . The 34th Infantry Regiment and 11th Infantry Regiment consolidated into the 16th Infantry Regiment on 3 March 1869 . The 11th Infantry ' s history prior to the consolidation is normally included with the 16th ' s . U . S . Civil War . The regiment took part in some of the hardest - fought battles of the war , including Bull Run , Antietam , Fredericksburg , Chancellorsville , Gettysburg , Spotsylvania , Cold Harbor , Wilderness , and Petersburg . They took significant losses during Gettysburg from a position between the Wheatfield and Devil ' s Den . Two battalions took part in the battle of Stones River under Maj . Adam J . Slemmer . Following the Civil War the 16th took part in the reconstruction of the south and then performed duty on the frontier - the Indian Wars . Spanish - American War . The 16th participated in the capture of San Juan Hill with the V Corps . The 16th later fought in the Philippine – American War . It fought 27 engagements with the greater part of its activities concentrated against the rebels in the Cagayan Valley . World War I . The 16th was one of 4 original regiments to form the 1st Expeditionary Division , later known as the 1st Infantry Division . Throughout WWI the 16th participated in every major 1st Division campaign . It was the first regiment to take combat casualties and engage German forces during the war . On 4 July 1917 , the 2nd Battalion , 16th Infantry , paraded through Paris . At Lafayette ' s tomb , one of General John J . Pershing ' s staff Lt . Col . Charles Stanton uttered the famous words , " Lafayette , we are here ! " On 4 October 1918 , near Fleville , France , the 16th was the only Allied unit to take its objective during the opening drive of the Meuse - Argonne Campaign . 4 October is still celebrated as the 16th Infantry organizational day . The coat of arms pattern from Fleville was later included in the 16th ' s regimental crest . The 16th twice earned the Croix de Guerre , France ' s highest military honor , for actions at Soissons and Fleville . Today 16th Infantry soldiers wear the fourragère on their uniform . In September 1919 , the regiment returned to the United States and posted at Camp now Fort Dix , New Jersey . In 1920 the regiment was posted at Fort Jay , Governors Island , New York and would remain the U . S . Army ' s " show " regiment for New York City . Mayor La Guardia named the 16th " New York ' s own " and the " Sidewalks of New York " became the regimental song . The regiment would remain at Fort Jay until February 1941 when reassigned to Fort Devens , Massachusetts and later Camp Blanding , Florida for combat training prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 . World War II . As at the onset of World War II , the 16th Regiment was one of the first mobilized for overseas duty . Still part of the 1st Infantry Division , would take part in the landings in North Africa , Sicily , and Normandy . The US 16th Infantry Regiment ' s 1 , 700 soldiers were the first American infantry to land on the beaches of North Africa during Operation Torch . Fox Company , 2nd Battalion of the 16th Infantry was the first unit in the 1st Division to take part in an offensive operation when Fox Company supported by Charlie Company , 1st Battalion , and George Company , 3rd Battalion supported by tanks from 1st Armored assaulted the Le Senia Airfield just south of Oran , Algeria . The 400 Americans killed 270 German soldiers and captured 700 of them without loss . During the Battle of Kasserine Pass the 16th Infantry counter - attacked a line that had been left open by retreating units of the 26th Infantry Regiment . During Operation Husky ( Invasion of Sicily ) the 16th was the first American unit to land with heavy losses on the beach during the Amphibious Battle of Gela . On 15 July , elements of the 16th Infantry raced north to rescue units of the 82nd Airborne Division near Piano Lupo and engaged the Herman Goring Panzer Division resulting in heavy German losses . The regiment then moved north taking several key cities and towns before taking part in the battle of Troina . Following Sicily , the 16th Infantry took part in the invasion of Europe when they landed at Omaha beach . With the rest of the 1st Infantry Division the 16th Infantry Regiment fought its way across Europe , ending the war in Czechoslovakia . Vietnam . The 16th Infantry Regiment served in the Vietnam War with the rest of the division from 1965 to 1970 . Gulf War . Desert Storm On 2 August 1990 , Iraq invaded Kuwait . This act precipitated U . S . military involvement in the Persian Gulf . The 5th Battalion and 2nd Battalion , 16th Infantry Regiment was put on alert for deployment on 8 November 1990 . At 2 : 00 am , 17 January 1991 , Operation Desert Storm commenced with air raids and artillery barrages on Iraqi targets . The regiment continued to rehearse its mission to penetrate Iraqi defenses and destroy the Republican Guard in its zone . On the morning of 24 February 1991 , under Maj . Gen . Thomas G . Rhame , the Big Red One spearheaded the armored attack into Iraq , by creating the all - important breach in Iraqi defenses that enabled VII Corps units to smash into Iraq . The division broke through the enemy defensive lines , decimated the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division and took over 2 , 500 prisoners . After the breachhead was secured , the British 1st Armored Division was allowed to advance and pass through the Big Red One . This kept up the momentum of the coalition force ' s attack . 