116th Air Control Wing, History, Airborne Command and Control
The 116th was immediately re-activated and redesignated as the 116th Air Control Wing. The 116th was a blend of active-duty and national guard airmen in a single unit. The wing was equipped with the new E-8C Joint STARS airborne battle management aircraft. Its mission is command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Its primary mission is to provide theater ground and air commanders with ground surveillance to support attack operations and targeting that contributes to the delay, disruption and destruction of enemy forces. The E-8C evolved from Army and Air Force programs to develop, detect, locate and attack enemy armor at ranges beyond the forward area of troops.


116th Air Control Wing, History, Airborne Command and Control
In 2006, the National Guard Bureau conducted a facility assessment and determined that the 116th CES was residing in the second worst engineering compound in the Air National Guard. This led to another building being identified for the squadron's new compound, and funding being appropriated for a concept study on how to adapt the facility for CES' needs.


116th Air Control Wing, History, Airborne Command and Control
In April 2010, The 116th Air Control Wing became the first ever Georgia Air National Guard unit to send a team to the Mountain Man Memorial March, held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee to honor those who have fallen in combat. The wing team sponsored Capt Dixon L. Walters, who was shot down over Kuwait on 31 January 1991.


116th Air Control Wing, History, Airborne Command and Control
The 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron has flown more than 82,000 combat hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn Operation Odyssey Dawn, and Operation Unified Protector. Beginning in 2011, its operational resume expanded to include support of five Combatant Commands including U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command.


116th Air Control Wing, History, Airborne Command and Control
On 24 November 2010, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Designated the 116th Air Control Wing as an "Active Associate" wing and reorganized the "blended" wing concept. As a result of this reorganization, a new active duty associate wing was formed. The structure is an association of the Georgia Air Guard's 116th Wing and the active duty 461st Air Control Wing. They will continue to operate together to accomplish the shared J-STARS mission by integrating Air Guard and active duty personnel to the maximum extent possible in groups, squadrons, and shops. The Active Association model is one in which a reserve component (the Air Guard) has principal responsibility for the weapon system that it shares with one or more Active Duty Units.


116th Air Control Wing, History, Airborne Command and Control
On 1 October 2011 the 116th Air Control Wing was inactivated as a Joint Air National Guard/United States Air Force Unit. Reasons cited were that updated Air Force regulations did not cover the blended unit, leading to anomalies in how promotions, disciplinary actions and other administrative issues were handled, according to the Air Force. The 116th was returned to the sole jurisdiction of the Georgia Air National Guard that same day, and reactivated. The unit's 17 J-STARS aircraft remained under the control of the Georgia Air National Guard, though the active duty pilots continue to fly with their Guard counterparts.


116th Air Control Wing, References, Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website .


116th Air Refueling Squadron
The 116th Air Refueling Squadron (116 ARS) is a unit of the Washington Air National Guard 141st Air Refueling Wing located at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington. The 116th is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker and RC-26B Metroliner.


116th Air Refueling Squadron
The squadron is a descendant organization of the World War I 116th Aero Squadron, established on 28 August 1917. It was reformed on 6 August 1924, as the 116th Observation Squadron, and is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, Insignia
The squadron insignia, the ace of spades with a dagger driven through the center of the card scripted "Caveat hostis," Latin for "Let the enemy beware," was approved on 18 July 1931 by the War Department and is still in use today. One of the original sheet metal hand painted insignia from the fuselage of a Consolidated O-17 Courier can still be seen today in the squadron commander's office. Current Air Force heraldry regulations require squadron emblems include circular background; however, the 116th's patch as worn today by its members is the ace and dagger with no circle.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War I
The 116th Air Refueling Squadron traces its origins to 29 August 1917 with the organization of the 116th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas. The squadron consisted of 80 men reporting from Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri and 40 men from Vancouver Barracks, Washington. An additional 14 men reported from Jefferson Barracks and other men were transferred into the squadron at Kelly Field, bringing the total to 150. Initially, the squadron was trained in basic indoctrination into the Army, with drill, fatigue duty, classroom training, and other things that are done in military training camps.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War I
During its time at Kelly Field, men were transferred in and out of the squadron, depending on their qualifications and the needs of other units in training. Once basic indoctrination training was completed, the 116th was ordered for overseas duty, being ordered to report to the Aviation Concentration Center, Garden City, Long Island on 26 October. It was there that final arrangements were made for the trip overseas, complete equipment was drawn and a final few transfers were made.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War I
On 7 December, the squadron was ordered to move by train to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where it boarded the RMS Tunician, and began its trans-Atlantic crossing. It arrived in Liverpool, England on 26 December and was moved immediately by train to Southampton. It remained at Southampton until the 29th when the squadron crossed the English Channel, arriving on 29 December at Le Havre, France.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War I
In France, the squadron was ordered to the Replacement Concentration Center, AEF, St. Maixent Replacement Barracks, France, arriving on 2 January 1918 for further assignment. On 17 January 1918, the squadron was again moved, this time to Romorantin Aerodrome, in central France. There, along with the 75th Aero Construction Squadron and the 109th Aero Squadron, it was part of the first regular detachments of Americans to be stationed at the airfield. It was quartered in French barracks at the Camp de Bluets, on the outskirts of the town of Romorantin.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War I
Members of the squadrons were at once put into construction work to develop the Air Service Production Center No. 2 . Work was performed in erecting buildings and also the construction of a railroad line into the camp next to the airfield. After several weeks of basic construction at the camp, much of the work was transferred to Chinese laborers who began to arrive and the Americans were placed in charge of details of these workers. On 1 February, the designation of the squadron was changed from the 116th to the 637th Aero Squadron.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War I
On 4 February, the 637th was again ordered to move, being transferred to Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome. It arrived on 6 February, being the 4th Aero Squadron to arrive at the "Zone of Advance" (Western Front). At Colombey the squadron was assigned to construction of the 1st Air Depot. Work consisted of the construction of barracks, bomb shelters, ditching and draining the land so streets and utility lines could be laid. Also, the construction of a large flying field was begun.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War I
Once the basic construction was completed, the majority of ongoing construction was again performed by Chinese laborers brought in to complete the work. The 637th was assigned to the 1st Air Depot as a Supply Squadron. The men were assigned to warehouse duties, storing new equipment and all manner of supplies that arrived at the Center, and issuing and delivering the necessities of operating the Center to the various units and divisions of the station. The squadron was tasked in maintaining accurate inventory records and advising the Commander of shortages and ordering additional or new equipment from Depots in France. The 637th was also responsible for the operation of the various mess halls, with squadron members acting as cooks, bakers and performing dish washing duties.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War I
After the signing of the Armistice with Germany on 11 November, some men of the squadron were assigned to transportation and convoy duty, driving trucks performing collection of equipment from front-line units and also moving personnel back from the lines. The 637th Aero Squadron returned to the United States in late May 1919. It arrived at Mitchel Field, New York, where the squadron members were demobilized and returned to civilian life.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington National Guard
In 1924, the Adjutant General for the Washington National Guard, who was traveling through Spokane, made a simple proposal to the city fathers. Whichever city, Spokane, Seattle or Tacoma, could raise $10,000 dollars first for building hangars would get an Observation Squadron. As the General's westward train pulled out of the station and was approaching the city limits, a telegraph wire sent out ahead of the train stated, "The $10,000 has been raised. We want the squadron."


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington National Guard
On 6 August 1924 the 116th Observation Squadron, Washington National Guard, received federal recognition. They established their unit headquarters at the former Parkwater Municipal Golf Course (now Felts Field) near Spokane. Major John T. "Jack" Fancher, a World War I veteran, would act as the units' first commander.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington National Guard
By early 1925, construction of the new hangars began with federally funded building materials, locally bought concrete and the squadron members themselves donating most of the labor. The 116th soon received its first airplanes, three Curtiss JN-6-A2 "Jenny" aircraft, a derivative of the Curtiss JN-4. They arrived at the rail yards still in the crates; however, no funds were provided to transport or construct the planes for use. A few creative enlisted men managed to haul, assemble and fire up these planes with oil donated by local businesses and gasoline bought on Fancher's personal credit.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington National Guard
On 8 August 1926, the unit was redesignated as the 116th Observation Squadron, 41st Division Aviation, and expanded to include a photo section, medical detachment and transportation section. The 116th was the first National Guard unit to achieve full flight qualifications for every officer in the unit.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington National Guard
During the summer of 1927, Fancher, a local pioneer for both the development of the 116th and the growth of aviation, flew to New York to persuade officials for the National Air Races to sponsor that year's race out of Spokane. He was successful and on his return flight, he continued to rally support for aviation in the Inland Empire by stopping off at the summer home of then President Calvin Coolidge. As a result of the air races, the northern route from Minneapolis to Spokane was established and later became the route used by Northwest Airlines.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington National Guard
In April 1928, Fancher was attempting to dispose of unexpended pyrotechnics left from an aerial demonstration at the Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee. The ordnance detonated while Fancher was carrying it, resulting in his death a few hours later. Flight instructor Caleb V. Haynes succeeded him in command of the 116th.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington National Guard
In the late 1930s, the unit, tasked by the federal government to perform an aerial survey of the Columbia River, provided invaluable information to geologists and engineers for the site selection and construction of Grand Coulee Dam, the largest dam in the world at the time.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
In response to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 8530, the 116th went into federal active duty effective 16 September 1940. The unit's first prominent World War II duties occurred immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese when the unit was assigned to Gray Army Airfield at Fort Lewis, Washington, flying anti-submarine patrols along the Pacific Coast. The squadron swelled in numbers as new draftees were added to the roster and it underwent a number of moves to various airfields. Finally, after being assigned to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma it would be inactivated in 1943. The experienced pilots and crews were split up to provide training and leadership to newer draftee units. The experiences and assignments of the unit members during the war were as varied as the men themselves which can be attested to in a few of these brief accounts:


