172nd Infantry

• Origins in World War I: The 172nd Infantry Regiment was first organized in 1917 as part of the Vermont National Guard and assigned to the 43rd Infantry Division for service in World War I. • Nickname - Mountain Men: The regiment is known as the "Mountain Men" due to its origins and longstanding association with the mountainous terrain of Vermont. • World War II Service: The 172nd Infantry saw extensive combat during World War II, participating in the Pacific Theater, including the campaigns in New Guinea, Northern Solomons, and Luzon. • Battle of Luzon: In the Battle of Luzon (1945), the 172nd played a pivotal role in the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation. • Post-WWII Adjustments: After World War II, the 172nd Infantry Regiment was reorganized several times and continued its service as part of the Vermont Army National Guard. • Cold War Duties: During the Cold War, the 172nd trained for possible deployment to Europe in the event of a conflict with the Soviet Union, but was never called to active combat during this period. • Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia: In 2001, elements of the 172nd Infantry were deployed as part of NATO's peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. • Iraq War Deployment: In 2005, members of the 172nd deployed to Iraq, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom with convoy security and base defense missions. • Afghanistan Service: The unit was again deployed in 2010 to Afghanistan, where it conducted combat and security operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. • Community and State Support: Beyond overseas deployments, the 172nd Infantry has responded to state emergencies, including disaster relief operations in Vermont following Hurricane Irene in 2011.