| Unit Name: | 314th Infantry Regiment |
| Dates: | 1917 |
| Branch: | U.S. Army Reserve |
| Motto: | Fortitude and Courage |
| Battles: | World War I World War II |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Distinctive Unit Insignia |
The 314th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the U.S. Army first organized in 1917.
Organized as part of the 79th Division A.E.F. (American Expeditionary Force) – World War I The United States in World War I, the men of the 314th were trained at Camp Meade (later renamed Fort George G. Meade in 1929), Maryland. Arriving at the camp in September, 1917, the unit was included in the 157th Infantry Brigade of Brigadier General William Jones Nicholson, along with the 313th Infantry Regiment and the 311th Machine Gun Battalion.[1] The regiment completed training and sailed to France aboard the in July, 1918. Upon arrival at Brest, France, they continued training until September 1918, then took part in the Meuse Argonne Offensive. Capturing the town of Malancourt on 26 September 1918, they assisted the 313th Infantry on the following day in the capture of the town of Montfaucon-d'Argonne. Montfaucon was a heavily defended area and observation post of the German army. Of the four Infantry regiments of the 79th Division involved in the offensive, the 314th was hardest-hit. It took several days to account for all the missing personnel and bring the regiment up 50 percent manning.
The 79th Division was relieved on 30 September and transferred to the Troyon sector. While there, they assumed a variety of duties, including holding the front. They shared the trenches with the 313th, 315th, and 316th Infantry Regiments. During this time, they were harassed with mustard gas, shelling, and enemy trench and air raids but held the line.
At the end of October, the 79th Division was again ordered to move to participate in the third phase of the Meuse Argonne Offensive. On 1 November 1918, the 314th advanced. By 9 November, they captured the towns of Crepion, Waville, and Moirey. The following day the unit captured Buisson Chaumont, Hill 328. On 11 November, the 314th advanced against Cote de Romagne and stopped firing at 11 a.m., at the time of the Armistice. By the end day, the 314th had made the greatest advance into German lines east of the Meuse River.
The regiment continued training, passed a review by General Pershing, and shipped home on 15 May 1919, aboard the . Arriving at Hoboken, New Jersey on 26 May 1919, they were discharged from service at Camp Dix, New Jersey.
See main article: 79th Infantry Division (United States).
Erected at Camp Meade, Maryland in 1917 by the men of the 314th as an Officers' Club and assembly room, it was purchased from the U.S. government after the war, carefully disassembled, and rebuilt on ground provided by the Washington Memorial Chapel by members of the Regiment. Dedicated in 1922 by the Veterans of the 314th A.E.F. to honor the 362 men of the regiment who made the supreme sacrifice. The cabin housed artifacts of the 314th which allowed a glimpse at how life was for the men during the First World War. The centerpiece of the cabin was a bronze tablet listing all the members of the regiment—more than 4,000 names. A star was placed beside each name upon their death as a sign of honor. In 2012 the cabin was disassembled, gifted to the US Army and returned to Fort George G. Meade. It remains in storage, currently awaiting reconstruction. The contents of the cabin were donated to the Fort Meade Museum.
314th Infantry Regiment A.E.F. website
The 314th Infantry was reconstituted in the Organized Reserve on 24 June 1921, assigned to the 79th Division, and allotted to the Third Corps Area. The regiment was initiated on 22 October 1921 with headquarters at Reading, Pennsylvania. Subordinate battalion headquarters concurrently organized as follows: 1st Battalion at Allentown, Pennsylvania; 2nd Battalion. at Reading, Pennsylvania; and 3d Bn. at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The regiment typically conducted its Inactive Training Period meetings at locations as follows: 126 North 5th Street in Reading; the American Legion Hall in Harrisburg; the Post Office Building in Allentown; and the National Guard armory in Lebanon. Conducted summer training most years with the 12th and 34th Infantry Regiments at Fort George G. Meade, and some years at Fort Washington, Maryland, or Fort Eustis, Virginia. Also conducted infantry CMTC training some years at Fort Meade or Fort Eustis as an alternate form of summer training. Provided a number of officers to the 28th Division for the 1939 and 1940 First Army maneuvers. Primary ROTC feeder schools were the Pennsylvania Military College, Gettysburg College, and Lehigh University.[2]
17 October 1999, the 314th Infantry was withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System and designated the 314th Regiment, consisting of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions. These three Battalions were concurrently allotted to the Regular Army.
The three Battalions of the 314th Regiment were assigned to the 78th Division (Training Support), operating out of Fort Drum, NY. 1 October 2002, the Regiment was reorganized into the 1st and 3rd Battalions.
2 October 2009, 1st and 3rd Battalions concurrently relieved from assignment to the 78th Division (Training Support) and assigned to First Army, moving to Fort Dix, NJ.
A gold color metal and enamel device NaNinches in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure upon a mount Proper a falcon close Or within an orle of the last, in bordure three fleurs-de-lis of the like. Attached below the shield a Blue scroll inscribed "FORTITUDE AND COURAGE" in Gold letters.
The 314th Infantry was organized at Camp Meade as a unit of the 79th Division in 1917. It served overseas during World War I and took part in the Meuse-Argonne operation and held a sector in Lorraine. Under authority of the National Defense Act the regiment was reconstituted a unit of the 79th Division, Organized Reserves, in November 1921, with headquarters at Reading, Pennsylvania. The falcon recalls Montfaucon and the three fleurs-de-lis recall the regiment's first service in the Meuse-Argonne, the Troyon Sector and the second service in the Meuse-Argonne.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 314th Infantry, Organized Reserves on 14 July 1924. It was amended to revise the symbolism of the design on 22 June 1970. On 3 September 1999 the insignia was redesignated with description updated for the 314th Regiment.
Azure upon a mount Proper a falcon close Or within an orle of the last in bordure three fleurs-de-lis of the like.
That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve: From a wreath Or and Azure, the Lexington Minute Man Proper. The statue of the Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H.H. Kitson, sculptor), stands on the common in Lexington, Massachusetts. Motto Fortitude and Courage.
The 314th Infantry was organized at Camp Meade as a unit of the 79th Division in 1917. It served overseas during World War I and took part in the Meuse-Argonne operation and held a sector in Lorraine. Under authority of the National Defense Act the regiment was reconstituted a unit of the 79th Division, Organized Reserves, in November 1921, with headquarters at Reading, Pennsylvania. The falcon recalls Montfaucon and the three fleurs-de-lis recall the regiment's first service in the Meuse-Argonne, the Troyon Sector and the second service in the Meuse-Argonne.
The crest is that of the U.S. Army Reserve.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 314th Infantry, Organized Reserves on 2 May 1924. It was amended to withdraw the "Organized Reserves" from the designation and to delete the Organized Reserves' crest from the coat of arms for the 314th Infantry on 29 May 1959. On 22 June 1970 it was amended to reinstate the crest of the Army Reserve and revise the symbolism of the design. On 3 September 1999 the coat of arms was redesignated for the 314th Regiment.