hq&hq 1st Bn 47th Inf (M)

• Formation and Lineage: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 47th Infantry (Mechanized) (HHC, 1-47 INF (M)) traces its lineage to the original 47th Infantry Regiment, constituted in 1917 at Camp Syracuse, New York. • World War II Service: The 47th Infantry Regiment, including its battalions, was part of the 9th Infantry Division and fought in major campaigns such as North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge. • Vietnam War Deployments: The 1-47th Infantry (M) deployed to Vietnam as part of the 9th Infantry Division’s “Mobile Riverine Force,” conducting operations in the challenging Mekong Delta from 1967 to 1969. • Mechanized Infantry Role: As a mechanized battalion, 1-47th INF (M) operated M113 armored personnel carriers, providing mobility and armor support for infantry soldiers across various terrains. • Battle of Ap Bac: Elements of the 1-47th were involved in the famous Battle of Ap Bac, a significant early engagement during the Vietnam War, highlighting the difficulties of riverine and jungle warfare. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The unit’s coat of arms features a fleur-de-lis and a wavy blue stripe, symbolizing service in France during WWI and riverine operations in Vietnam. • Decorations and Honors: The 1-47th Infantry has earned multiple Presidential Unit Citations, Valorous Unit Awards, and foreign decorations for gallantry and meritorious service in combat. • Cold War and Beyond: After Vietnam, the battalion was stationed in Germany and later at Fort Benning, Georgia, as part of the U.S. Army’s force structure during the Cold War. • Training Future Soldiers: In recent decades, 1-47th INF (M) has served as a basic training unit at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), shaping new generations of Army infantrymen. • Famous Alumni: Among its veterans is Medal of Honor recipient SSG Hammett L. Bowen Jr., recognized for his heroism while serving with the battalion in Vietnam in 1969.