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
— The unit commander both before and after the inactivation, Hillford Wallace, would head up various Army Air Corp Reconnaissance Groups in the South Pacific.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
— Frank Frost, a future commander of the unit, was assigned to a bomber squadron in Central America to protect the strategically important Panama Canal.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
— Einar Malmstrom, a founding member of the squadron and the namesake for Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, was commander of the 356th Fighter Group in the European Theater. On his 58th combat mission, he was shot down over France and became a Prisoner of War (POW) in a German Prison Camp for a year.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
— Spokane, Washington native and 116th flyer, Sam Grashio, chronicled his World War II experience in his book, "Return to Freedom: The War Memoirs of Colonel Sam C. Grashio USAF." Grashio had fought against the Japanese forces right from the outset of the war in the Philippines. After depleting much of their food and virtually all their military resources, he and his other U.S. and Filipino comrades under direction of General Wainwright surrendered to the Japanese on 6 May 1942. He then went on to endure the Bataan Death March and the struggle for life at Camp O'Donnell.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
Grashio and several others were later assigned to a smaller work camp set so far into the jungle the Japanese did not think prison walls were necessary to keep the weakened and sickly POWs from trying to escape through an "impassable" jungle, but by will power and planning they did indeed escape and became the only group of Japanese prisoners to ever do so by their own means during the entire war. After being returned to stateside, the Colonel continued to serve his country by participating in War Bond tours, drumming up support for the war effort by recounting the harsh treatment he saw while a prisoner of the Japanese Army.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard
The wartime 116th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was reconstituted on 21 June 1945. It was then re-designated as the 116th Fighter Squadron, and was allotted to the Washington Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Felts Field, Spokane, Washington and was extended federal recognition on 1 July 1947 by the National Guard Bureau. The 116th Fighter Squadron was entitled to the history, honors, and colors of the 116th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. The squadron was equipped with F-51D Mustangs and was allocated to Washington ANG 142d Air Defense Group, with a mission of the air defense of Eastern Washington.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard
The short runway and other issues with Felts Field led to the movement of the squadron to the larger Geiger Field on 1 July 1948. In March 1950 the squadron received five F-84C Thunderjets. The F-84s were received from the 33d Fighter Group at Otis AFB, Massachusetts.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Korean War activation
As a result of the Korean War, the 116th Fighter Squadron was federalized and brought to active-duty on 1 February 1951. The squadron was assigned to the 81st Fighter-Interceptor Group and moved to Moses Lake AFB, Washington. The squadron was re-designated as the 116th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. The 81st was assigned to Tactical Air Command (TAC) as a replacement squadron for the group's 93d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron which was at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico performing air defense duties at the Sandia National Laboratories. It was converted from the F-51s and F-80s to F-86A Sabre jet fighters and performed transition training at Moses Lake.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Korean War activation
After only four months of training, the 81st FIG was ordered to RAF Shepherds Grove, England, to bolster NATO forces in Europe. The move was the first time in aviation history a National Guard fighter squadron would cross over to the European Theater under its own power and only the second time such a move was ever attempted without air refueling.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Korean War activation
RAF Shepards Grove was a former World War II RAF Fighter Command base located in East Anglia. The bulk of the ground station buildings were the metal Nissen hut type, with some wood frame and tar paper buildings, and were grouped together in numbered "sites", widely separated to blend into natural, rustic surroundings for purposes of camouflage. The main administrative building and clubs were of the larger Quonset hut type.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Korean War activation
Headquarters of the 81st FIG was located at RAF Bentwaters, and the 116th FIS joined with Royal Air Force Fighter Command to provide air defense of Great Britain. The 81st FIG was the first F-86 equipped unit in Europe. On 1 November 1952, the federalized 116th FIS was returned to the Washington National Guard and its personnel and equipment transferred to the newly activated USAF 78th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Cold War
Upon its return from England, the 116th FIS was organized and re-equipped with F-86A Sabre interceptors and again assigned to the 142d Air Defense Group. It resumed its peacetime mission of the air defense of eastern Washington. For the next 23 years the squadron performed that mission, being upgraded by ADC in 1955 to the dedicated F-94 Starfire all-weather interceptor. With this new aircraft, the mission of the 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron changed from day interceptor to day and night all-weather interceptor. In 1957 the 116th again upgraded to the improved F-89D Scorpion, followed later by the nuclear armed F-89J, then in May 1965 to the supersonic F-102A Delta Dagger. In 1969 it received the Mach-2 F-101B Voodoo.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Cold War
1967 was a "trophy" year for the 141st Fighter Group and the 116th. Trophies and awards received included the Spaatz Trophy for the most Outstanding Air National Guard Flying Unit, the Air National Guard Outstanding Unit Plaque, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Trophy and the Winston P. Wilson Award. In 1969, the unit accumulated an outstanding record, 37,900 accident-free flying hours, receiving the 25th Air Division Flying Safety Award five years in a row.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Air Refueling mission
In July 1976, the 116th converted to the KC-135 Stratotanker, becoming the fifth Air National Guard unit to join the Strategic Air Command (SAC). The new air refueling squadron moved from Geiger Field to nearby Fairchild Air Force Base to accommodate the larger aircraft.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Air Refueling mission
During the 1990 Gulf Crisis Aircrew, maintenance and support personnel responded to the Iraq invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, and deployed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Upon federal activation in December 1990, all eight of the unit's KC-135's deployed to the Middle East. The 116th refueled coalition attack aircraft during Operation Desert Storm.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Air Refueling mission
In December 1992, the unit responded with aircrew and support personnel for Operation Restore Hope, a United Nations relief mission to aid hunger victims in Somalia, flying missions from Moron AB, Spain. June 1995, several rotations deployed to Pisa, Italy, for Operation Deny Flight, NATO mission enforcing the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina. In May 1999, six KC-135E's deployed to Budapest, Hungary in support of Operation Allied Force to deter ethnic aggressions in Yugoslavia.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Air Refueling mission
On 13 January 1999, one of the unit's KC-135E's crashed at Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, killing all four crew members. This was the first time the unit lost an aircraft or lives since beginning the aerial refueling mission in 1976. A monument was erected at the site the following year.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Global War on Terrorism
After the 11 September 2001 attacks, the squadron began refueling flights supporting Operation Noble Eagle almost immediately. In 2002 a new digital navigation system, called Pacer CRAG, was added to the aircraft and crews trained to function without a navigator. Members of the 116th also joined the thousands of Guard and Reserve forces called up to deploy all over the world in support of America's "War on Terror."


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Global War on Terrorism
When the first Guard KC-135 R-model landed on Fairchild AFB in January 2003, with its new engines, it became the 40th different airplane the 116th pilots had flown since it was created back in 1924. Each one of the four engines of the KC-135R produces over 21,000 pounds of thrust. The unit's first plane, the JN-6-A2 "Jenny," had a wooden body covered in fabric and only weighed 1,430 pounds.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Global War on Terrorism
At the time President George W. Bush ordered coalition military units into Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003, the 116th was in a training status to transition into the R model KC-135. Since then the 116th has supported continuous deployments including antiterrorism efforts abroad under Operation Enduring Freedom and air refueling missions over the US for homeland defense flights under Operation Noble Eagle.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Global War on Terrorism
During a banquet ceremony in July 2003, the 141st Air Refueling Wing accepted the coveted Solano Trophy marking the wing as the best Air National Guard unit in the 15th Air Force.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Global War on Terrorism
Overseas deployments and homeland security refueling missions have dominated the tasking landscape for the squadron since 2004. In response to the Congress-mandated 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, the last of the KC-135 Stratotankers belonging to the 141st Air Refueling Wing were redirected to Iowa, and as of 1 October 2007 116th crew members now share aircraft with the active duty 92d Air Refueling Wing.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Washington Air National Guard, Global War on Terrorism
Today, 116th crews still deploy around the world to fulfill Air Expeditionary Force commitments much the same as during the First World War.


116th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Lineage
* * This unit is not related to another 116th Aero Squadron (Service) that was activated in March 1918 at Kelly Field, Texas.


116th Battalion (Ontario County), CEF
The 116th Battalion (Ontario County), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War. The battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 23 July 1916. From October to December 1916 it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps. On 11 February 1917 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.


116th Battalion (Ontario County), CEF
The 116th Battalion recruited in Ontario County and was mobilized at Uxbridge, Ontario.


116th Battalion (Ontario County), CEF
The twice-Officer Commanding the Battalion, Lt.-Col. George R. Pearkes, would go on to a distinguished military and political career. He retired from the Canadian Army in 1945 as a Major-General, served as a Member of Parliament, including as the Minister of National Defence from 1957 to 1960 and as the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia from 1960 to 1968.


116th Battalion (Ontario County), CEF
The 116th Battalion is perpetuated by the Ontario Regiment RCAC.


