1st Battalion - 22nd Infantry Regiment
As of January 2006, the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment was operating in Camp Taji, an Army base approximately 10 miles northwest of Baghdad, fulfilling their second rotation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They will be there until December of 2006. In March 2003, this unit deployed to Iraq to take part in the intial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom and participated in Operation Red Dawn, a mission consiting of 600 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division troops, along with special operations forces, responsible for locating and capturing Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi president.
The 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, was originally constituted on 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as Companies A and I, 2nd Battalion, l3th Infantry. It organized in May 1865 at Camp Dennison, OH. It reorganized and was redesignated on21 September 1866 as Companies A and I, 22nd Infantry.
Companies A and I, 22nd Infantry consolidated on 4 May 1869 and the consolidated unit was designated as Company A, 22nd Infantry; the 22nd Infantry being assigned on 24 March 1923 to the 4th Division [later redesignated as the 4th Infantry Division]. It inactivated on 30 June 1927 at Fort McPherson, GA.
The unit reactivated on 1 June 1940 at Fort McClellan, AL, before inactivating on 1 March l946 at Camp Butner, NC.
It reactivated 15 July l947 at Fort Ord, CA. It reorganized and was redesignated on 1 April 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battle Group, 22nd Infantry and remained assigned to the 4th Infantry Division (with its organic elements being concurrently constituted and activated). It was reorganized and redesignated on 1 October l963 as the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry. It inactivated on August 1984 at Fort Carson, CO and was relieved from its assignment to the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized).
It reactivated in May 1986 at Fort Drum, NY and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Light). Relieved in February 1996 from this assignment to the 10th Mountain Division (Light), the 1st Battalion was reassigned to the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Hood, TX.
History
War of 1812
22nd Infantry fought against the British and Canadian forces on July 25th, 1814 at The Battle of Lundy’s Lane which would come to be known as the bloodiest battle fought in the entire war. The battle lasted 9 hours and the unit suffered 143 casualties of which 37 were KIA.
Spanish American War 1898
The 22nd U.S. Infantry fought in Cuba as part of the Fifth Army Corps under the command of Major General William Shafter. Unit lost 350 men in combat during the campaign, however, they suffered close to 2500 deaths due to disease.
On April 18, 1898, the Regiment, under the command of Colonel Charles A. Wikoff, departed Fort Crook, NB by rail, enroute to Mobile, AL prior to a declaration of war by the United States. The 22nd Infantry consisted of twenty-nine officers and 484 enlisted men. June 7th, 1989 after war had been declared, the unit boarded a ship destined for Santiago, Cuba.
On July 2-4, 1898 the 22nd Infantry regiment engaged in battle with Spanish forces suffering significant losses yet attaining victory. Ill prepared troops remained in position for several days after the actions of July 2-4 contending with stifling heat, poor rations and tropical illness including malaria, typhoid fever, and dysentery. The Spanish capitulated on the 16th of July allowing troops of the 22nd to receive replacements and medical treatment for their large number of sick troops. On August 11 the unit would receive orders to deploy back home yet would not actually leave until August 13, 1998.
WWI
The 22nd Infantry was not sent overseas to fight in WWI. It was instead assigned to guard the docks at Hoboken, NJ against possible saboteurs and spies.
On April 6, 1917, at 3 a.m. war was declared. At one minute past 3 a.m. , he sent detachments of the 22nd Infantry to the docks in Hoboken, where they took possession of all ships of the North German Lloyd and Hamburg American Lines. Altogether they seized 16 German ships, including the Vaterland (later named the Leviathan) and took their crews into custody. By this seizure, well-planned long in advance of the war declaration, the 22nd Infantry committed the first act of belligerence by the United States against Germany in WWI.
World War IIThe 22nd Infantry participated in 5 major campaigns of WWII. It operated in the Normandy invasion landing at Utah Beach as well as the Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns.
Vietnam 1965-1970
The 1st battalion 22nd Infantry regiment of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division served gallantly in a number of operations during the Vietnam War.
The unit took part in Operation Paul Revere IV which was a search and destroy operation that took place from 18 October 1966 to 31 December 1966, in the western II Corps area. The 22nd engaged the enemy a number of times providing crucial intelligence and causing significant damage to hostile forces.
The Battle of Kontum January 30 - February 12 1968
At the end of January, 1968, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese launched an offensive throughout the entire country of South Vietnam. Every major city and every Provincial Capital was attacked. The attack on Kontum, the capital of Kontum Province, was initially thwarted by elements of the South Vietnamese Army, who prevented the enemy from taking complete control of the city. However, during the attack, enemy forces managed to occupy large areas of the city and some of the outlying territory. The US Army force responsible for this area of operations was the 4th Infantry Division. Several units of the Division were tasked with clearing the enemy out of the city and pursuing him into the countryside. The Commander of 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry was placed in charge of the operation and was directed to assume command of all 4th Infantry Division forces in the area. The ensuing 14 day battle became known as the Battle of Kontum.
