The 143rd Infantry Regiment (Third Texas) is an airborne infantry formation in the Army National Guard and has one battalion active under the Texas Army National Guard.

Service

Mexican Border Service

In February 1913, Mexico was in a state of turmoil between two rival factions for power and this prevented commanders in Mexican border towns from paying their soldiers. Concern over this caused County Judge and Sheriff of Cameron County, Texas, to appeal to the governor for assistance. In response, Governor Oscar Colquitt sent Texas militia, consisting of two companies of the Third Texas Infantry from Corpus Christi and Houston and two companies of cavalry. They remained until June 1913. The situation got worse, with American citizens being executed in Mexico and various factions conducting cross-border raids into Texas. Some Federal troops were stationed on the border and in August 1913, Colquitt sent the entire Third Texas Infantry to Fort Brown along with a battery of light artillery from Dallas. These were relieved by Federal troops in 1914. By 1916, the Third Texas was stationed at Harlingen while in Federal service.

World War I

In 1917, the 36th Infantry Division was formed from units in Texas and Oklahoma. The Third Texas and part of the Fifth Texas infantry regiments were organized as the 143d Infantry Regiment at Camp Bowie, Texas. The 143d was assigned to the 72d Infantry Brigade of the division. The 143d was then shipped to France in 1918 with the rest of the division for final combat training and then to the front. In September 1918, the 36th Division was attached to the French Fifth Army. The regiment participated in Meuse-Argonne Offensive from 7–28 October 1918.

Interwar period

The 143rd Infantry arrived at the port of Newport News, Virginia on 2 June 1919 on the troopship USS Finland and was demobilized on 3 July 1919 at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas. Per the National Defense Act of 1920, it was reconstituted in the National Guard on 3 December 1920, assigned to the 36th Division, and allotted to the state of Texas. The regimental headquarters was reorganized and federally recognized on 21 July 1922 at Taylor, Texas. The headquarters was successively relocated to Houston in 1923 and to Waco on 6 February 1931. The regiment, or elements thereof, was called up to perform the following state duties: riot control during a workers’ strike on the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad at Denison, Texas, in 1923; flood relief duties along the Brazos River at Waco in September 1936. Conducted annual summer training most years at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas, from 1922–25, and Camp Hulen, Palacios, Texas, from 1926–39.

World War II

The 36th Infantry Division, including the 143rd Infantry, was mobilized on 25 November 1940, and moved to Camp Bowie, where it arrived on 5 January 1941. It was shipped to Algeria in early 1943.

Salerno & Liri Valley, Italy

The 143d participated in the landing at Salerno, Italy and continued to fight in Italy during the campaign in the Liri Valley from September 1943 to early 1944. Significant engagements included the Battle of San Pietro and the Rapido River crossing.

Anzio

The regiment, now commanded by Colonel Paul D. Adams, was landed to reinforce the Fifth Army on 19 May 1944. It then participated in the breakout and movement to Rome where they were halted by orders to allow other units to catch up.

Southern France

As part of the 36th Division, the 143d landed in Southern France in August 1944. The 22, the IIIrd Battalion releases Grenoble "Capital of the Alps". Moving forward with the 141st Infantry, the regiment was part of the bottleneck that formed the Colmar Pocket. This resulted in the destruction of the German 19th Army.

Vosges, France and Germany

The 143d concluded its combat with actions in Vosges, France and southern Germany. There was a significant battle near Weikersheim, Germany. The regiment then breached the Siegfried Line and moved forward as far as the Rhine river.

Afghanistan

The 143d was mobilized the day after Thanksgiving in 2011. It conducted mobilization training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, and deployed to Afghanistan in February 2012. The primary mission of the 143d was service as security forces for Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) throughout the country. Headquarters and Headquarters Company was assigned to the capital city, Kabul, helping to secure and manage the operation of multiple bases in the area.

War on Drugs/Southern Border Operations

The 143rd's LRS teams participated in southern border operations on active duty as part of Texas Task Force 1, Operation Unity, and Operation Plus-Up. The 143rd also rapidly responded to the call for Operation Lone Star, a controversial and ongoing border security mission. The 143rd spearheaded the major plus up in October, 2021. Within two weeks of the initial call to orders, nearly the entire battalion would be on the border and conducting operations.

Kosovo 2023

In April, 2023 HHC 1-143rd INF (A) deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian as part of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. The force was split between a security forces (SECFOR) company, stationed in the north, a Liaison Monitoring Team (LMT) company station in the south, and HHC being stationed near the capital, Pristina. The main goal of the SECFOR's mission was ensure the Safe and Secure Environment and Freedom of Movement of all people within the border of Kosovo, doing so by conducting presence patrols and assisting both Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and Kosovo Police (KP). The LMTs had a similar overall mission, but were more focused on community outreach. Known as the finger on the pulse of Kosovo, the LMTs were there to be a part of the community and report back on atmospherics and trends. During the time of the unit's deployment, SECFOR would respond to a large shooting in the northwest region of the country. In the south, there were instances of violent crime, rioting and protests that the LMTs responded to. The LMTs, both the American and the partner forces, are arguably the decisive operation the majority of the time. Their feedback and reporting reaches the highest levels of KFOR and the Institutions of Kosovo having the biggest impact on the mission as a whole.

Heraldic information

Coat of arms

Blazon

Symbolism

Background

Lineage and honors

Lineage

The lineage of subordinate units is as follows:

Honors

Campaign participation credit

Unit decorations

Notable individual awards/commendations

Medal of Honor

Distinguished Service Cross

The following unit members were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross: