A CO, 2:17, Fort Ord. California

• Unit Lineage: A Company, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment (A CO, 2/17) traces its roots to the 17th Infantry Regiment, originally constituted in 1861 and with distinguished service in the Civil War, Indian Wars, and beyond. • Fort Ord Era: Fort Ord, located on California’s Monterey Bay, served as the primary home for A CO, 2/17 during much of the Cold War until Fort Ord’s closure in 1994, making the unit part of the “last generation” to train there. • Vietnam War Legacy: The 2/17th Infantry was reactivated for the Vietnam War, where it earned multiple commendations for valor, including several Presidential Unit Citations, before returning stateside to Fort Ord. • Training Mission: At Fort Ord, A CO, 2/17 frequently served as a basic training and advanced infantry training company, shaping thousands of new soldiers for service in the U.S. Army. • Operation Golden Pheasant: In 1988, elements of the 7th Infantry Division (Light), including A CO, 2/17, rapidly deployed to Honduras as part of Operation Golden Pheasant, demonstrating U.S. resolve during a Central American crisis. • Distinctive Insignia: The 17th Infantry’s buffalo insignia and regimental motto “Truth and Courage” became a point of pride for A CO soldiers, symbolizing their historic connection to the Indian Wars and the famed “Buffalo Soldiers.” • Environmental Training Ground: Fort Ord’s diverse terrain, from sandy dunes to oak woodlands, provided unique training environments for A CO, 2/17, including live-fire ranges, night navigation, and amphibious assault preparation. • Community Impact: Soldiers of A CO, 2/17 were active in the Monterey and Salinas communities, participating in parades, school partnerships, and disaster relief efforts in the region. • Base Closure: With Fort Ord’s closure in 1994, A CO, 2/17 was inactivated, marking the end of an era for both the company and the storied post, now home to California State University, Monterey Bay. • Veterans’ Legacy: Alumni of A CO, 2/17 continue to gather for reunions, preserving the unit’s history and camaraderie, and many have contributed oral histories and artifacts to museums and archives honoring Fort Ord and the 17th Infantry Regiment.