The 18th Infantry Regiment ("Vanguards") is an infantry regiment of the United States Army. The regiment currently exists with one active battalion, under the U.S. Army Regimental System; regimental designation is used only for historical tradition, and there is no active regimental headquarters. The 18th Infantry once had up to four active battalions, but three have been inactivated:

History

Civil War

The 18th Infantry was constituted in the Regular Army on 3 May 1861, and was organized at Camp Thomas, Ohio. It participated in campaigns in the Western theater of the American Civil War as a part of the US XIV Army Corps, under MG George Thomas, MG John M. Palmer and MG Jefferson C. Davis. Engagements included Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and the campaign for Atlanta. At Utoy Creek, Georgia, on 5 August 1864 as part of Johnsons 1st Division, XIV Army Corps under MG John M Palmer, the Regular Brigade" that included the 18th Infantry was cited for making a crossing of North Utoy Creek under fire, assaulting and driving Armstrong's Confederate Cavalry Brigade, dismounted from their position at Peyton Road. 15th and 18th U.S. Infantry were cited for this action in official records. It then conducted a feint assault on 6 August 1864 to support XXIII Corps' attack at Utoy Creek, and participated in the three-week siege of Atlanta along the high ground east of Utoy Creek in southwest Atlanta, near Willis Mill and Adams Park (near current Fort McPherson).

Indian Wars

Interwar period

The 18th Infantry arrived at the port of New York on 3 September 1919 on the troopship USS Mobile, and was transferred to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, where emergency period personnel were discharged from the service. The regiment participated in the 1st Division Victory Parades in New York City and Washington, D.C., on 10 and 17 September 1919, respectively. It was transferred on 4 October 1919 to Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, and was transferred on 14 September 1920 to Camp Dix, New Jersey. The regimental headquarters was transferred on 10 September 1922 to Fort Slocum, New York, with the subordinate battalions concurrently transferred as follows: 1st Battalion to Fort Slocum; 2nd Battalion to Fort Schuyler, New York; and 3rd Battalion to Fort Hamilton, New York. The regiment was organized with elements of the 16th Infantry into the “Composite Regiment” and deployed to Washington, D.C., to act as an honor guard for the unveiling of the 1st Division War Memorial on 4 October 1924. The regimental headquarters was transferred on 10 January 1928 to Fort Hamilton, and concurrently, the 3rd Battalion was transferred to Fort Slocum. Company H was awarded the Edwin Howard Clark trophy for machine gun marksmanship in 1928 and 1929. The 2nd Battalion was transferred on 3 July 1931 to Fort Wadsworth, New York. Elements of the regiment served as honor guard for Marshal Henri Petain during his visit to New York City on 24 October 1931. In April 1933, the regiment assumed command and control of portions of the 1st Civilian Conservation Corps District (New Jersey), Second Corps Area. The 3rd Battalion was transferred in June 1933 to Fort Wadsworth. The regiment departed the New York Port of Embarkation on 28 October 1939 on the troopship USAT Republic and debarked at the port of Charleston, South Carolina, en route to Fort Benning, Georgia. After maneuvers in Louisiana in May 1940, the regiment returned to Fort Hamilton on 5 June 1940. It was transferred on 27 February 1941 to Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

World War II

Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm

December 1990, Elements of 5/18, and 4/18 Brigade deployed from NATO in Europe to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield, engaging into Iraq and Kuwait for Desert Storm and Provide Comfort. Units were inactivated shortly after Jun 1991.

Global War on Terror

"Lieutenant-Colonel, commander of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment in Tikrit, paid $US500 to a driver to get his car repaired; paid 'benevolent' money to the family of a victim of violence; paid people to clean streets; bought soccer kits for a team and repaired a swimming pool. Other officers have given money to ice-cream vendors, chicken farmers and hardware suppliers to get their businesses going. 'I'm trying to give them something to do rather than take shots at someone,' said Colonel Sinclair, who said he gets $US50,000 every three or four weeks to distribute. 'It's not bribery. It's priming the pump. And it works well.' The cash incentive scheme comes as some top officers are questioning whether the practice of keeping their troops highly visible in Iraq is doing more harm than good."

