History of the 1-8 Infantry Battalion
The Eighth Infantry Regiment has served in eight wars since it was first formed at Detroit, Michigan on 1 July 1838. The regiment fought valiantly in the Indian and Mexican Wars, the Civil War, the War with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection, World Wars I and II, and Vietnam.
The proud combat record of the regiment is visible atop the battalion colors where 48 Campaign Streamers are carried.
Decorations of the "Fighting Eagles" Battalion include three
presidential unit citations(4 citations for Aco and Cco). The first citation was
awarded to the regiment during World War II on June 6th, 1944, for action on the
beaches of Normandy. Two other presidential unit citations were awarded to the
battalion for actions in Pleiku Province and Dak To district in the Republic of
Vietnam. Aco and Cco were awarded another presidential unit citation for Kontum
Province in the Republic of Vietnam. In World War II, the Eight Infantry
Regiment was cited twice in the order of the day by the Belgian Army - the first
for action in the Belgian Campaign, and later for action in the Ardennes. The
Belgian Government subsequently awarded the regiment the Belgian Fourragere. The
First Battalion Eighth Infantry won nine campaign streamers for action in
Vietnam from 1966 to 1970, participating in operations Sam Houston, Francis
Marion, Don Quin, and Paul Revere III. The Vietnamese Government awarded the
battalion the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Civil Action Medal
First Class. Alpha and Charlie Companies were awarded a cluster to their
presidential unit citations for extraordinary heroism in the Republic of
Vietnam. Companies A and C sought out, engaged and decisively defeated an
overwhelmingly larger force by deploying small, isolated patrols and conducting
company and platoon size reconnaissance-in-force operations. Personal awards are
highlighted by the regiments seven Medal of Honor winners. A few of the famous
past commanders include former General of the Army George C. Marshall, and
General James Van Fleet who led the regiment ashore on D-Day. It can easily be
seen that the "Fighting Eagles" Battalion eagerly carries forward with
pride the traditions and history of the Eighth Infantry Regiment.
CAMPAIGN STREAMERS AND DECORATIONS
Indian Wars, Mexican Wars, Civil War
Seminoles Palo Alto Peninsula
Apaches Resaca de la Palma Manassas
New Mexico 1858 Monterey Abtietam
New Mexico 1860 Vera Cruz Fredricksburg
Montana 1872 Cerro Gordo Chancellorsville
Arizona 1876 Churobusco Gettysburg
Molino del Rey Wilderness
Chapultepec Atlanta
Spotsylvania
Cold Harbor
Petersburg
Texas 1861
Philippine Insurrection, World War I, World War II, Vietnam
Luzon 1901 Streamer Normandy (with arrowhead) Counteroffensive PhaseII
without Northern France Counteroffensive PhaseIII
inscription Rhineland Tet Counteroffensive
Ardennes-Alsac Counteroffensive PhaseIV
Central Europe Counteroffensive PhaseV
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Summer-fall 1969
Winter-spring 1970
DECORATIONS
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer Embroidered - BEACHES OF NORMANDY
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer Embroidered - PLEIKU PROVINCE
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer Embroidered - DAK TO DISTRICT
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in BELGIUM
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in ARDENNES
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer Embroidered - VIET NAM
1966-1969
Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer Embroidered - VIET
NAM 1966-1969
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer Embroidered - VIET NAM
1969-1970
Company A and Company C are additionally entitled to:
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer Embroidered - Kontum Province