116th Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 116th Brigade was a formation of  the British Army during the First World War. It was raised as part of the new army also known as Kitchener's Army and assigned to the 39th Division. The brigade was originally numbered the 121st intended for the 40th Division of the Fifth New Army. The brigades first commander was Brigadier-General Reginald Barnes.


116th Brigade (United Kingdom), Order of Battle
The infantry battalions did not all serve at once, but all were assigned to the brigade during the war.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team
The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is the largest formation of the Idaho Army National Guard. It is headquartered at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. It has been reorganized into an Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) but remains the only unit to be designated a "Cavalry Brigade Combat Team" by special appointment of the US Army. The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team has units located throughout Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Nevada. It was reorganized into a heavy armor brigade in 1989. Often referred to as the Snake River Brigade and formerly known as the 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the unit includes about 3,000 citizen-soldiers from Idaho.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team
In July 2016, the 116th CBCT took part in Exercise Saber Guardian, which involve deploying troop elements from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Georgia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the U.S.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History
The 116th Cavalry (Snake River Regiment) was constituted on 4 March 1920 in the Idaho National Guard as the 1st Cavalry. It organized between March – November 1920 in the valley of the Snake River. It was redesignated on 12 October 1921 as the 116th Cavalry (less 2nd and 3rd Squadrons): Headquarters was federally recognized on 11 February 1922 at Boise (2nd and 3rd Squadrons were allotted in 1929 to the Idaho National Guard). The location of headquarters changed on 15 March 1929 to Weiser; and on 9 December 1930 back to Boise. The 116th Cavalry (less 3rd Squadron) converted and was redesignated on 16 September 1940 to the 183rd Field Artillery (the 3rd Squadron concurrently converted and was redesignated as elements of the 148th Field Artillery—hereafter separate lineage).


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History
The 183rd Field Artillery Battalion was inducted into federal service on 1 April 1941 at home stations. The regiment was broken up on 8 February 1943 and its elements were reorganized and redesignated as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 183 Field Artillery Group; the 1st Battalion as the 183rd Field Artillery Battalion (it inactivated on 30 October 1944, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts); the 2nd Battalion as the 951st Field Artillery Battalion (it inactivated on 13 October 1945 also at Camp Myles Standish.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History
The above units were reorganized as elements of the 183rd Infantry (Headquarters was federally recognized on 10 January 1947 at Twin Falls) and the 116th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Headquarters was federally recognized on 8 January 1947 at Caldwell). The 183rd Infantry (less 3rd Battalion) and 116th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron were consolidated, reorganized, and redesignated on 12 September 1949 as the 116th Armored Cavalry with headquarters at Twin Falls. The 3rd Battalion, 183rd Infantry, was concurrently converted and redesignated as the 116th Engineer Combat Battalion—hereafter separate lineage.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History
The 3rd Squadron was allotted on 15 December 1967 to the Nevada Army National Guard; it was relieved on 11 May 1974 from allotment to the Nevada Army National Guard and allotted to the Oregon Army National Guard. The 1st Squadron was relieved on 1 May 1977 from allotment to the Idaho Army National Guard. The Attack Helicopter Company was allotted on 1 September 1975 to the Washington and Wyoming Army National Guard.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History
The unit reorganized and was redesignated on 1 September 1989 in the Idaho and Oregon Army National Guard as the 116th Cavalry, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regiment System, to consist of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions and Troop E, elements of the 116th Cavalry Brigade, and Troop F, and element of the 41st Infantry Brigade. The 116th Cavalry Brigade then joined the 4th Infantry Division as the roundout brigade. It was reorganized on 1 October 1995 to consist of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, elements of the 116th Cavalry Brigade and in 1996 the brigade left the 4th Infantry Division.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation Joint Forge (SFOR XI)
Approximately 300 Idaho and Montana Army National Guardsmen and women of the 116th served in Bosnia in 2001 and 2002. The 116th Cavalry Brigade, headquartered at Gowen Field, deployed approximately 100 soldiers in March 2002, returning in October 2002. The 116th was under the command and control of the Army's 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii, during the deployment. The 91st Division (Training Support) trained the 116th Cavalry Brigade prior to its deployment to Bosnia for Stabilization Force 11.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation Iraqi Freedom III
In the early part of 2004 the 116th Cavalry Brigade was alerted for a mobilization to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. In June that year the entire brigade deployed for 18 months. The brigade spent the first six months at Fort Bliss, TX and Fort Polk, LA training for their combat mission.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation Iraqi Freedom III
The majority of the brigade arrived in Iraq late 2004. The 116th Cavalry Brigade was assigned to the northern part of Iraq, primarily in and around the oil-rich city of Kirkuk with elements occupying FOB Warrior, FOB McHenry and Gains Mills. For nearly a full year the soldiers of the 116th Cavalry Brigade conducted full spectrum operations in and around Kirkuk, stabilizing the region for national elections, and training the Iraqi Army and police forces.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation Iraqi Freedom III
The Iraq deployment marked the first time in the 116th Cavalry Brigade's history that the entire brigade had deployed together. This was also the first time that the 116th shoulder sleeve insignia was authorized to wear as the shoulder sleeve insignia – Former Wartime Service (often referred to as a combat patch).


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation Iraqi Freedom III
As a cavalry unit, many soldiers serving in the brigade during the deployment were authorized to wear the gold combat spurs.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation Iraqi Freedom III
In November 2005 the 116th Cavalry Brigade redeployed to the United States. After redeployment the 116th Cavalry was officially redesignated from 116th Cavalry Brigade to 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation New Dawn
On 17 September 2010 the brigade began a 12-month deployment to Iraq, first traveling to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, for training and premobilization certification. After serving for a year in various locations in Iraq performing Force Protection missions, the brigade returned to Idaho in September 2011.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation New Dawn
During their deployment, they conducted numerous Force Protection missions. The unit was spread all over Iraq, being the main controlling task force for the country, from Late November 2010 to early September 2011, when they turned the country over to the Kentucky National Guard.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, History, Operation New Dawn
From Quick Reaction Force platoons, convoy security teams, to ECP operations as well as administrative and biometrics operations, UAV operations, the 116th play a major role in initiating Operation New Dawn and the overall turnover of the country to the Iraqi Government.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Insignia, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Description: On a scarlet disc with a 1⁄8 inch (0.32 cm) yellow border 2 1⁄2 inches (6.4 cm) in diameter overall, a yellow sun emitting twelve rays surmounted by a blue horizontal wavy band bearing a yellow gliding snake.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Insignia, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Symbolism: The wavy band and the snake are taken from the coat of arms of the former organization, the 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment. The wavy band and snake represent the Snake River, and refer to the home area of the former organization, the Snake River Valley. The sun alludes to the state of Idaho, noted for the beauty of its sunrises. The name is taken from Shoshoni Indian words meaning " the sun comes down the mountain" or "it is morning." The predominant color, yellow, is representative of Armored Cavalry units.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Insignia, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment on 9 October 1967. The insignia was redesignated and the symbolism revised on 1 September 1989.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Insignia, Distinctive Unit Insignia
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3⁄16 inches (3.0 cm) high, consisting of a bundle of five gold arrows, points up, encompassed on either side of the tripartite black scroll passing across the center of the arrows and inscribed "MOVE STRIKE DESTROY" in gold letters; overall in base a red coiled rattlesnake.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Insignia, Distinctive Unit Insignia
Symbolism: Yellow/gold is the color traditionally associated with Cavalry. The coiled rattlesnake epitomizes the unit's motto – capabilities and military preparedness. The snake also alludes to the unit's association with the old 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment. The five arrows symbolize the unit's five campaign credits during World War II as Field Artillery; scarlet and yellow/gold are the colors associated with Field Artillery.


116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Insignia, Distinctive Unit Insignia
Background: The distinctive unit insignia was authorized on 2 May 1989.


116th Delaware General Assembly
The 116th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 2, 1951, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor Elbert N. Carvel and Alexis I. du Pont Bayard as Lieutenant Governor.


116th Delaware General Assembly
Currently the distribution of the Senate Assembly seats was made to seven senators for New Castle County and for five senators to each Kent and Sussex counties. Likewise the current distribution of the House Assembly seats was made to fifteen representatives for New Castle County and for ten representatives each to Kent and Sussex counties. The actual population changes of the county did not directly affect the number of senators or representatives at this time.


116th Delaware General Assembly
In the 116th Delaware General Assembly session the Senate had a Democratic majority and the House had a Republican majority.


116th Delaware General Assembly, Members, Senate
About half of the State Senators were elected every two years for a four-year term. They were from a district in a specific county, with the number of districts determined by the state constitution, not the size of the population.


116th Delaware General Assembly, Members, House of Representative
All the State Representatives were elected every two years for a two-year term. They were from a district in a specific county, with the number of districts determined by the state constitution, not the size of the population.


116th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
The 116th Division (第116師団, Dai-hyakujūroku Shidan) was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was Storm Division (嵐兵団, Ran Heidan). It was formed on 15 May 1938 in Kyoto as a B-class square division, simultaneously with the 106th Division. The nucleus for the formation was the 16th Division headquarters. The division was originally subordinated to the Central China Expeditionary Army.


116th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
The division landed in Shanghai on 24 June 1938, and was immediately sent to the Dabie Mountains and Battle of Wuhan through Anqing. From March 1939, a small part of the division participated in the Battle of Nanchang. After the Central China Expeditionary Army was abolished, the division was reassigned to Thirteenth Army.


