Twelfth Infantry Regiment monument to be dedicated on Memorial Day, May 29, 2017
The design work is done, the builder has been contracted and the foundation is being poured. All we need
is more donations to pay for the monument. To date we have approximately half the funds that we need to
complete the project. If you would like to help us to fund this memorial to our unit's history you can print out the
Any amount that you can send will be appreciated. Remember that all of us added to the legacy of our
regiment and as a group we accomplished incredible feats. As a group we can memorialize our story
and perhaps inspire other soldiers who view our accomplishments. It was up to us to tell the story
we shared of our tours in Vietnam. It's now up to us to be sure it gets recognized at the Wall of Honor.
The memorial will be dedicated on Memorial Day, May 29, 2017 at the Walk of Honor just outside the
National Infantry Museum in Columbus /Fort Benning, Georgia.
I was commissioned to assemble the history of the unit that will be engraved on the monument
and with the help of Peter Cullen who helped organize the Vietnam through the War on Terror history, that part was completed this week.
This is what will be engraved on the side of the monument describing the history of the regiment that we all
served in during the Vietnam Conflict. I was limited in telling the story in 500 words. I came in at 493.
12th INFANTRY REGIMENTAL HISTORY
The original 12th Infantry Regiment was established on July 31, 1798 and first served in combat during the War of 1812 along the Niagara Frontier before being ordered south to Baltimore where they manned the breastworks at Fort McHenry during that famous battle. During the Mexican War of 1847 the regiment became part of the invasion force that conquered Mexico City. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War the PRESENT DAY 12TH INFANTRY regiment became part of the Army of the Potomac and engaged in 10 of the 11 major battles that were fought by that army. They served at Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg. From 1869 to 1890 the regiment served in the West during the Indian Wars participating in five campaigns including vs. the Modocs, Bannocks, and at Pine Ridge. During the Spanish American War of 1898 it campaigned at Santiago, Cuba, El Caney and San Juan. When the Philippine Insurrection of 1899-1902 took place, the regiment participated in campaigns at Malalos, Tarlac, Luzon, and Zapote. The 12th was called into action as part of the Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1915-1917 vs. Pancho Villa forces, successfully fighting off the Mexican bandit’s army. In 1917 the regiment was assigned to the 8th Division and was due to serve in Europe during World War I. However, the war ended just as the unit was about to board a troopship to take them to Europe. In 1919 thirteen hundred men from the 12th were sent to Siberia with the 31st Infantry Regiment. Eventually the 12th was rebuilt with new recruits. In August of 1927, the 12th Infantry was reassigned to the 4th Infantry Division and in between World Wars the regiment became known as the ‘President’s Own’, serving in the nation’s capital district as an Honor Guard unit for inaugurals and other functions of State. During WWII, the 12th served with distinction at Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, Hurtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge and the Germany invasion as part of the 4th ID. As a result of their action in WWII the regiment was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for the LUXEMBOURG battle . The regiment deployed five battalions to South Vietnam during the Vietnam WAR, more than any other regiment. Their units earned FOUR Presidential Unit Citations for their action at the Battles of Suoi Tre, Dak To and Pleiku in addition to five Valorous Unit Citations. During the War on Terror the regiment served in Kuwait, during Operation Intrinsic Action two months after the 9/11 attack of 2001. In quick succession, it served in Iraq for two tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009, three years later, the regiment deployed to kunar province Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and earned the Valorous Unit citation. To date the regiment has served in Afghanistan for a total of four deployments.
May 2017