Battle of Chu Moor Mountain April 24 - 30 1968
During Operation Mac Arthur, for approximately seven days in late April of 1968, the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry fought a vicious battle with elements of the North Vietnamese Army. The combat was intense, with 1st Battalion attacking, the NVA counter-attacking, and 1st Battalion attacking again. The NVA employed mortars, B-40 rockets, snipers, and even flame throwers. 1st Battalion utilized artillery, airstrikes, B-52 strikes and helicopter gunships. Elements of the 1/14 Infantry, the 1/12th Infantry and the 3/8 Infantry joined the battle, when it became clear the enemy was in force and had decided to stay. After nearly seven days of heavy fighting, the NVA finally withdrew, leaving the mountain in US hands.
Operation Wayne Grey
Operation Wayne Grey was conducted by the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division from 1 March 1969 to 14 April 1969 in Plei Trap and Cu Don, Kontum Province, RVN. On 2 April the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry was put under the operational control of the 1st Brigade. The battles in the Cu Don are significant in the fact that an enemy base area was disrupted. The tenacity with which the enemy defended the area gave evidence that he had something to protect. His attacks by fire and harassing sniper fires were designed to hold US forces until he could evacuate or hide his equipment. When US forces came close to his base, his defenses were organized as ambushes. Despite these designs, the 3/12 Inf and the 1/22 Inf were successful in inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. An unknown number of enemy were undoubtedly killed in the heavy air and artillery bombardment. As the operation concluded, indications were that the enemy had retreated toward Cambodia.
Battle of the Rock June 20-22 1970
On 20 Jun 1970, in the mountain terrain of Binh Dinh Province, north of An Khe, the two day Battle of the Rock began. The battle of "The Rock" was the largest engagement fought by the Regulars in 1970. Elements of the 1/22, consisting of approximately 19 men, engaged the reinforced 3rd Co, 620th Bn, 2nd Training Rgt of the NVA. The NVA force, ranging between 120-140 men decided to fight against the US troops defending a huge natural rock formation near the top of a mountain. The two day battle would cost the lives of 29 NVA troops as opposed to 1 US KIA.
Hurricane Andrew
At 0500 hours, 24 August 1992, Hurricane Andrew, a category four hurricane, crashed through southern Florida, devastating the town of Homestead, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida City and the surrounding areas. Its maximum sustained winds were 145 miles per hour and gusts up to 175 miles per hour were recorded. It was one of the three most devastating hurricanes to hit the United States in the twentieth century and is thought to have been the most damaging hurricane on record in terms of property damage and total cost.
The unit would spend the daylight hours deployed into their assigned sectors removing debris and assisting the local population as necessary. Special equipment, whether deployed with the unit or purchased, was critical to speeding the recovery effort.
In addition to soldier labor in each neighborhood, the battalion was also responsible for oversight of several feeding sites, Mobile Kitchen Trailer Operations (MKT), the placement and maintenance of porta-potties, and the placement and emptying of large trash dumpsters. The MKT operations were manned by support units from outside of 1/22 Infantry. Just under 900,000 meals were served off of MKTs for the first thirty-three days of the operation. The porta-potties and dumpsters were contracted relief initiatives that also became reporting criteria based on location within a unit's AO.
As life improved for the local population, the improvement manifested itself in local self-sustainment without military assistance. During the last week of September 1992, 1/22 Infantry no longer deployed into the neighborhoods of the Homestead area, but instead concentrated on redeployment activities. The battalion redeployed back to Fort Drum, New York, on or about 7 October, 1992, after serving in Hurricane Andrew relief for some forty consecutive days.
OPERATION UPHOLD DEMOCRACY: Haiti 1994
As the air assault of 19 September, 1994 occurred, 1/22 Infantry completed their flight from Griffis Air Force Base, and flew in to the Port-au-Prince International Airport behind the assault forces.
The mission was to conduct military operations to restore and preserve civil order; protect US citizens and interests and designated Haitians and third country nationals; create a secure environment for the restoration of the legitimate government of Haiti; and provide technical assistance to the government of Haiti.
One of the major programs that 1/22 Infantry, along with other units, were involved in was a weapons buy-back program. The intent of this program was to remove, voluntarily, dangerous weapons and munitions from the streets of Haiti, in an effort not only to protect the local population, but also to enchance force protection for the soldiers in the Multi-National Force.