116th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
In the aftermath of the Doolittle Raid 18 April 1942, the unit participated in the Zhejiang-Jiangxi campaign. In December 1942, the 138th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 31st Division, therefore the 116th division became a triangular division.


116th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
In November 1943, the division fought in the Battle of Changde, and from May 1944 - in the Battle of Changsha (1944).


116th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
In October 1944, it was transferred to Twentieth Army and take a part in the Defense of Hengyang as a part of Operation Ichi-Go. During the intensive 40-day assault of Chinese positions, the division has suffered major losses but was able to capture the city. From March 1945, it also participated in the Battle of West Henan–North Hubei with the help of the newly created 86th Independent Mixed Brigade. By the day of the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945, the division was still in Hengyang.


116th Field Artillery Regiment
The 116th Field Artillery is a regiment of the Florida Army National Guard. Currently there are two battalions; 2-116th FA is fires battalion for the 53rd Brigade Combat Team, and 3-116th (HIMARS) is part of the 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, both of the Florida Army National Guard.


116th Field Artillery Regiment, History
"The 116th Field Artillery has had a singular history in the period covered since the date of its organization in Florida. Perhaps no regiment of the Florida National Guard within the United States has had such dramatic calls upon its services. Woven into the pattern of everyday life, the work of the peacetime soldier calls forth little notice from the general public.


116th Field Artillery Regiment, History
However, when disaster threatens the structure of the commonwealth, either man-made, or by the hand of Providence, the National Guard steps promptly into the breach, and, with a steady hand firmly applied, brings aid and comfort to the stricken and punishment to the law breaker." (From the official regimental history, compiled by Lieutenant Colonel George E. Grace, Florida Army National Guard)


116th Field Artillery Regiment, History
This regiment was originally organized during the First World War at Camp Wheeler, Georgia from 1 October 1917 through 1 November 1917, as part of the 31st (Dixie) Division. Although transported overseas it saw no combat action and was mustered from federal service on January 16, 1919. On December 5, 1921 Sumter L. Lowry Jr. of Tampa, Florida, upon commission issued by the Adjutant General, State of Florida presented for federal recognition three batteries to constitute units of a regiment to be known as the 116th Field Artillery. Thus on December 5, 1921, three firing batteries, A, B, and C formed the basis of the First Battalion 116th Field Artillery. Major Sumter L. Lowry Jr. commanding. The battalion was inspected and mustered into service by then Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Collins present Adjutant General of Florida.


116th Field Artillery Regiment, History
Completion of the First Battalion was effected February 15, 1922, with the establishment of Headquarters Battery and Combat Train First Battalion. In 1922 the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County furnished land and funds for the construction of stables, gunsheds, and armory buildings.


116th Field Artillery Regiment, History
An expansive movement was made for the establishment of a full regiment by the founding of the Second Battalion. Firing batteries D, E, and F were located at Lakeland, Plant City, and Arcadia with Headquarters Battery and Combat Train Second Battalion in Bartow. The Second Battalion participated in summer encampment in 1923 and was federally recognized as a unit on August 23, 1923, with Major Fred Hampton commanding. The regiment received official recognition at Tampa January 20, 1924.


116th Field Artillery Regiment, History
Ultimately, the subordinate units of the 2nd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery were re-designated and relocated in some cases in different cities: HQ Battery - Lakeland. A Battery - Bartow. B Battery - Dade City. C Battery - Winter Haven. Service Battery - Haines City.


116th Field Artillery Regiment, History
The 2nd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery has seen service in Iraq and Afghanistan and served in Homestead, Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.


116th Fighter Aviation Regiment
The 116th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 116. lovački puk, 116. ловачки пук) was a unit originally established in 1944 as the 113th Fighter Aviation Regiment (113. vazduhoplovni lovački puk, 113. ваздухопловни ловачки пук). It was formed from Yugoslav partisan aviators, trained and equipped by the Soviet Air Force.


116th Fighter Aviation Regiment, History, 113th Fighter Aviation Regiment
The 113th Fighter Aviation Regiment was established on December 15, 1944, in Ruma, from Yugoslav partisan aviators with the Soviet Air Force 17th Air Army's 267th Fighter Aviation Regiment (267.IAP). It became independent from Soviet command and personnel in May 1945. The regiment was part of the 11th Aviation Fighter Division and equipped with Soviet Yak-1M fighter aircraft. The regiment took part in final operations for the liberation of Yugoslavia and was based at Ruma, Ilinovac, Bački Brestovac, Ilinovac (again) and Velika Gorica/Pleso airfields.


116th Fighter Aviation Regiment, History, 113th Fighter Aviation Regiment
By 1945 then new Yak-3 fighters were introduced into service. After the war the regiment moved to Slovenia, being based at Ljubljana and Cerklje airfields. By 1947 it was re-located to Macedonia, where it was based at Skopje. From June 18 to September 21 1947, the regiment was based at Tirana in Albania.


116th Fighter Aviation Regiment, History, 113th Fighter Aviation Regiment
In 1948 this regiment was renamed, like all other units of the Yugoslav Army, becoming the 116th Fighter Aviation Regiment.


116th Fighter Aviation Regiment, History, 113th Fighter Aviation Regiment
The commanders of the regiment in this period were Miljenko Lipovšćak, Nikola Cvikić, Ljubo Kojić and Spasen Zarevski. The commissars were Drago Đuričković, Đuro Savić and Miloš Milikić.


116th Fighter Aviation Regiment, History, 116th Fighter Aviation Regiment
The regiment was formed by renaming the 113th Fighter Aviation Regiment which was at Skopski Petrovac airport, where it remained until it was disbanded. The regiment was part of the 39th Aviation Division until 1959, when it was subordinated to the 3rd Air Command. It was equipped with Soviet Yak-3s until 1952 when they were replaced with new domestically produced Ikarus S-49C fighters. The regiment also had a number of various trainers, including the Soviet Yak-9U, the domestically produced Utva 212 and others.


116th Fighter Aviation Regiment, History, 116th Fighter Aviation Regiment
The commanders of the regiment in this period were Spasen Zarevski, Branko Kuna, Aleksandar Bračun, Drago Stanisavljević, Petar Pavić and Stevan Leka.


116th Guards Assault Air Base
The 116th Guards Assault Aviation Radomskaya Red Banner Base (Belarusian: 116-я гвардзейская штурмавая авіяцыйная Радамская Чырвонасцяжная база; Russian: 116-я гвардейская штурмовая авиационная Радомская Краснознамённая база) is a compound of the Belarusian Air Force. The place of deployment is Lida Airfield.


116th Guards Assault Air Base, History
The unit was formed as the 563rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of a two-squadron composition near Moscow in the fall of 1941. On 3 September 1943, it was reorganized into the 116th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. On 8 October 1943, the unit was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In February 1945, the 116th IAP was given the honorary name "Radomsky" for covering Red Army forces during combat missions to capture the Polish city of Radom. In 1982, the 116th Guards received brand new Su-24's of the Soviet Air Forces.


116th Guards Assault Air Base, History
In connection with the signing of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the summer of 1989 the regiment was relocated from the Brand Airfield to Ross Airfield in the Grodno Region of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic as part of the Belarusian Military District, becoming part of the 1st Guards Bomber Division.


116th Guards Assault Air Base, History
In July 1992, the regiment became part of the Belarusian Air Force, with personnel taking an oath of allegiance to the new republic.


116th Guards Assault Air Base, History
During reforms of the Air Force, it was reorganized into the 116th Guards Bomber Aviation Base with the preservation of all its Soviet era awards and honorary titles.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment
The 116th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Service
The 116th Illinois Infantry was organized in Decatur, Illinois, and mustered in for three years service on September 30, 1862, under the command of Colonel Nathan W. Tupper.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Service
The regiment was attached to 4th Brigade, 5th Division, District of Memphis, XIII Corps, Department of the Tennessee, November 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Memphis, XIII Corps, to December 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Sherman's Yazoo Pass Expedition, to January 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XV Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to June 1865.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Service
The 116th Illinois Infantry mustered out of service on June 7, 1865.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
At Memphis, Tennessee, until November 26, 1862. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. "Tallahatchie March" November 26-December 12. Sherman's Yazoo Expedition December 20, 1862, to January 2, 1863. Chickasaw Bayou December 26-28, 1862. Chickasaw Bluff December 29. Expedition to Arkansas Post, Arkansas, January 3-10, 1863. Assault on and capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, January 10-11. Moved to Young's Point, Louisiana, January 17-22, and duty there until March. Expedition to Rolling Fork, Mississippi, via Muddy, Steele's and Black Bayous, and Deer Creek, March 14-27. Demonstrations against Haines' and Drumgould's Bluffs April 29-May 2. Movement to Jackson, Mississippi, via Grand Gulf, May 2-14.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Jackson May 14. Champion Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4. Advance on Jackson, Mississippi, July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. At Big Black until September 22. Moved to Memphis, Tennessee; then marched to Chattanooga September 26-November 20. Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Alabama October 20-29. Bear Creek, Tuscumbia, October 27. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Foot of Missionary Ridge November 24. Tunnel Hill November 24-25. Missionary Ridge November 25. Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27. March to relief of Knoxville November 28-December 8.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Moved to Larkinsville, Alabama, and duty there until May 1864. Expedition toward Rome, Georgia, January 25-February 5. Atlanta Campaign May 1-September 8. Demonstrations on Resaca May 8-13. Near Resaca May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church, and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Ezra Chapel, Hood's second sortie, July 28. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy's Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in northern Georgia and northern Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the Sea November 15-December 10. Clinton November 21-28. Ball's Ferry and Georgia Central Railroad Bridge, Oconee River, November 23-25. Statesboro December 4. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Fort McAllister December 13. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Salkehatchie Swamps, S. C., February 2-5. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 12-13. Columbia February 16-17. Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, March 20-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Virginia, April 29-May 19. Grand Review of the Armies May 24.


