Regimental HHC, 3rd U.S. Infantry "Head Hunters"

ngere” (from Latin; - Touch me Not). Infantry, traditionally known as "The Old Guard," is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving our nation since 1784

The Old Guard is the Army's official ceremonial unit and es**rt to the president, and it also provides security for Washington, D.C., in time of national emergency or civil disturbance. Winfield Scott during a victory parade at Mexico City in 1847 following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. Fifty campaign streamers attest to the 3d Infantry's long history of service, which spans from the Battle of Fallen Timbers to World War II and Vietnam. Since World War II, The Old Guard has served as the official Army Honor Guard and es**rt to the President. In that capacity, 3d Infantry soldiers are responsible for conducting military ceremonies at the White House, the Pentagon, national memorials and elsewhere in the nation's capital. In addition, soldiers of The Old Guard maintain a 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns, provide military funeral es**rts at Arlington National Cemetery and participate in parades at Fort Myer and Fort Lesley J. The black-and-tan "buff strap" worn on the left shoulder by each member of the 3d Infantry is a replica of the knapsack strap used by 19th-century predecessors of the unit to display its distinctive colors and distinguish its members from other Army units. The present buff strap continues to signify an Old Guard soldier's pride in personal appearance and precision performance that has marked the unit for 200 years. A further distinction of The Old Guard is the time-honored custom of passing in-review with fixed bayonets at all parades. This practice, officially sanctioned by the War Department in 1922, dates to the Mexican War in 1847 when the 3d Infantry led a successful bayonet charge against the enemy at Cerro Gordo. Today, this distinction is still reserved for The Old Guard alone. Constituted 3 June 1784 in the Regular Army as the First American Regiment to consist of companies from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

Organized August-September 1784 in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (New York and Connecticut companies organized in 1785)

Redesignated 29 September 1789 as the Regiment of Infantry

Redesignated 3 March 1791 as the 1st Infantry

Redesignated in 1792 as the Infantry of the 1st Sub-Legion

Redesignated 31 October 1796 as the 1st Infantry

Consolidated May-October 1815 with the 5th Infantry (constituted 12 April 1808), the 17th Infantry (constituted 11 January 1812), the 19th Infantry (constituted 26 June 1812), and the 28th Infantry (constituted 29 January 1813) to form the 3d Infantry

Consolidated August-December 1869 with part of the 37th Infantry (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit designated as the 3d Infantry

(2d and 3d Battalions inactivated 18 November 1921 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota; activated 8 June 1922 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota)

Assigned 24 March 1923 to the 7th Division

Relieved 15 August 1927 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 6th Division

Relieved 1 October 1933 from assignment to the 6th Division and assigned to the 7th Division

Relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 6th Division

Relieved 10 May 1941 from assignment to the 6th Division

(1st Battalion inactivated 1 June 1941 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; activated 14 February 1942 in Newfoundland)

(2d Battalion [less Headquarters and Headquarters Company] inactivated 1 September 1942 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota [Headquarters and Headquarters Company concurrently inactivated in Greenland]; battalion activated 22 October 1943 at Camp Butner, North Carolina)

Inactivated 20 November 1946 in Germany

Regiment (less 2d Battalion) activated 6 April 1948 at Fort Myer, Virginia (2d Battalion concurrently activated at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.) Reorganized 1 July 1957 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System

Withdrawn 16 January 1986 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System

Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 3d Infantry Regiment

ANNEX
Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry

Organized May 1865-September 1866 at Fort Wayne, Michigan; Newport Barracks, Kentucky; and Fort Columbus, New York

Reorganized and redesignated 23 November 1866 as the 37th Infantry

Part of the 37th Infantry consolidated August-December 1869 with the 3d Infantry and consolidated unit designated as the 3d Infantry (remaining half of the 37th Infantry consolidated in June 1869 with the 5th Infantry and consolidated unit designated as the 5th Infantry--hereafter separate lineage)