110th Regiment History

The 110th Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division,
a Brief History

Few military organizations have enjoyed the distinguished record of the 110th Infantry. A military organization that is a combination and a continuation of several organization whose exploits fill many honored pages of American Military History.

The regiment was first organized as the tenth regiment of Infantry on 28 November 1873. Their original companies were located in Monongahela, Mount Pleasant, Greensburg, Livermore, North Washington, McLaughlinsville, Washington and Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The first commander was Colonel John A. Black of Greensburg, A veteran Civil War Commander.

The 10th was mustered into Federal Service for the Spanish-American War on 17 April 1898. Training was conducted at Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania and Chichamauga Park, Georgia. The regiment landed in Manila, Philippine Islands on 21 July 1898. Ten days later the 10th Regiment became the first American troops to encounter enemy fire in the Spanish-American War. The regiment distinguished itself so well it was given the nickname "The Fighting Tenth". Spanish-American War and Philippine insurrection service is commemorated on the organizational crest by the block house, palm tree and two stars. Colonel Alexander L. Hawkins commanded the Regiment during this period of active federal service. Colonel Hawkins died of illness aboard ship during the Regiments' return trip to the United States. A monument to Colonel Hawkins stands in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The tenth was again mobilized on 23 June 1916 and served five months along the Mexican border. The unit was mustered out in October 1916.

On 15 July 1917 the Tenth was mobilized as the United States was preparing for World War I. It was at this time the Regiment was redesignated the 110th Infantry and assigned to the 28th Division. Following training at Camp Hancock, Georgia, the 110th sailed for Europe as part of the Division. In Europe the Regiment was assigned to the British Northumberland Fusiliers for additional training. Campaigns in World War I were Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, Meuse-Argonve, Champagne 1918, Lorraine 1918. The cost of these six campaigns were 4,183 casualties including 760 dead. The Six-Fleur-de-lis on the Regimental insignia commemorates World War I service.

On February 1941 the 110th was mobilized for one year of training but due to World War II stay on to the conclusion of the war. After two and one half years of stateside service and nine months in Great Britain the Regiment landed in Normandy and struck into the forest of St. Sever. Advancing as much as 18 miles in one day the Regiment proudly participated in the liberation of Paris. The Regiment continued fighting across France into Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. In December of 1944 the Regiment was holding an extended portion of the 28th Division line when the Germans started their offensive that resulted in the "Battle of the Bulge". Battered by six German Divisions, the 28th fought on. Units of the 110th completely encircled, hacked their way in the dark of night, and reassembled to IGMR again. More than 2,700 men were lost in three days of fighting but the Regiment implicated a fearful toll upon the Germans. A month later the Regiment was back in action to liberate Colmar. The end of World War II found five more campaign streamers added to the Regimental colors. These were Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. When V-J day was proclaimed the 110th was training in the states for the final battle against Japan.

The fifth tour of active duty for the Regiment in a 52 year period began in September 1950 when the Regiment was called to active duty during the Korean emergency. After a year of intensive training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and on the Southern Pines Maneuver the Regiment sailed for Germany, landing in Bremer Haven in November 1951. Taken its station in Ulm and New Ulm, the 110th became part of the NATO force which trained intensively to ensure security of Western Europe and the World.

In June 1953 the 110th was being reorganized in Western Pennsylvania, while the colors were still in German soil. In 1954, the first annual training camp since reorganizing after the Korean emergency, the Regimental colors were returned to Pennsylvania.

In April 1968 the 110th Infantry, now a Battalion was reorganized and placed in the 56th Brigade, made up of Pennsylvania units and assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division, New York National Guard.

In December of 1971 the unit was reorganized and redesignated the 1-110^th Infantry with Headquarters in Scottdale, Pennsylvania and assigned to the 28^th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard.

In September of 1995 the 1-110^th was reorganized and redesignated the 1-110^th Mechanized Infantry Battalion in the 28^th Infantry Division Mechanized). The units are presently located as follows: HHC in Scottdale, Co. A in Finleysville, Co. B in Greensburg, Co. C in Waynesburg, Co. D in Indiana and Co. E in Canonsburg.

The above history highlights mainly the active federal service of the 110^th Infantry. It must be remembered that federal service makes up less than nine years of the 100 years total service. Interspersed among these calls to active duty are many years of hard work and training by dedicated citizen soldiers to insure the Battalion is ready to answer any emergency. Foremost among the state emergencies were the Johnstown Flood of 1936, the Civil Disturbances in Pittsburgh, Pa. In April 1968 and Hurricane Agnes in June 1972.