174th Infantry

• Origins: The 174th Infantry Regiment traces its origins to the 74th New York State Militia, organized in Buffalo in 1854. • Civil War Service: Members of the 74th New York State Militia served during the American Civil War, primarily as part of home defense and emergency mobilizations. • Spanish-American War: The regiment was federalized for service during the Spanish-American War in 1898, though it did not deploy overseas. • World War I: The 74th New York Infantry was redesignated as the 174th Infantry Regiment in 1917 and was assigned to the 44th Infantry Division, serving primarily in a training and replacement capacity during World War I. • World War II Mobilization: The 174th Infantry Regiment was reactivated during World War II and assigned to the 44th Infantry Division, later serving as a training and replacement unit at Fort Rucker, Alabama. • Buffalo Ties: The unit maintained a close connection to Buffalo, New York, with its armory and recruitment predominantly centered in the city and surrounding Erie County. • Cold War Era: After World War II, the regiment was reconstituted in the New York Army National Guard and remained active through much of the Cold War. • Armory Landmark: The Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, long home to the 174th, is a historic and architectural landmark, reflecting the unit's deep roots in the community. • Civic Engagement: Throughout its history, the 174th participated in local disaster responses, including the Blizzard of 1977 in Buffalo, providing aid and security. • Deactivation: The regiment was eventually deactivated and its elements reorganized by the late 20th century, but its legacy continues through descendants in the New York Army National Guard.