1:61st Infantry

• Formation and Early History: The 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment (1/61st Infantry) was originally constituted on 15 May 1917 in the Regular Army as Company A, 61st Infantry, and organized at Gettysburg National Park, Pennsylvania. • World War I Service: The 61st Infantry was assigned to the 5th Division and participated in campaigns such as St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne during World War I. • Vietnam War Combat: The 1/61st Infantry saw extensive combat in Vietnam, being part of the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized). They operated primarily in the Quang Tri Province, near the Demilitarized Zone. • Operation Lam Son 719: In 1971, 1/61st Infantry played a key role in Operation Lam Son 719, providing security for firebases and supporting ARVN operations into Laos against the North Vietnamese. • Mechanized Infantry: During Vietnam, the 1/61st was unique as one of the few mechanized infantry battalions to serve there, utilizing M113 armored personnel carriers in combat operations. • Heroic Actions: Soldiers from the 1/61st earned numerous awards for valor in Vietnam, including several Distinguished Service Crosses and countless Purple Hearts. • Firebase Ripcord: The battalion was involved in the defense of firebases along the northern border, including the infamous battles around Firebase Ripcord in 1970. • Unit Motto and Insignia: The motto of the 61st Infantry Regiment is "Always Alert," and their distinctive unit insignia features a blue shield with a silver cross and a red border. • Reactivation and Modern Assignments: After Vietnam, the battalion was inactivated and reactivated several times, most recently as part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. • Legacy and Honors: The 1/61st Infantry has been awarded campaign streamers for World War I, Vietnam, and has a proud tradition of service, with its soldiers remembered for their courage and sacrifice.