Victory Day

On 9 May 2010, a detachment led by Captain Matthew Strand from the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment represented the United States in Russia's Victory Day parade across Red Square at the request of Russian Minister of Defence Anatoly Serdyukov in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. They were joined by British, French, and Polish troops as well as detachments from the CIS member states. Labeled by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as the "Anti-Hitler Coalition," it marked the first time in history that American and NATO troops joined the Russian Military in the 9 May parade. A member of the contingent from Kemah, Texas, Russian-born 1st Lieutenant Ilya Ivanov, is a descendant of Major Alexander Peteryaev, a platoon leader in the Soviet Red Army. The Head of the Military University of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Colonel General Valery Marchenkov later awarded to soldiers for their participation in the parade.

Lineage

ANNEX

Assigned to the 1st Division XIV Army Corps under Major General George H. Thomas, participated at the Battle of Chickamauga, GA as part of the Third (Regular) Brigade and was instrumental in preventing the destruction of the Union Army under Major General William Rosecrans at Chickamauga, GA Sep 1863. Participated in the operations at Chattanooga, GA and the following Atlanta Campaign assigned to the Third Brigade. Served under Brig. General John H. King and Brig. Gen. Absalom Baird's First Division and MG John M Palmer until the Attack at Utoy Creek. The 18th US Infantry distinguished itself in its performance, along with the 15th US Infantry, in a combat water crossing at North Utoy Creek, securing the position for the 1st Division under Brigadier General Johnston 3 Aug 1864 and participated in the preliminary and main attacks on 6 August 1864. Involved in cutting the rail lines south of Atlanta at Rough and Ready Station (Forest Park GA 30 Aug 1864). After the Capture of Atlanta, the regiment and the rest of the Army of the Cumberland moved back in pursuit of Hood's Confederate Army into Tennessee. Involved in the Battle of Nashville and the destruction of the Confederate Army of Tennessee on 15–16 December 1864. The unit crest shows the symbol of the XIV Corps, the Acorn, adopted by Gen. George H. Thomas, "The Rock of Chickamauga." On 17 March 2008, 1–18 Infantry was inactivated in Schweinfurt, Germany, to be relocated to Fort Riley, Kansas. On 28 March, the 18th Infantry Regimental colors were un-cased at Fort Riley, and the unit that was the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment re-flagged to 1–18 Infantry (Combined Arms Battalion). The 28 March re-flagging at Fort Riley was part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division's re-flagging to the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, bringing all 1st Infantry Division brigades but 3rd BCT, 1 ID to Fort Riley. On 15 July 2009, 2–18 Infantry stood up in Baumholder, Germany as part of the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The unit was stood up to replace 1–6 Infantry (Regulars), part 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division.

Campaign participation credit

• Civil War: • # Murfreesboro; • # Chickamauga; • # Chattanooga; • # Atlanta Campaign; • # Kentucky 1862; • # Mississippi 1862; • # Tennessee 1863; • # Georgia 1864 • Indian Wars: • # Dakota 1867; • # Wyoming 1867; • # Montana 1881; • # Montana 1882 • Spanish–American War: • # Manila • Philippine–American War: • # Iloilo; • # Panay 1899; • # Panay 1900 • World War I: • # Montdidier-Noyon; • # Aisne-Marne; • # St. Mihiel; • # Meuse-Argonne; • # Lorraine 1917; • # Lorraine 1918; • # Picardy 1918 • World War II: • # Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead); • # Tunisia; • # Sicily (with arrowhead); • # Normandy (with arrowhead); • # Northern France; • # Rhineland; • # Ardennes-Alsace; • # Central Europe • Vietnam: • # Defense; • # Counteroffensive; • # Counteroffensive, Phase II; • # Counteroffensive, Phase III; • # Tet Counteroffensive; • # Counteroffensive, Phase IV; • # Counteroffensive, Phase V; • # Counteroffensive, Phase VI; • # Tet 69/Counteroffensive; • # Summer-Fall 1969; • # Winter-Spring 1970 • Southwest Asia: • # Defense of Saudi Arabia; • # Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; • # Cease-Fire • # OPERATION: Iraqi Freedom II, 11Feb 2004-11Feb2005 • # OPERATION: Iraqi Freedom VI-VIII,01Sep 2006-21Nov2007 • # OPERATION: Iraqi Freedom VIII-IX, 08OCT 2008 – present • # Afghanistan: Kunar Province/Korengal Valley • # OPERATION NEW DAWN 2010–2011 • # OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM – HOA 2013–2014

