The Fifteenth Infantry Regiment

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First uploaded March 19, 1999 - Revised and uploaded June 12, 1999.
Copywrite 1999 by Philip R. Abbey - Permission to use for educational purposes granted provided credit is given and
copywrite holder notified by email of intended use and user.
Coat of Arms and Distinctive Unit Insignia adapted from materials provided by the U.S. Army's Institute of Heraldry.

COAT OF ARMS and DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA  -
 
 

Symbolism: The shield is blue and white, the present and former infantry colors. On the lower part is the Chinese Dragon, and in the white chief the badge of the XIV Corps in the Civil War is repeted four times for four major campaigns: Murfreesborough, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. Chickamauga, where the Regiment fought and held so gallantly is further emphasized by the rock.

The crest is the triangle and devices from the Katipunan flag of the Philippine insurrection. The motto is the watchword of the regiment, in "Pidgin English," in recognition of the Regiment's long service in China. The Distinctive Unit Insignia is an artistic combination of the Shield and Motto of the regiment.

The Distinctive Unit Insignia, worn on uniform shoulder loops, is the shield and motto of the regiment.
 
 
 

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BATTLE HONORS -
 
 

Civil War Shilo Murfreesbourgh Chicamauga Atlanta Mississippi 1862 Alabama 1862 Tennessee 1862 Kentucky 1862 Tennessee 1863 Georgia 1864 Indian Wars Utes New Mexico 1880 China Relief Expedition Without Inscription Philippine Insurrection Luzon 1900 Luzon 1901 Arrowheads are awarded for assault landings.

World War II Algeria-French Morocco (with Arrowhead) Tunisia Sicily (with Arrowhead) Rome-Arno Southern France (with Arrowhead) Naples-Foggia Anzio (with Arrowhead) Rome-Arno Southern France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe Korea CCF Intervention (Chinese Communist Forces) First UN Counteroffensive CCF Spring Offensive UN Summer-Fall Offensive Second Korean Winter Korea Summer-Fall 1952 Third Korean Winter Korea Summer-Fall 1953 Southwest Asia Defense of Saudi Arabia Liberation of Kuwait

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DECORATIONS -

• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), streamer embroidered COLMAR (3d Infantry Division cited; WD GO 44, 1945)
• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), streamer embroidered MONTELIMAR (1st Battalion, Fifteenth U.S Infantry cited; WD GO 21, 1945)
• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), streamer embroidered SAN FRATELLO (3d Battalion, Fifteenth U.S Infantry cited; WD GO 15, 1946)
• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), streamer embroidered LOWANG-NI (2d Battalion, Fifteenth U.S Infantry, and attached units cited; DA GO 71, 1952)
• Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), streamer embroidered CHOSIN RESERVIOR (1st Battalion, Fifteenth Infantry cited; DA GO 38, 1957)
• Navy Unit Commendation, streamer embroidered PANMUNJOM (1st Battalion, Fifteenth U.S Infantry cited; DA GO 38, 1957)
• French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, streamer embroidered COLMAR (Fifteenth U.S Infantry cited; DA GO 43, 1950)
• French Croix de Guerre, Word War II, Fourragere (Fifteenth U.S Infantry cited; DA GO 43, 1950)
• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, streamer embroidered UIJONGBU CORRIDOR (Fifteenth U.S Infantry cited; DA GO 20, 1953)
• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, streamer embroidered IRON TRIANGLE (Fifteenth U.S Infantry cited; DA GO 29, 1954)

Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece), streamer embroidered KOREA (Fifteenth U.S Infantry cited; DA GO 2, 1956)

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PHOTOS, CREDITS & LINKS  -

The photo images on the History pages are scanned from postcards collected by Svend P. Morch during his time of service in Tientsin. Mr. Morch was an American soldier and radio telegraph operator attached to the 10th Service Company, U.S. Army Signal Corps at Tientsin, China from 1920 to 1922. The 10th Service Company was part of the U.S. Army Forces in China and supported the U.S. Army's 15th Infantry Regiment. The images are provided with the kind permission of his son-in-law, Edgar C. Smith.

The Coat of Arms, backgrounds, and Distinctive Unit Insignia are modified images either scanned or downloaded from files maintained and provided by the U.S. Army's Institute of Heraldry.

Old China Hands. Charles G. Finney. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Co, 1961. Greenwood Press. 1973.

China Yearbook 1919-20. Edited by H. T. Montague Bell and H. G. W. Woodhead. London: George Routledge &
Sons, Ltd. 1920.

China Yearbook 1921. Edited by H. G. W. Woodhead. Tientsin: Tientsin Press. 1922.

China Yearbook 1928. Edited by H. G. W. Woodhead. Tientsin: Tientsin Press. 1928.

U.S. Army Lineage Series, Infantry, Part I: Regular Army. John K. Mahon and Romana Danysh, Washington: Center for Mirilary History. 1972.

Letter and attachments from Thomas B. Proffit, Director of the Institute of Heraldry, dated March 17, 1999. Contents included the 15th Infantry's lineage, honors, decorations, coat of arms, distinctive unit insignia, and a bibliography.

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