116th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 295 men during its service; 7 officers and 49 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 7 officers and 232 enlisted men died of disease.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA
The 116th Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery is a Canadian Army Reserve independent artillery battery based in Kenora, Ontario, which forms part of the 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group. The battery parades at the Kenora Armoury, 800-11th Avenue North, Kenora, Ontario.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Lineage
The 116th Independent Field Battery, RCA originated in Kenora, Ontario on 1 April 1908 as the 98th Regiment. It was redesignated as The Rainy River and Kenora Regiment on 12 March 1920 and The Kenora Light Infantry on 1 September 1921. On 15 December 1936 it was reorganized as two artillery batteries designated the 16th Medium Battery (Howitzer), RCA and the 17th Medium Battery (Howitzer), RCA (disbanded 31 March 1946). The 16th Medium Battery (Howitzer), RCA was redesignated the 16th (Reserve) Medium Battery (Howitzer), RCA on 7 November 1940. On 1 April 1946, it was amalgamated with the 209th (Reserve) Field Battery, RCA and redesignated the 116th Medium Battery, RCA. It was redesignated the 116th Field Battery, RCA on 19 March 1965 and the 116th Independent Field Battery, RCA on 1 January 1981.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Lineage
The 209th (Reserve) Field Battery, RCA originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 2 February 1920 as the 11th Siege Battery, CA. It was redesignated as the 11th Medium Battery (Howitzer), CA on 1 July 1925, as the 11th Medium Battery (Howitzer), RCA on 3 June 1935, as the 11th (Reserve) Medium Battery (Howitzer), RCA on 7 November 1940 and the 209th (Reserve) Field Battery, RCA on 19 October 1942. On 1 April 1946, it was amalgamated with the 16th (Reserve) Medium Battery, RCA.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Perpetuations
The 116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, perpetuates the 94th Battalion (New Ontario), CEF, and No. 11 Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Garrison Artillery, CEF.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Operational history, The Great War
Details from the 98th Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Operational history, The Great War
The 94th Battalion (New Ontario), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 28 June 1916, where its personnel were absorbed by the 17th Reserve Battalion, CEF and the 32nd Battalion, CEF on 18 July 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 27 July 1918.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Operational history, The Great War
No . 11 Canadian Siege Battery was mobilized in England as No. 11 Canadian Siege Battery, CGA, CEF on 7 November 1917 from personnel of the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Reserve Artillery. The battery disembarked in France on 3 April 1918 where it provided siege artillery support as part of the 3rd Brigade, CGA, CEF, in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battery was disbanded on 23 October 1920. There is no lineal connection with the 11th Canadian Siege Battery, CGA, CEF which was authorized on 30 May 1917 and subsequently absorbed into the 1st, 5th and '8th Battery Siege Artillery, CFA, CEF on 19 October 1917.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Operational history, The Second World War
The 17th Field Regiment, RCA was mobilized originally as two batteries, the 37th Battery and the 60/76 Battery. The 37th Battery was recruited as three troops, A troop at Fort William and Port Arthur, B troop at Fort Frances Frances and Kenora, and C troop at Portage la Prairie. The 60/76 Battery was recruited entirely from Saskatchewan, half coming from Aneroid and other points in Western and South Western Saskatchewan while the second half came from Indian Head and the CPR main line district East of Regina.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Operational history, The Second World War
The Non-Permanent Active Militia units from which these two active service batteries were formed, were the 7th Medium Artillery Brigade which consisted of the 16th Battery centred at Kenora, the 17th Battery at Fort Frances and the 18th Battery at Port Arthur, the 26 Field Artillery Brigade from Brandon, the 10th and 22nd Field Artillery Brigades of South Saskatchewan. These units provided the NCO and officer nucleus which was responsible for the initial training and the transformation from a civilian to a soldier regiment.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Operational history, The Second World War
The 17th Regiment, RCA was a three-battery, 24 gun regiment. Each of the three batteries of the regiment contained two troops. The 37th Battery made up Charlie and Dog Troops.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Operational history, The Second World War
The 11th Medium Battery mobilized the 11th Medium Battery, RCA, CASF on 1 September 1939. On 1 June 1940 it was amalgamated with the 8th Medium Battery, RCA, CASF and redesignated the 8th/11th Medium Battery, RCA, CASF. On 24 May 1941 this amalgamation ceased and it was again designated the 11th Medium Battery, RCA, CASF. It was redesignated the 11th Heavy Anti- Aircraft Battery, RCA, CASF on 22 December 1941. The battery disembarked in France on 6 August 1944, where it provided heavy anti-aircraft artillery support as part of the 2nd Heavy Anti- Aircraft Regiment (Mobile) in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battery was disbanded on 7 September 1945.


116th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Equipment
A Universal Carrier and M114 155 mm howitzer are found along the side and main entrance to the Armoury.


116th Indiana Infantry Regiment
The 116th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.


116th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Service
The 116th Indiana Infantry was organized at Lafayette, Indiana for a six-month enlistment and mustered in August 17, 1863 under the command of Colonel William C. Kise.


116th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Service
The regiment was attached to Mahan's 1st Brigade, Wilcox's Left Wing Forces, Department of the Ohio, to October 1863. 2nd Brigade, Wilcox's Division, Left Wing Forces, Department of the Ohio, to January 1864. District of the Clinch, Department of the Ohio, to February 1864.


116th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Service
The 116th Indiana Infantry mustered out of service February 29 to March 2, 1864.


116th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Moved to Dearborn, Michigan, August 31, and guarded the arsenal there until September 16. Moved to Nicholasville, Kentucky, September 16. Marched from Nicholasville, to Cumberland Gap September 24-October 3, 1863, and to Morristown October 6–8. Action at Blue Springs October 10. Marched to Greenville and duty there until November 6; then marched to Bull's Gap and across Clinch Mountain to Clinch River November–December. Action at Walker's Ford, Clinch River, December 2. Duty at Tazewell, Maynardsville, and in eastern Tennessee until February 1864. Action at Tazewell January 24.


116th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 65 men during service; 1 enlisted men killed, 64 enlisted men died of disease.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
The 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an infantry brigade combat team currently assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard, formerly known as the 1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division; it is the largest command of the Virginia Army National Guard with an authorized strength of 3,400. The brigade is headquartered in Staunton, Virginia, at the Thomas Howie Memorial Armory, and is nicknamed the Stonewall Brigade in honor of its association with the 116th Infantry Regiment, tracing its lineage back to elements of an American Civil War Confederate brigade of the same name led by General Stonewall Jackson.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
2nd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division was formed on 22 March 1963 as part of the United States Army Reorganization Objective Army Division (ROAD) reorganization, which assigned three brigades to each division, replacing the previous Pentomic system. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) of the brigade was redesignated from Staunton-based Company D, 2d Battle Group, 116th Infantry, which had previously served as the headquarters company of the 116th Infantry Regiment between 1956 and 1959, after which it was consolidated with the regiment's Tank Company during the Pentomic reorganization. The 29th Division was eliminated on 1 February 1968, and the 2nd Brigade became the 116th Brigade, 28th Infantry Division.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
The brigade headquarters was consolidated with Detachment 3, 28th Adjutant General Company on 1 April 1975 when the brigade became the 116th Infantry Brigade, a nondivisional unit supervised by the Virginia Department of Military Affairs. Its units included the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 116th Infantry, the 1st Battalion, 246th Field Artillery, Troop C, 183rd Cavalry, the 76th Aviation Company, the 237th Engineer Company, and the 684th Heavy Equipment Maintenance Company. The 29th was reformed in 1985 and the brigade was accordingly redesignated as the 1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division on 1 May 1986. During the army's reorganization into brigade combat teams in 2005, 1st Brigade, 29th Division again became the 116th Brigade, this time as an infantry brigade combat team, on 1 September.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
On 1 November 2002, the 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment was mobilized for deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom. This marked the first mobilization of a battalion of the 29th Infantry Division since World War II. The unit provided security of the base and Camp Delta, the detainee camp.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
On 1 March 2004, the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment was mobilized for deployment to Afghanistan to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom. Members of the battalion reported to armories around Virginia and began arriving at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan on 15 July 2004. They were quickly engaged in operations. The battalion conducted combat operations in Ghazni and SECFOR operations at Bagram Airfield. Numerous slice elements were placed under the operational control of the battalion. The newly formed task force assumed the name of the beaches the regiment stormed more than 60 years prior – Normandy. During the deployment two 116th Infantry soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb, the first Virginia National Guard soldiers to die in combat since World War II. The battalion returned to the United States in July 2005.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
In August 2006, the 1st Battalion mobilized in support of KFOR as part of the 29th Infantry Division to provide stability operations in the Serbian province of Kosovo with NATO. They become known as Task Force Red Dragon for the duration of their deployment.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
In 2007, the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th BCT of the Virginia Army National Guard replaced the 229th Engineer Battalion.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
In May 2007, the Brigade Headquarters Company mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Headquarters Company was stationed on the International Zone and did not suffer any casualties. A company 116th BSTB was stationed in Camp Cedar II, near the city of An Nāşirīyah, Iraq. Among many tasks, the combat engineer unit conducted route clearance throughout MSR route Tampa to clear convoys for safe travel. In February 2008, the unit demobilized at Fort Dix, NJ and returned to Fredericksburg, VA


