Brief History of the 22nd Infantry

The 22nd Infantry Regiment is one of the oldest and most active Infantry Regiments in the United States Army.  From combat in the first war ever declared by congress (War of 1812) to the most recent Operation Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan.  The history of the 22nd Infantry, is the history of our Army.  The 22nd Infantry has been asked by our Army to fight anywhere and at anytime throughout all our wars.   

Starting with the War of 1812 the 22nd Infantry fought in the Niagara Campaign in battles like Fort Erie, Lundy’s Lane, and Chippewa.  Our fighting in Chippewa marked the first time an American Army unit defeated a superior British formation.  Due to the grey uniforms, they wore, West Point Military Academy wears grey uniforms today to honor them.  They were deactivated after the war.

The modern 22nd Infantry Regiment traces its lineage to the 2nd Battalion 13th Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.  In the Civil War they would be the first unit to plant their colors on confederate territory. This would earn them the motto at that time, “First to Vicksburg”.  They would be instrumental to winning the Battle of Vicksburg, a battle that gave General Ulysses S Grant his fame.  During the Vicksburg Campaign the regiment would have it’s first Medal of Honor Recipient.

After the Civil war, they would once again be the 22nd Infantry Regiment and fight on the American Frontier for 32 years.  During this time, they would not only take part in fighting the Indians, but crush a racially motivated insurrection in New Orleans, settle union disputes and many other interesting operations.  During this time the regiment would earn five campaign streamers and two Medal of Honor Recipients.

The Regiment would be on the move again when the United States went to war with Spain.  This would land them in Cuba where they would be the first Army Unit to go on Cuban soil and they would capture the first Spanish colors of the war.  These colors are hung at West Point Military Academy today.

Five months after their return from Cuba, they would be on ships again headed to the Philippine Islands.  While in the Philippines the soldiers of the 22nd would become part of the first organized attack on the insurgents there.  They would perform one of the most arduous foot marches to accomplish their mission.  The regiment would earn 5 campaign streamers and have 2 soldiers receive the Medal of Honor.

In 1906, the 22nd Infantry Regiment returned to the United States where it was part of the San Francisco earthquake relief. Prior to the First World War, the 22nd Regiment saw duty in Nevada, Alaska, and Texas where it dealt with an array of domestic issues such as labor riots.

In 1910, the Regiment was mobilized to the Mexican Border for seven years in response to the turmoil caused by the Mexican Revolution and the constant border conflicts. No regiment in the history of the U.S. Army has had a longer period of continuous field duty. 

In 1917 the Regiment would commit the first act of war by the United States in the first World War.  They would seize German boats in the docks at Hoboken New Jersey.  The first battalion would also see the post of honor at the Nation’s Capitol and the second would guard forts across New York State.  In 1923 the Regiment would become part of the 4th Infantry Division.

In January of 1944, the 22nd would sail to England to become part of World War II.  On June 6th, they would hit Utah at Normandy and fight their way through Germany.  On September 11th, 1944, our scouts would be the first allied soldiers to cross into Germany.  In November we would fight in one of the bloodiest battles in all of WWII, the battle of Hurtgen forest.  They would also be involved in the Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes Offensive, and was one of the first units to break through the Siegfried Line.  They would also cross the Rhine and advanced on Nurnberg, capturing it immediately prior to the surrender of the Third Reich.  During WWII they received 5 campaign streamers and one Medal of Honor.

In Vietnam, the first and third battalion staid with the 4th Infantry Division while the second battalion was attached to the 25th Infantry Division. 

1-22IN arrived in Vietnam in 1966, fighting in thirteen campaigns of that war under command of IFFV (1st Field Force).  1st Battalion earned the distinction of being the longest serving unit of the 22nd in Vietnam, 1966-1972.
During the Tet Offensive, the 1st Battalion of the 22nd earned the Valorous Unit Award, during the fighting in the Provincial Capital of Kontum. Throughout its tenure in VN, the 1st Battalion performed its missions as a true "straight-leg" Light Infantry Battalion. In late 1970, after the Battalion was pulled out of the jungle of the Central Highlands of II Corps, the Republic of Vietnam awarded the 1st Battalion for the second time during its service in Vietnam, the RVN Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation, many years before the Republic of Vietnam gave this award as a blanket award to anyone who served in VN.

2-22 IN took part in Operation Junction City during the Vietnam War. It received a Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of Soui Tre, a day of combat that saw 620 enemy dead on the battlefield. In all, 2-22 IN received 11 campaign streamers, one Presidential Unit Citation, and one Medal of Honor.

22 IN was reactivated in September 1986 as part of the 10th Mountain Division.  In 1996 the 1st Battalion would move to the 4th Infantry Division.  The 3rd and 4th Battalions would be part of the 25th Infantry Division. In October 1993, they were alerted to deploy to Somalia in support of American efforts against Mohammed Farrah Aideed. In September 1994, they were called upon to deploy to Haiti, performing an air-assault off of the USS Eisenhower in order to secure Port-a-Prince and the presidential palace. Following this mission,
22 IN deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Both the 2rd and 4th Battalions would be deactivated in the mid to late 90s.

Both the 1st and 2nd Battalions have been on multiple deployments to fight terror in Afghanistan and Iraq.  First Battalion was instrumental in the capture of Saddam Hussain with 2nd Battalion fighting in early operation in Afghanistan like Mountain Viper and Mountain Resolve. The 1st Battalion became the Army's first all-digital Battalion, and took that technology with it to Iraq
during Operation Iraqi Freedom.   2nd Battalion in Iraq as in the contentious Abu Ghraib District of Western Baghdad.  Both Battalions saw deployments in Afghanistan as well, with the most recent deployment from 2nd battalion in 2020, serving honorably there.  1st Battalion was inactivated in 2014.