Decorations

Commanders

Source of commanders: 18th Infantry Regiment Association Names marked by an @ indicate actual commanders in the absence of the colonel; an asterisk (*) = Commanders of the 18th Battle Group; 1–18 = 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry; 2–18 = 2d Battalion, 18th Infantry; and so forth. (1) following a name indicates future commander of 1st Infantry Division • Henry B. Carrington 1861–69 • Thomas H. Ruger 1869–86 • John E. Yard (died in command) 1886–89 • Henry M. Lazelle 1889–94 • Daingerfield Parker 1894–96 • David D. Van Valzah 1896–99 • Gilbert S. Carpenter 1899-99 • James M. J. Sanno 1899–1903 • Charles B. Hall 1903–07 • Thomas F. Davis 1907–13 • James S. Rogers 1913–16 • Howard F. Glenn 1916–16 • Samuel E. Smiley 1916–17 • James W. McAndrew 1917 • Ulysses G. McAlexander 1917 • James W. McAndrew 1917 • Ulysses G. McAlexander 1917 • Frank Parker (1) (BRO – 18 Oct – 20 Nov 1918) • Charles A. Hunt 1918–1919 • Orrin R. Wolfe 1919–23 • John J. Bradley 1923–27 • Charles F. Humphrey, Jr. 1927–29 • William B. Graham 1929–31 • John H. Hughes 1931 • Claude H. Miller 1931–33 • Noble J. Wiley 1933–35 • Royden E. Beebe(1–18 – MAJ "Cappy" Wells) 1935–37 • Ray W. Brabsen 1937–39 • Eley P Denson 1939–41 • 1–18: LTC John N. Hopkins • 2–18: LTC Charles W. Yuill • 3–18: LTC John C. Blizzard, Jr. • # Edward G. Sherburn 1941–42 • # Frank U. Greer 1 Jul 1942 – 23 May 1943 • 1–18: MAJ Richard C. Parker • 2–18: MAJ John L. Powers • 3–18: LTC Courtney P. Brown • 1–18: LTC Robert H. York • 1–18: LTC Joseph W. Sisson, III • 2–18: LTC Ben Sternberg • 3–18: LTC Joseph W. Sisson, III • # George A. Smith, Jr. 23 May 1943 – 25 Feb 1945 • 1–18: LTC Henry G. Learnard, Jr. • 2–18: LTC John Williamson • 3–18: LTC Courtney P. Brown • 3–18: LTC Elisha O. Peckham • # John Williamson 25 Feb 1945 – Oct 1945 • 1–18: LTC Henry G. Learnard Feb 1945 – Oct 1945 • 2–18: LTC Henry Middleworth June 1945 – Aug 1945 • 3–18: LTC George Pecham June 1945 – July 1945 • 3–18: MAJ Frank Dupree July 1945 – Aug 1945 • # Henry G. Learnard, Jr Oct 1945 – Mar 1946 • 1–18: CPT John Maggason Oct 1945 – Dec 1945 • 1–18: CPT George K. Maertins Dec 1945 – June 1946 (Jan 1946?) • 1–18: CPT William Coshun Jan 1946 – Feb 1946 • 1–18: MAJ James D. Green Feb 1946 – Apr 1946 • 2–18: MAJ Thomas Murphy Aug 1945 – Sep 1945 • 2–18: LTC George B. Pickett Sep 1945 – Nov 1945 • 2–18: LTC Rich G. Williams 21–28 Nov 1945 • 2–18: LTC