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
In June 2007, the 2d Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment commanded by LTC Walt Mercer; the 3d Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment commanded by LTC John M. Epperly; and Company F, 429th Brigade Support Battalion were deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. Companies A, B, and C of the 3d Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment successfully conducted convoy security patrols throughout Iraq.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
HHC & Co D, 3–116th, 2–183rd CAV, and F/429th conducted security force missions in Kuwait and Southern Iraq for strategically vital assets; to include 2-183rd CAV Troops A and C, with HQ and Colorado Guard components completing several extended roadside and personal security, surveillance and mercy missions, and numerous combat patrols throughout Kuwait and Southern Iraq provinces and along oil pipelines outside Basrah. The Purple Heart was awarded during the deployment for taking shrapnel from sniper fire, and the Iraq Campaign Medal was issued for those members serving in the Iraq theater of operations.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
In January 2010, the first battalion mobilized with the Louisiana National Guard's 256th IBCT to Iraq and conducted convoy security missions in southern Iraq. Known at TF Overlord, a tribute the unit's D-Day heritage, the unit includes the Headquarters Company from Lynchburg, VA; Company A from Bedford, VA; Company B from Lexington, VA; Company C from Christiansburg, VA; and Company D from Pulaski, VA. The battalion was commanded by LTC E. Scott Smith of Lynchburg, VA. The unit returned with no losses in September 2010.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
In May 2011, the Brigade Headquarters Company (HHC) plus the UAV Platoon (B/116 BSTB) were mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Approximately 185 Soldiers were mobilized for this deployment. They served as the control element for Combined Team Zabul in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. During their deployment, the HHC directed a mix of US Active Duty and National Guard units as well as Romanian units in continuing operations in Zabul Province. They were commanded by COL Blake Ortner and suffered no combat casualties during the deployment. The brigade HHC returned to the US and demobilized at the beginning of January 2012.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
In June 2011, Task Force 183 (TF183) mobilized to support Operation New Dawn. This was the largest mobilization of the Virginia Army National Guard since WWII, consisting of 825 soldiers. TF183 comprised most of the 2d Squadron, 183d Cavalry Regiment plus elements of the 116th BSTB, 116th BSB, 1-116 Infantry and D Co 3-116 Infantry. TF183 returned to the US and demobilized in December 2011.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, History
On 15 October 2016, the Brigade Special Troops Battalion became the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Current Units
116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team consists of the following elements:


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Insignia
The brigade had its own shoulder patch which was most recently worn in 2006–2007. The shoulder sleeve insignia depicted Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson mounted on his horse, a reference to the 116th's lineage as the Stonewall Brigade. The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 116th Infantry Brigade on 26 May 1978. The patch's nickname is "Stony on a Pony." When the 29th Infantry Division was reactivated in 1985, the brigade was assigned to the division and began wearing the division shoulder patch. Following the Army's reorganization of combat divisions in 2005 into brigade-centric units, ARNG brigades within divisions began wearing brigade patches as Department of the Army policy. The 116th BCT returned to wearing the division shoulder patch on 1 April 2007.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Shoulder sleeve insignia
On an oblong shield curved at top and bottom, 2 1⁄2 inches (6.4 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.6 cm) in height overall, a gray silhouette representative of the Stonewall Jackson Monument at Manassas Battlefield Park, Virginia, on a blue background all within a 1⁄8 inch (0.32 cm) white border.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Shoulder sleeve insignia
The equestrian figure is a representation of the General Thomas J. Jackson Monument at Manassas where he gained the nickname "Stonewall". The colors blue and gray refer to the rich heritage of the state of Virginia and blue and white are the colors associated with the Infantry Branch.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Shoulder sleeve insignia
The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 116th Infantry Brigade on 26 May 1978. It was redesignated for the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team with the description updated on 7 April 2006. The insignia was canceled effective 1 April 2007, when the unit became a Brigade of a Division. (TIOH Drawing Number A-1-621)


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Distinctive unit insignia
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1⁄4 inches (3.2 cm) in width overall consisting of a quartered square placed point up, the vertical quarters gray, horizontal quarters blue, and centered thereon a scarlet arrowhead point up, the lower sides of the square enclosed by two gold branches of laurel issuant from the lower center and terminating below the outer petals of two blue fleurs-de-lis issuant from the upper sides of the square, the laurel branches contained in base by a curving blue scroll inscribed with the words "RALLY ON THE VIRGINIANS" in gold letters.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Distinctive unit insignia
The blue and gray square at center refers to four years of Civil War participation, with the gray in the vertical quarters indicating Confederate service. The two fleurs-de-lis denote service in World War I and II and the scarlet arrowhead is in honor of the unit's participation in the assault landing at Normandy. The two branches of laurel symbolize awards of both the Presidential Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for the unit's Normandy Beachhead participation.


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Distinctive unit insignia
The motto is a reference to the Civil War First Battle of Manassas where General Barnard Bee, on seeing General Jackson "standing like a stone wall", encouraged his faltering troops to "Rally on the Virginians". From that time on Jackson was known as "Stonewall" and his brigade as the "Stonewall Brigade".


116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Distinctive unit insignia
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 116th Infantry Brigade on 24 April 1979. It was amended to change the reference in the symbolism on 15 July 1980. The insignia was redesignated for the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team with the description updated on 7 April 2006. It was canceled effective 1 April 2007, when the unit became a Brigade of a Division.


116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines
The 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines was an infantry brigade formation of the Royal Marines created in the final stages of the Second World War.


116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines, Unit history
The unit was one of two created to address the manpower shortage of 21st Army Group in early 1945. The brigade was created on 1 January 1945 from former members of the Royal Marines Division, which had been broken up in 1943 and the troops distributed to Marine Commandos, or retrained as landing craft crew. They were quickly re-mustered as regular infantry, organised as a standard Army brigade.


116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines, Unit history
The 116th Brigade was sent into action in February 1945, serving under the First Canadian Army in the crossing of the Maas, and in the advance across the Rhine into north-west Germany to the naval ports, with the 28th Battalion particularly distinguishing itself in the fighting around Oldenburg, and 27th Battalion fighting with the 4th Canadian Armoured Division in their advance through Oldenburg towards Wilhelmshaven.


116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines, Unit history
The brigade remained in northern Germany after the surrender as part of XXX Corps, with their headquarters at Buxtehude, but operating in the naval ports of Wilhelmshaven, Emden, Brunsbüttel, and Cuxhaven, overseeing the capitulation of German naval ships and personnel, until returning to the UK at the end of June 1945 to be disbanded.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 116th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the Virginia Army National Guard.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The regiment was formed as part of the Virginia Militia. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots. Units in its lineage included the Confederate Stonewall Brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia. It was formed under the designation of the 116th during World War I, when previously existing Virginia National Guard units were consolidated in federal service. It fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive with the 29th Infantry Division and returned to the United States in 1919, where it was demobilized.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States)
It was reformed in 1922 and called back into federal service before the American entry into World War II in March 1941. It fought in the Normandy landings, on Omaha Beach, where it suffered heavy casualties. It served continuously with the 29th Infantry Division in its eastward advance until reaching the Elbe at the end of World War II in Europe.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The regiment was inactivated in 1946 and was reformed in 1948. It was reorganized as part of the Combat Arms Regimental System in 1959, during which it became a parent regiment. Its battalions became part of the 116th Infantry Brigade in 1975. Units of the brigade have since been called into federal service for duty in Kosovo Force, for the Iraq War, and for the War in Afghanistan.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, Virginia Militia
The regiment traces its heritage to the Augusta County Regiment of the Virginia Militia, organized on 3 November 1741 at Beverley's Mill Place, which later became Staunton. Elements of the regiment were called up during the French and Indian War and Dunmore's War. The regiment provided a company, organized on 18 March 1754 and commanded by Captain Andrew Lewis, to the Virginia Regiment. Organized between 11 and 25 August 1755, companies of the regiment led by William Preston, David Lewis, and John Smith became part of the Rangers.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, Virginia Militia
During the American Revolutionary War, elements of the regiment were called up for active service. Captain William Fontaines's company became part of the 2nd Virginia Regiment and was organized on 21 October 1775. Captain John Hayse's company became part of the 9th Virginia Regiment and was organized on 16 March 1776. Captain David Stephenson's company became part of the 8th Virginia Regiment. Captains David Laird and John Syme's companies were organized on 3 December, becoming part of the 10th Virginia Regiment.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, Virginia Militia
On 31 December 1792, the regiment was expanded to form the 32nd and 93rd Regiments. Elements of 32nd and 93rd were called up during the War of 1812. Around 1839, the two regiments became the 32nd, 93rd, and 160th Regiments. Parts of the 32nd and 160th were called up during the Mexican–American War on 6 January 1847 as the Light Infantry Company of the 1st Regiment of the Virginia (alternately the Augusta) Volunteers at Richmond. The regiment mustered out at Fort Monroe on 27 July 1848.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, Civil War
On 13 April 1861, volunteer companies of the 32nd, 93rd, and 160th Regiments became the 5th Regiment, Virginia Volunteers. They mustered into Confederate service on 1 July 1861 as the 5th Virginia Infantry, part of the Army of the Shenandoah's 1st Brigade, which later became the Stonewall Brigade. The remainder of the three regiments became the 52nd Virginia Infantry after being mustered on 1 May 1862. The 5th and 52nd Virginia Infantry surrendered with the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865. The successor 116th Infantry Regiment later received battle honors for the engagements that these Civil War units participated in; thus the regiment carries campaign streamers earned in fighting against the United States Federal government.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, After the Civil War
Former troops of the 5th and 52nd Infantry became independent infantry companies in the Shenandoah between 1871 and 1881. These units were part of the Virginia Volunteers. On 2 May 1881, the companies became the 2nd Regiment of Infantry at Staunton. Headquarters moved to Harrisonburg on 22 April 1886. The regiment was disbanded on 2 April 1887 and broken up into independent infantry companies again. On 20 April 1889, these became the 2nd Regiment of Infantry again, now with headquarters at Winchester. The headquarters moved to Woodstock on 15 June 1893.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, After the Civil War
During the Spanish–American War, the regiment was merged with parts of the 1st Regiment of Infantry. It was called up between 10 and 21 May 1898 and designated the 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Colonel James C. Baker. On 2 June, the regiment began its movement to Jacksonville, Florida, where it became part of the Seventh Army Corps at Camp Cuba Libre when it arrived on 3 June. The regiment, along with the 4th Virginia and the 49th Iowa, became part of the Third Brigade of the corps' Second Division.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, After the Civil War
On 12 August, the Protocol of Peace was signed, ending the combat phase of the war. The Second Virginia was ordered to be mustered out, and on 19 September left its temporary camp at Pablo Beach for home stations. The regiment reached Richmond during 20–21 September, where they received a thirty-day leave on 23 September. At the end of the thirty days the regiment's companies were assembled and mustered out at home stations between 13 and 20 December of that year, with a strength of 46 officers and 1,146 enlisted men.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, After the Civil War
The regiment was disbanded on 29 April 1899 and reorganized from then until 1902 as separate infantry companies. On 19 May 1905, it merged with separate infantry companies formerly part of the disbanded 3rd Regiment of Infantry, which was another regiment that had been formed in 1881 in central Virginia and called up for the Spanish–American War, to become the 72nd Infantry with headquarters at Luray. On 1 September 1908, it became the 2nd Infantry (Virginia Volunteers).


