1st Battalion - 12th Infantry Regiment
As of November 2004, the 1st Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment of 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division was inactivated at Fort Carson as part of the Army's move towards modularization. Some elements of the unit transformed into the 2nd Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment. The 1-12th Infantry Regiment was activated shortly after in 2004 at Fort Hood, TX, as part of the 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
As of January 14th, 2006, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, which included 1st Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment, took control of Forward Operating Base Prosperity, located in Baghdad, from 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Their mission included training Iraqi Security Forces and maintaining security within the central and southern regions of the Iraqi capital.
1-12 Infantry Battalion maintains balanced readiness to, on order, deploy, fight and win in any theater of operation while supporting the 4th Brigade Combat Team training to increase lethality, survivability, operational tempo, sustainability, and versatility.
The History of the 12th Infantry Regiment parallels the history of our nation. The 12th Regiment was originally formed on 3 July 1798, in response to British and French aggression against the American merchant fleet. The 12th was disbanded on 15 June, 1800 after the crisis had passes.
With the outbreak of the War of 1812, the Warriors were again activated. The Regiment's greatest moment of the war came during the defense of Fort McHenery. The Warrior Colors were flying above the Fort throughout the battle that inspired the writing of our National Anthem. At the end of the war, the Army was reduced in size and the 12th was consolidated into the 4th Infantry Regiment.
During the Mexican War, the 12th was organized for the third time and fought at National Ridge, Paso de Overjas, and Plan de Rio. At the Battle of Coutreras, the Warriors spearheaded an attack against a much larger Mexican force. Tat attack was the turning point, which helped hasten the end of the war. The Regiment was disbanded after the Mexican War, and was not recalled into the Regular Army until 3 May 1861.
During the Civil War, the Regiment fought in campaigns with he Army of the Potomac, and played pivotal roles in some of the greatest battles of the Civil War. Its great achievement was its first engagement at Gaines' Mills, Virginia, Jun 27 and 28, 1862, where its loss was almost 50%.
The 12th subsequently served in three major Indian campaigns, during which six Warriors won the Medal of Honor. During the Spanish American War, the 12th was dispatched to the Philippines where they campaigned around Manila and throughout the island of Luzon.
During World War II, the 12th spearheaded the Normandy Invasion on D-Day. From 9-12 August 1944, the Regiment engaged and destroyed the famed SS Adolph Hitler Panzer Division, then went on to wins a presidential Unit Citation during the Battle of the Bulge.
The 12th deployed to Vietnam from 1966 to 1970. They served in eleven campaigns and three Warriors won the Medal of Honor: SGT Anund C. Roark of Charlie Company, PFC Louis E. Willet of Charlie Company, and SPC Donald W. Evans of Alpha Company.