Ernest C. Peters Nov 1945 – Dec 1945 • 2–18: MAJ Jos W. Nelson Dec 1945 – Feb 1946 • 3–18: MAJ Keith P. Fabianich Aug 1945 – Nov 1945 • 3–18: LTC Rich G. Williams Dec 1945 – Jan 1946 • 3–18: CPT William Coshun Jan 1946 – Mar 1946 • # James S. Luckett Mar–Aug 1946 • 1–18: CPT William Coshun Apr 1946 – May 1946 • 1–18: LTC Herman O. Overman May 1946 – Oct 1946 • 2–18: LTC George B. Pickett Feb 1946 – Nov 1946 • 3–18: MAJ Keith P. Fabianich Mar 46 – June 46 • 3–18: LTC Rich G. Williams June 1946 – Sep 1946 • # LTC Gerald C. Kelleher Aug 1946 • # Sterling A. Wood Aug 1946–? 1948 • 1–18: LTC Gerald C. Kelleher Oct 1946--? (May 1949) • 2–18: LTC James F. Skells Nov 1946--? • 3–18: LTC William A. McNulty Sep 1946--? • # Rinaldo Van Brunt (May) 1948–50 • 2–18: LTC John G. Bennett (May) 1948– • 3–18: MAJ Chester C. Arthur (May) 1948– • 2–18: LTC Lloyd R. Fredenhall, Jr.(May) 1949 • 3–18: LTC John C. Speedie (May) 1949 • 1–18: LTC Joseph J. Coffey • 2–18: LTC Eben F. Swift • 3–18: LTC Elias C. Townsend • # Ralph W. Zwicker 1950–52 • # Benjamin F. Evans 1952–53 • # Eugene A. Salet 1953–(Jun) 1954 • 1–18: LTC Albert H. Smith, Jr. ? 1954 • 2–18: LTC Vincent Guerin ? 1954 • 3–18: LTC Arndt Mueller ? 1954 • # George T. Calvin (Colvin) 1954 – Sep 1955 • # William A. Cunningham, III Sep 1955 – Feb 1957 • # William A. Cunningham, III Sep 1955 – Feb 1957 • Frank J. Sackton Feb 1957–58 • Theodore H. Andrews 1958–60 • Glover S. Johns, Jr. 1960 – Jan 1962 • Max V. Kirkbride Jan 1962–1963 • Samuel M. Karrick, Jr. -Apr 1963 • Robert L. Dickerson Apr–Sep 1963 • William F. Malone Sep 1963 – Jan 1964 • [Need list of 3rd Battalion commanders] • [Need list of 4th Battalion commanders in Germany] • 1–18: LTC Jere O Whittington Jan 1964 – Jul 1965 • 1–18: LTC Norman J. Salisbury Jul 1965 – Jan 1966 • 2–18: LTC Edgar N. Glotzbach Jul 1965 – Jan 1966 • 1–18: LTC Karl R. Morton Jan–May 1966 • 2–18: LTC Herbert J. McChrystal, Jr. Jan–Jul 1966 • 1–18: MAJ John C. Bard May–Jul 1966 • 1–18: LTC Warner S. Goodwin, Jr. Jul 1966 – Jan 1967 • 2–18: LTC Lewis R. Baurmann Jul 1966 – May 1967 • 1–18: LTC Earle L. Denton Jan–Mar 1967 • 1–18: LTC Richard E. Cavazos Mar–Dec 1967 • 2–18: LTC James F. Price May–Dec 1967 • 1–18: LTC George M Tronsrue, Jr. Dec 1967 – Jun 1968 • 2–18: LTC Max R. Pfanzelter Dec 1967 – Feb 1968 • 1–18: LTC Ronald J. Gillis Jun–Dec 1968 • 2–18: LTC Max L. Waldrop Feb–Aug 1968 • 1–18: LTC Robert E. Price Dec 1968 – Jun 