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, After the Civil War
The regiment became part of the Virginia National Guard on 3 June 1916. The regiment was called up on 30 June at Camp Stuart as a result of US–Mexican tensions on the border. It was sent by train to Brownsville, Texas, on 6 July, arriving on 11 July. In late July, the regiment's machine gun company was formed. The regiment became part of the 1st Provisional Brigade there in early August. On 10 January 1917, the regiment became part of the 2nd Separate Brigade after the command structure of National Guard units in the Brownsville District was reorganized. The regiment departed Brownsville by train after several delays on 11 February. On 16 February, it arrived in Richmond. The regiment mustered out on 28 February 1917 at Richmond.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
On 25 March 1917, the regiment was called up just before the United States entered World War I, which it did so the following month. The regiment was mustered in between 25 March and 3 April. The regiment guarded bridges and railroads in Virginia. The regiment was drafted on 5 August and a month later departed by train for Camp McClellan, Alabama, arriving there on the evening of 6 September. On 4 October, the 2nd Virginia consolidated with the 1st and 4th Virginia Infantry Regiments.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
The new regiment became the 116th Infantry, part of the 29th Infantry Division, then at Camp McClellan, Alabama. It served as part of the division's 58th Infantry Brigade alongside the 112th Machine-Gun Battalion and the 115th Infantry Regiment. Colonel Robert F. Leedy of the 2nd Virginia became commander of the new regiment, which included 105 officers and 3,686 enlisted men. Colonel Hansford L. Threlkeld took command on 1 January. He was replaced by Colonel William J. Perry of the 1st Virginia on 1 May. On 5 June, Lieutenant Colonel Hobart M. Brown took command. Brown led the regiment until it reached France.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
The regiment conducted training in shooting, gas warfare, and using the bayonet for the next months until 11 June 1918, when it began movement to Hoboken. On 15 June the regiment embarked for France on the USS Finland from there. On 27 June the regiment disembarked at Saint-Nazaire, where it stayed for three days in a former British camp. It moved to Argillières, where additional training was planned. However, due to German pressure on the Allied front, the regiment was moved in early July to Auxelles-Bas. Threlkeld took command of the regiment around this time.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
In August, it transferred to La Chapelle, Bréchaumont, and Reppe. The regiment occupied trenches in the Haute-Marne sector of Alsace. On 21 August, Colonel A.J. Harris replaced Threlkeld. On 26 August, the 2nd Battalion was attacked by German troops supported by a heavy artillery barrage at 0430. The German troops were repulsed after two hours of fighting, most of which was conducted by Company F. In early September, the regiment moved to Offemont, near Belfort, and then to Hargeville and Souhesmele-Grande. Around 1 October, it camped in the Bois Bouchet as a part of the First Army's reserve.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
The regiment fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive with the 29th Division. The regiment was attached to the French 18th Infantry Division. The 3rd Battalion was positioned on the southern slope of the ridge southeast of Côte des Roches, and the 1st Battalion was along the Canal de l'Est, south of the Samogneux–Brabant road. The regiment's 2nd Battalion was in reserve 1,500 meters northeast of Neuville. During the night of 7 to 8 October, the regiment's battalions moved into the starting positions. The attack began at 0500 on 8 October, with the 3rd Battalion advancing with its right on Ravin d'Haumont.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
After encountering scant resistance, it reached the immediate objective in four and a half hours. The 1st Battalion then attempted to move through the 3rd, but was checked by machine-gun fire from the Bois de Brabant-sur-Meuse. At 1400 the 1st was able to advance through the 3rd and both battalions continued into the forest.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
Advancing against machine guns, high-caliber artillery, anti-tank guns, and gas, they reached the normal objective at 1540 and stopped at the Ravin de Molleville (at the southern edge of Molleville Farm) on the right and the ridge in Boissois Bois on the left, but withdrew to the ridge in the Bois de Brabant-sur-Meuse, overlooking the Ravin de Bourvaux. The two battalions had contact with the French on the right, but none with the 115th Regiment to the left. Headquarters Company Sergeant Earle Gregory received the Medal of Honor for his actions in singlehandedly capturing 19 German soldiers on 8 October.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
At 0500 on 9 October, German troops counterattacked the 116th and the 115th's extreme right, but were repulsed. The 1st Battalion renewed the attack and advanced 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) into the Molleville Forest by 1130. On 10 October, parts of 1st Battalion were relieved by the 113th Infantry Regiment's 2nd Battalion. 1st Battalion then extended its line to link up with the 115th Regiment. During the night division commander Charles G. Morton relieved Harris of command and replaced him with division machine gun officer Lieutenant Colonel Reginald H. Kelley.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
The next day the regiment resumed the attack, with 1st Battalion being checked while moving towards Molleville Farm. The battalion was unable to cross a clearing and made two further attempts, which were also repulsed with heavy losses. On 15 October the 3rd Battalion attacked again, advancing in the lead of the regiment. By 1600 they reached the southern edge of the Bois de la Grande Montagne after taking Molleville Farm. The 2nd Battalion reinforced the 3rd there, and established a line near the Étraye–Consenvoye road. 1st