5th Battalion , 16th Infantry along with 2nd Battalion 34th Armor as part of the 1st Infantry Division then followed and drove to the east deep into enemy territory . Continuing its attack , the regiment collided with the Tawalakana Division Republican Guard and the 37th Brigade of the 12th Iraqi Tank Division . On the night of 26 February 1991 , the division battled with enemy forces and destroyed both units . Enemy losses included more than 40 tanks and 40 infantry fighting vehicles . The division exploited its success and continued its pursuit of the demoralized Iraqi forces . Following the Battle of Norfolk , 5th Battalion , 16th Infantry raced ahead to cut of the Iraqi lines off retreat from Kuwait City . Division elements destroyed scores of enemy vehicles and took thousands of prisoners as they advanced . By 8 pm , 27 February , the 1st Squadron , 4th U . S . Cavalry had seized the main highway leading north out of Kuwait , barring the Iraqis ' escape . By the next morning , the rest of the division had taken up positions along the highway and fully secured it . At 8 am , 28 February 1991 , the war was over when a cease - fire was called . On 3 March 1991 , negotiations were held between coalition forces and Iraqi leaders to cement the cease - fire agreements . The 5th Battalion , 16th Infantry with the 1st Infantry Division secured the site of the agreements at Safwan airfield . Following this , the division prepared for its return to the United States . On 10 May 1991 , the division unfurled its colors at Fort Riley , Kansas , signifying its return home . Bronze Stars . The following were awarded the Bronze Star for actions while serving in the 2nd Battalion , 16th Infantry Regiment Bosnia - Herzegovina . 1st Battalion deployed to Bosnia in August 1999 through March 2000 along with supporting elements Fort Riley for peacekeeping operations . They were assigned under the 10th Mountain Division as part of SFOR 6 . They were assigned primarily to Camp Dobol but also had elements assigned to Camp McGovern , Camp Demi and Camp Comanche . Operation Iraqi Freedom . In August 2003 the 1st Battalion 16th Infantry deployed to Fallujah and Ramadi , Iraq and returned to Ft . Riley , Kansas in October 2004 . While in Iraq the battalion was attached to 82nd Airborne and then 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit . They fought in many skirmishes most notably the battle of Ramadi on 6 April 2004 with the First Marine Expeditionary Unit in order to establish peace in the city . In 2006 1st Battalion was split into three deployed companies and six training companies . A Company served in Africa while B Company and C Company served in Iraq respectively . D Company , I Company , K Company , L Company , M Company , N Company all took up the mission of training and deploying MiTTs . In 2008 K Company became HHC while D Company became B Company and M Company became C Company ( Bandido Charlie ) . During fiscal year 2009 1st Battalion , 16th Infantry will begin its transformation back to a regular unit and begin training to be deployed in the future . The 2nd Battalion , 16th Infantry Regiment was stood up in 2005 under the new expeditionary brigade doctrine as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division . It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Kauzlarich . In February 2007 , 2nd Battalion deployed to eastern Baghdad as part of the Iraq Surge . They were attached to 2d Brigade , 2d Infantry Division and later 4th Brigade , 10th Mountain Division . They were sent to pacify four of the most violent neighborhoods in Baghdad , controlled by Al - Qaeda and the Jayessh Al - Mahdi . They assisted in the creation of literacy programs , refurbishment of schools and the installation of sewage systems , suppressing the insurgent threat using an experimental platform based on small teams and unconventional tactics . Ultimately , their section of Baghdad would become the quietest sector in the city , but that was not achieved cheaply . 2nd Battalion suffered 14 killed in action and many more wounded , and the horrors of war would lead to many suicides and military separations post - deployment . The 2nd Battalion was also featured in the US Army ' s new recruiting campaign " Army Strong " . At the time of filming 2 – 16 IN was the only active infantry battalion to not deploy in support of the Global war on Terror . The 2nd Battalion , 16th Infantry Regiment deployed back to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09 - 11 on 1 September 2009 under the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division . It replaced the 2nd Battalion , 27th Infantry Regiment in Bayji , Iraq in an advise & assist role , supporting the 4th Iraqi Infantry Division as well as the local governments in its area of operations . The battalion redeployed to Fort Riley , Kansas in late April – early May 2010 with the exception of Alpha Company , which remained until August . Notable members . Medals of Honor . The following were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions while serving in the 16th Unit decorations . Presidential Unit Citation ( Army ) , Streamer embroidered MATEUR , TUNISIA < br > Presidential Unit Citation ( Army ) , Streamer embroidered SICILY < br > Presidential Unit Citation ( Army ) Streamer embroidered NORMANDY < br > Presidential Unit Citation ( Army ) , Streamer embroidered HURTGEN FOREST < br > Presidential Unit Citation ( Army ) , Streamer embroidered HAMICH , GERMANY < br > Valorous Unit Award Streamer embroidered AL ANBAR PROVINCE < br > Army Superior Unit Award Streamer embroidered 2006 – 2009 < br > French Croix de Guerre with Palm , World War I , Streamer embroidered AISNE - MARNE < br > French Croix de Guerre with Palm , World War I , Streamer embroidered MEUSE - ARGONNE < br > French Croix de Guerre with Palm , World War II , Streamer embroidered KASSERINE < br > French Croix de Guerre with Palm , World War II , Streamer embroidered NORMANDY < br > French Médaille militaire , Fourragère < br > Belgian Fourragère 1940 < br > Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Mons < br > Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Eupen - Malmedy < br > Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm , Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 – 1968 < br > Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm , Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969 < br > Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal , First Class , Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 – 1970 < br > B Co has also been awarded < br > Meritorious Unit Commendation ( Army ) , Streamer embroidered IRAQ SEP 2006 - AUG 2007 by Craig Whiteside