1969 • 2–18: LTC James E. Crow Aug 1968 – Feb 1969 • 2–18: LTC David Teberg Feb–Jul 1969 • 1–18: LTC Karl F Lange Jun–Oct 1969 • 2–18: LTC Ronald Ochis Jul 1969 – Apr 1970 • 1–18: LTC Thomas R. Finley Oct 1969 – Apr 1970 • 1–18: LTC Jack O Thomas Apr–May 1970 • 1–18: LTC James G Humphreys May 1970 – Jun 1971 • 1–18: MAJ Buddy F. Poole Jun–Aug 1971 • 1–18: LTC James M. Tucker Aug 1971 – Dec 1972 • 1–18: LTC Roy W. Muth Dec 1972–74 • 1–18: LTC Moses Smalls 1974–75 • 1–18: LTC J Warmath 1975–77 • 1–18: LTC R Boyd 1977–79 • 1–18: LTC D Gannon 1979–81 • 1–18: LTC M A. McDermott 1981–83 • 2–18: LTC James F. Brickman (Feb 1982 – Jul 1984) • Inactivated from Regular Army (1983–87) • [Need list of commanders of 3rd Battalion] • Reactivated in Regular Army and Persian Gulf duty (1987–96) • 2–18: LTC David W. Wilson Oct 1987 – Aug 1988 • 2–18: LTC Richard L. Stouder Aug 1988 – Oct 1990 • 1–18: LTC Archibald V. Arnold, III Jul 1989–90 • 3–18: LTC Peter Clegg Nov 1982 – Oct 1985 • 3–18: MAJ David Wilson Oct 1985 – Oct 1986 • 3–18: LTC Robert W. O'Brien Oct 1986 – Oct 1990 • 4–18: LTC Robert J. St. Onge, Jr. Jun 1989-19?? • 5–18: LTC George W. Aldridge Sep 1989–?? • 1–18: LTC E. W. Chamberlain, III Jul 1990 – Jul 1992 • 2–18: LTC Eric T. Olson ? 1990 – Oct 1992 • 3–18: LTC Thomas F. Finn, Jr. Oct 1990 – Oct 1993 • 4–18: LTC Robert J. Fulcher Jr. 8 Mar 1990 – 15 Nov 1991 • 5–18: LTC Harold M. Neely 1990–1991 • 1–18: LTC Roy H. Adams, Jr. Jul 1992 – Jul 1994 • 2–18: LTC Alex McKindra Oct 1992 – Oct 1994 • 3–18: LTC Mark Grazier Oct 1993 – Apr 1994 • 1–18: LTC Edward M. Cook Jul 1994 – May 1996 • 2–18: LTC Brian R. Zahn Oct 1994 – May 1996 • 1–18: LTC Steven Layfield April 1996 – Jul 1997 • 1–18: LTC William B. Norman Jul 1997 – Jun 1999 • 1–18: LTC John M. Murray Jun 1999 – Jun 2001 • 1–18: LTC Butch Botters Jun 2001 – Jun 2003 • 1–18: LTC Jeffrey Sinclair Jun 2003 – Jun 2005 • 1–18: LTC George A. Glaze Jun 2005 – Jan 2008 • 1–18: LTC Steve Miska Jan 2008 – Mar 2008 • 1–18: LTC Christopher H. Beckert Mar 2008 – Apr 2008 • 1–18: LTC John Vermeesch Apr 2008 – May 2010 • 1–18: LTC John Cross May 2010 – May 2012 • 1–18: LTC Robert Magee May 2012 – June 2014 • 1–18: LTC Amado Sanchez IV June 2014 – Apr 2016 • 1–18: LTC Peter Moon Apr 2016 – July 2018 • 1–18: LTC Jay A. Bessey July 2018 – July 2020 • 1-18: LTC Andrew J. Kulas July 2020 - May 2022 • 1-18: LTC John P. Vickery May 2022 - Present

Medal of Honor recipients