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
Battalion attacked in the lead on 16 October, and along with the 115th's 2nd Battalion had formed a line from the reverse slope of Hill 370 to the road junction area near Molleville Farm in the Bois de la Grande Montagne by 1630. The division had reached its objectives and formed defensive positions along the line. From 8 to 22 October, the regiment suffered casualties of 838 wounded, 44 died of wounds, and 152 killed.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
On 23 October, the 2nd Battalion attacked towards Hill 361 with the 115th's 1st Battalion and the 113th's 1st Battalion. The battalion advanced in the center after an artillery barrage and stopped at 1430 after reaching Hill 361. The 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 116th then moved into the line. On the night of 28 to 29 October, the regiment was relieved by the 79th Infantry Division's 316th Infantry Regiment. From 23 October, the regiment had suffered casualties of 161 wounded, 15 died of wounds, and 46 killed.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
Total casualties of the regiment in the offensive were thus 1,005 wounded, 59 died of wounds, and 198 killed. During the offensive, the regiment captured 2,000 German prisoners, 250 machine guns, and 29 high-caliber guns. The regiment moved with the division to Vavincourt. The war ended on 11 November, and the regiment and the division moved to the 11th (Bourbonne-les-Bains) Training Area. For the next several months the regiment conducted training. Kelley was relieved after being gassed on 4 December and replaced by Colonel George W. Ball.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War I
The regiment was reviewed as part of a ceremony where American personnel were decorated by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), on 4 April 1919 at Chaumont. On 11 April the regiment moved with the division to the Ballon area of the Le Mans American Embarkation Center. Ten days later, it was transferred to Saint-Nazaire. On 10 May, the regiment embarked for the United States on the USS Matsonia. After returning to Newport News on 21 May, the regiment was demobilized on 30 May 1919 at Camp Lee.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, Interwar
On 12 October 1921, former units of the regiment located in western Virginia became the 2nd Infantry in the Virginia National Guard. The regiment was redesignated on 9 March 1922 as the 116th Infantry and assigned to the 29th Division (later redesignated as the 29th Infantry Division). Its headquarters was federally recognized 3 April 1922 at Staunton. During the interwar period, the 116th conducted annual summer training at Virginia Beach between 1921 and 1938. Between November 1930 and January 1931, the regiment restored order during a strike of cotton mill workers in Danville.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, Interwar
The location of headquarters was changed on 26 June 1933 to Lynchburg. In August 1939, the regiment participated in First Army maneuvers at Manassas, which ended on 19 August. In August 1940, the regiment was transported by rail and truck to the First Army maneuvers at Pine Camp, the largest US Army maneuvers held in the interwar period at the time. After the maneuvers, which involved live fire and simulated air attacks, the 116th returned to home stations in the last week of August.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, Interwar
On 3 February 1941, the regiment was called into federal service and its men reported to their armories for the next ten days. The regiment and the 29th Division were moved to Fort Meade on 13 February after being called into federal service. At this time the regiment absorbed many draftees from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee, among other states. The regiment conducted training for the next months. In June, the regiment and the division moved to A.P. Hill Military Reservation for training.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, Interwar
From A.P. Hill the 116th and the rest of the division moved south by road to participate in the Carolina Maneuvers near Fort Bragg, reaching camp sites on 27 September. Between 6 and 17 October the 29th Division maneuvered against the 28th Infantry Division, and then as part of II Corps alongside the 28th and 44th Infantry Divisions. In the latter it faced elements of IV Corps and VI Corps. After the maneuvers concluded in late November the 116th returned to Fort Meade with the 29th by road.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II
The United States entered World War II after the Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The attack found the 116th traveling north through southern Virginia near the North Carolina border. Upon its return to Fort Meade, the regiment was split up – the main body of the regiment guarded the coastline of the Eastern Shore and a battalion was detached to the coast of the Carolinas. Between 12 and 14 January 1942, it participated in amphibious exercises with elements of the 1st Infantry Division, repelling a simulated invasion at Cape Henry.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II
On 14 March 1942, at the regiment's farewell dinner, actress Madeleine Carroll was made ceremonial "daughter of the regiment". The regiment trained at Fort A.P. Hill from April to 6 July, when they began exercises in the Carolinas (the second Carolina Maneuvers). On 17 August, the regiment was sent to Camp Blanding in Florida in preparation for deployment. In September the regiment moved by train to Camp Kilmer, the holding point for American troops being moved to Europe.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II
After arriving on 18 September, the regiment embarked for the United Kingdom aboard the Queen Mary, a passenger liner converted into a troopship, on 26 September, arriving on 5 October. During the voyage, the men of the regiment witnessed the collision of the Queen Mary with the escorting cruiser HMS Curacoa on 2 October. On the next day the Queen Mary docked at Greenock.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II
In the United Kingdom, the 116th was transported by rail to Tidworth in the southeast, where it continued training. On 11 October, Lieutenant Colonel Morris T. Warner took command of the regiment. On 16 March 1943, Colonel Charles D.W. Canham became the regimental commander. In late May the 116th was transferred along with the division to Devon and Cornwall, relieving the British 55th Infantry Division there to free up Tidworth for the buildup of American forces in England, Operation Bolero. The regiment took over responsibility for coast defense in the Plymouth area.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II
With the addition of the 111th Field Artillery Battalion, it became the 116th Regimental Combat Team (RCT). The 116th participated in intensive training in Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor. In July, it commenced amphibious assault training on landing boats loaned by the British at Slapton Sands. In September the 116th RCT began training at the U.S. Army Assault Training Center on Woolacombe Beach, the first unit of the 29th to go through the center. At the beginning of 1944, the regiment included 166 officers, five warrant officers, and 3,100 enlisted men.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
In preparation for the Invasion of Normandy, the regiment participated in invasion rehearsal exercises, using landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) and Landing Craft Assault (LCA). For the invasion, the regiment was part of Force O, the initial assault force. The regiment was to lead the assault on Omaha Beach to the west of 1st Division's 16th Infantry, and would be temporarily attached to 1st Division. H-Hour, the beginning of the invasion, was scheduled for dawn on 5 June (D-Day, the first day of the assault).


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
Companies A, E, F, and G were to be in the first wave of the assault on Omaha Beach. The beach was divided into sectors: Company A, the westernmost, was to land at Dog Green, Company G at Dog White, Company F at Dog Red, and Company E at Easy Green on the right of 16th Infantry. It was planned that by 09:30 on D-Day, the beach exits would be open and vehicles able to leave the beach. 1st Battalion was to take Vierville, link up with the Ranger assault group advancing east along the coastal highway, and advance on Vire. Meanwhile, 2nd Battalion would capture Saint-Laurent and the heights southwest of it. 3rd Battalion constituted the reserve, and was tasked with advancing to Longueville.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
Between 3 and 8 May, the regiment participated in Exercise Fabius I at Slapton Sands, a final rehearsal before D-Day. On 11 May elements of Force O moved to their assembly areas. The regiment relocated by truck to Blandford Camp on 15 May, where it was confined behind barbed wire in order to preserve secrecy. At Blandford each company was briefed on its missions for the invasion. On 3 June the regiment embarked for Normandy from Weymouth. 1st Battalion (Companies A, B, C, and D) boarded the SS Empire Javelin, 2nd Battalion (Companies E, F, G, and H) the USS Thomas Jefferson, and 3rd Battalion (Companies I, K, L, and M) the USS Charles Carroll.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
At 03:10 on 6 June (the invasion had been postponed for 24 hours due to inclement weather), Companies F and G began climbing into their LCVPs. All first wave landing craft had left the ships by 04:30. At 05:00, a naval and aerial bombardment commenced pounding the German defenses, but the aerial bombardment was ineffective and the naval bombardment failed to destroy most of the German gun emplacements, manned by the 352nd Infantry Division.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
The landing craft approached Vierville at 06:00, and at 06:36 the ramps of Company A's five surviving boats out of seven were dropped after reaching the assigned sector. There were no shell holes for cover at Dog Green, and within seven minutes Company A was virtually wiped out by either the heavy German fire or from drowning in the surf – by the end of the day, only 18 of 230 members of the company had avoided becoming casualties.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
Company G mainly landed on Dog Red after its boats drifted off course from their assigned sector, Dog White. Smoke from grass fires shielded the three or four sections on Dog Red, who suffered few losses to "sporadic and inaccurate" fire as they moved across the tidal flats. Most of Company G reached the shingle intact ten to fifteen minutes after landing, but other boats suffered heavy casualties farther to the east. F Company mostly landed in its assigned sector, Dog Red, directly in front of the strongly fortified German positions at Les Moulins, and was disorganized due to losses of officers. Company E, assigned to Easy Green, ended up east of Fox Green with E Company of the 16th Infantry.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
The second wave began at 07:00, landing in a period of forty minutes. Company B waded ashore around 07:26 and suffered heavy casualties, although one of its boat teams took Vierville. By the end of the day Company B had been reduced to 28 men. The regimental command group landed around 07:30 with assistant division commander Brigadier General Norman Cota and Canham. They rallied the men for the attack and around 08:30 Cota discovered an exit off the beach, through which men began advancing. Company D landed off course, running into heavy German fire. Company H suffered heavy losses to German machine gun firing from Les Moulins. Company K landed around 07:50 and elements of the unit ended up pinned down until midday near the Vierville draw. Company L also landed around this time.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
Around 9:00 Company K began advancing inland, breaching the seawall but losing fifteen men in a minefield before reaching the crest around 12:30. 111th Field Artillery's guns were lost in the surf and its artillerymen ended up pinned down in front of Les Moulins like 2nd Battalion after landing between 07:30 and 08:30. Company G advanced up the beach between 08:00 and 09:00, meeting the wounded Canham, who was organizing an attack on Vierville. Around 08:30 he and 50 to 60 men moved up a hill to the right of Hamel; this group later joined up with an element of Company B led by Lieutenant Walter Taylor in the attack on the fortified Chateau at Vierville.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
Company H landed at H+30 but suffered heavy losses because the smoke from the grass fires had lifted by that time. After Taylor's group captured the Chateau, they advanced beyond the house but had to pull back to the house when three truckloads of German infantry counterattacked. Company K linked up with 5th Ranger Battalion at 16:00 and advanced into Vierville, encountering only sniper fire. At the end of the day, only 250 men were left from 1st Battalion. Meanwhile, 3rd Battalion and elements of 2nd Battalion held positions northwest of St. Laurent near the 115th Infantry.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
Company C and Ranger units were west of Vierville, while parts of 1st and 2nd Battalions and the 121st Engineers were half a mile south of Vierville. On 6 June, the regiment suffered 341 casualties, including soldiers from Bedford-based Company A, a community which proportionally had the highest D-Day losses in America. The National D-Day Memorial was located in Bedford to honor their loss.


116th Infantry Regiment (United States), History, World War II, D-Day
On 7 June, 1st Battalion moved back to Pointe du Hoc against stiff German resistance to assist the Rangers in repulsing a German counterattack, digging in there for the rest of the day. On 8 June, 2nd and 3rd Battalions joined the 1st at Pointe du Hoc, and the 116th fought as a unit for the first time in the war. Companies K and L with 3rd Battalion assisted the Rangers in an attack across a bridge on the Aure later in the day.