One such station manned by 1/22 Infantry was at the front gate of Bowen Airfield, a high traffic area for Haitian civilians and US units. In addition to the weapons buy-back program, 1/22 Infantry participated in the Division's "weapons cache operations." During these operations, units would conduct cordon and search operations to seize suspected weapons caches. Occaisonally, the search and seizure missions would be modified to include the detention of suspect Haitian personnel who were identified for apprehension and questioning.
The operational focus during October for all Port-au-Prince units was clearly the return of President Aristide. 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry was assigned an area of responsibility in the vicinity of the national palace and its surrounding neighborhoods. All companies from 1/22 Infantry, to include the combat platoons and company C2 of Headquarters Company, that had elements not already involved in static security were posted throughout the streets surrounding the palace. Each company monitored the Haitian crowds and provided security, military presence, and support to local officials as necessary.
An additional shift in operational focus for the Battalion came in mid to late November 1994. The 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry was relieved of several of its static security missions in the city and was assigned to a new area of responsibility. This was the security of the national palace. The focus on security of the palace by the Division leadership was such that it was necessary to commit a larger force there with sole responsibility for the area.
The new mission for the HHC was to provide mounted and dismounted security for President Aristide's motorcade and to provide local security at any location that Aristide stopped or spent the night. This included security operations around Aristide's residence that was located several kilometers away from the palace, outside of Port-au-Prince.
From 25 November 1994 through 15 January 1995, HHC 1/22 Infantry conducted seven actual motorcade missions. Most of the motorcades involved localized Port-au-Prince moves between the palace, the residence, or to and from political engagements within the city. One motorcade operation during the last week of November and the first week of December was a major Out of Sector move and spanned five days, as President Aristide conducted several speaking engagements along the southern claw of the Haitian country.
Haitian soldiers had been gathering at the FAd'h headquarters starting about 22 December because they hadn't been paid for December. They were angry because the government announced they were not going to be paid and because of their summary dismissal. They'd been put on leave without explanantion until 17 January. The situation at the headquarters was a tinderbox. It was somewhat alleviated on the night of Friday 23 December, when COL Dallas and the MNF arranged for the payment of the soldiers. But the soldiers appeared again on the 26th at FAd'h headquarters. At that time a combination of various things, including strained relations, a very confusing situation, and armed soldiers who were scared and angry, resulted in a significant shooting incident.
Heavy weapons gunfire erupted at the FAd'h headquarters in the early afternoon, causing the Quick Reaction Platoon of C 1/22 Infantry to respond and deploy. The platoon maneuvered across the street and began assessing the situation after taking up positions around the perimeter fence of the FAd'h headquarters and effectively cordoned off the building. A call from the Battalion TOC alerted the HHC to assist by bolstering the cordon with the AT platoon and to maneuver and clear the building with the remaining dismounted scout platoon. The scout platoon and company headquarters C2 maneuvered out of the south side palace gate, as heavy gunfire continued to emanate from the FAd'h headquarters. As the HHC element maneuvered through the park and traffic rotary to link up with the C Company commander, the rifle platoon from C Company was fired upon, and engaged a number of unidentified assailants armed with M203 grenade launchers that appeared as though they were about to engage C Company, and possibly the HHC element with indirect fires. This direct action by the C Company platoon thwarted that potential attack.
Upon arrival of the HHC element and the Battalion Commander, COL Hawrylak, C Company was instructed to maintain the cordon, with the help of the AT platoon. HHC's C2 and its dismounted scout platoon were instructed to conduct a room by room and floor by floor search and clear operation to develop the situation and gain control of the building and its occupants. The HHC element cleared the first floor with no contact with Haitians, moved to the second floor and found several armed, uniformed Haitians in several different offices. All of the Haitians were dis-armed, secured, searched and detained. By days end there had been 3 Haitians killed, 7 wounded, 83 prisoners and 500 weapons seized.
By mid-December 1994, 1/22 Infantry and the rest of First Brigade were informed they were to be relieved by elements of the 25th Division, stationed in Hawaii.
Task Force 160
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, deployed in late April 2002 to become part of Joint Task Force 160, as the only Army infantry deployed the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Approximately 200 soldiers from the 1-22 IN were tasked with providing external security for the detainee facilities . This included fixed site security, patrols, observation posts, a quick reaction force, and also palying a role in escorting and transporting detainees.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
The 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry was operating in the northern part of Iraq, with most of its activities centered around the city of Tikrit. The unit took part in the operation which led to the location and capture of Saddam Hussein, the ex-president of Iraq.
