1:17th Infantry

• Origins in the Civil War: The 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment ("1/17th Infantry") was constituted on May 3, 1861, and organized at Fort Preble, Maine, serving with distinction in the American Civil War. • Battle Honors at Fredericksburg: The regiment fought bravely at the Battle of Fredericksburg (December 1862), suffering heavy casualties during assaults against entrenched Confederate positions. • Indian Wars Campaigns: After the Civil War, 1/17th Infantry participated in the Indian Wars, operating across the western frontier, including campaigns against the Apache and Sioux. • Decorated in the Spanish-American War: The unit fought in the Santiago Campaign in Cuba (1898), earning campaign streamers for its actions. • Philippine Insurrection: The battalion served in the Philippines from 1899 to 1902, engaging in actions during the Philippine-American War. • World War II Valor: Assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 1/17th Infantry landed at Attu in the Aleutian Islands (1943), then participated in the Kwajalein, Leyte, and Okinawa campaigns in the Pacific Theater. • Korean War Distinction: 1/17th Infantry earned multiple Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry in the Korean War, notably at Inchon, the Battle of Pork Chop Hill, and the advance to the Yalu River. • Vietnam War Deployments: The battalion served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971, conducting combat operations in the Central Highlands and earning additional decorations. • Recent Service in Afghanistan: 1/17th Infantry deployed several times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, conducting counterinsurgency operations in Kandahar and Zabul provinces (notably in 2009–2010). • Motto and Nickname: The regiment's motto is “Truth and Courage”, and its nickname is “The Buffalos”—inspired by the buffalo, a symbol of strength and perseverance adopted in the Indian Wars.