368th Infantry Regiment (United States) facts for kids

The 368th Infantry Regiment was a special group of soldiers in the United States Army. They served in two big wars: World War I in France and World War II in the Pacific Ocean area.

History of the 368th Infantry Regiment

Serving in World War I

The 368th Infantry Regiment officially started on October 25, 1917. This happened at a place called Camp Meade in Maryland. It was part of the 92nd Division, which was a larger group of soldiers.

What made this regiment special was its soldiers. All the enlisted soldiers and younger officers were African American. However, the higher-ranking officers were white. During World War I, the 368th Regiment fought in important battles. These included campaigns in Lorraine and Meuse-Argonne. After the war ended with the Armistice, the regiment came back to the United States. It was then disbanded in early 1919.

Serving in World War II

The 368th Regiment was brought back to life on March 1, 1941. This time, it was at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. In January 1941, it became part of the 93rd Infantry Division.

In 1944, the division, including the 368th, was sent overseas. They fought in the Pacific Ocean area during World War II. They took part in campaigns in New Guinea, the Northern Solomons, and the Southern Philippines. The regiment was officially stopped on February 3, 1946. This happened at Camp Stoneman in California. Later, in 1950, the government of the Philippines gave the regiment a special award. It was called the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

After World War II: Changes and Desegregation

After World War II, the 368th Regiment went through some changes. On October 20, 1950, the regiment was split up. Parts of it became new groups, like the 80th Infantry Battalion and the 522nd Infantry Battalion.

The 522nd Infantry Battalion was activated on November 3, 1950. It was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 1951, this battalion moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Around this time, a big change happened in the U.S. Army. They stopped separating soldiers by race. This meant that the 522nd Infantry Battalion became a desegregated unit. It stayed at Fort Sill until the late 1950s.