111th Infantry Regiment "Ben Franklins Associators"

10/31/2026

Final Day of CARS Mess Registration!

Today is the last chance to register for the 70th Annual CARS Mess! Don’t miss a chance for a night of camaraderie, reminiscing, and honoring our fallen in Valley Forge.

We invite all current and former Associators to register at the link below!

111th Infantry Regimental Mess 2026

https://associators111.org/mess-payment/

We look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks!

10/29/2026

Want some cool regimental collar insignia?

This year at CARS Mess a limited number of enlisted collar disks will be available for purchase. Authorized under AR 670-1, regimental disks are optional wear for those assigned to a combat arms regiment. Soldiers affiliated with a combat arms regiment may even continue to wear their disks after leaving their unit for a follow on assignment.

This year the association had 100 of these disks custom made for current or former members of the Associators, but you must be present in person to get one!

Sign up for CARS mess today at: https://associators111.org/mess-payment/

See you in a few weeks!

10/23/2026

Another chance to get a bottle!

10/20/2026

Don’t miss this years CARS Mess!

We invite all current and former Associators to join the Regiment in this years annual regimental mess on 14 NOV 2026. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the mess, a tradition re-born in the post-WWII era.

The attached QR codes or below links will take participants to registration and to a special block or rooms reserved at the event hotel and an alternate adjacent venue.

111th Infantry Regimental Mess 2026
https://associators111.org/mess-payment/

Two blocks of Hotel rooms are now available for the 111th Infantry Regimental Mess. This year, attendees may choose from two convenient hotel options:

Sheraton Valley Forge King of Prussia
Located at the site of the Regimental Mess event.
https://app.marriott.com/resview2?id=1776103266958&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Element Valley Forge King of Prussia
https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1776103408567&key=GRP&app=resvlink

We look forward to seeing everyone in November!

10/11/2026

On this day, October 11th, 1917, the 111th Infantry adopted its current designation.

Under the reorganization of the Pennsylvania National Guard to meet the Army’s needs for World War I the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 18th Pennsylvania Infantry were combined at Camp Hancock, GA to form the new 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division.

These two regiments brought with them to Camp Hancock a long and storied past. The 6th raised in the Philadelphia area had companies who traced their lineage back to Colonial militias and others who served from Manassas to Appomattox during the Civil War. The 18th known as “The Duquesne Grays” drilled out of a castle like armory in Pittsburgh and had fought in the Mexican-American War, Civil War, and served in countless domestic roles in and around the city. The units were brought together for the first time under the designation “111th Infantry” in preparation for the Pennsylvania National Guard's entrance into World War l.

The combination of the 6th from the Philadelphia region, and the 18th from the Pittsburgh region, signaled the end to independent National Guard structure, and reorganization as part of the US Army’s regimental system. After months of training in Georgia, the 111th would board ships in NY Harbor and headed to Calais, France in May 1918. In France they would earn the Regiment’s first honors under their new name.

09/25/2026

Still on the fence about attending CARS?

This year will feature a special remembrance and reunion for members of the regiment that deployed in OIF 3 with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry.

Come out to King of Prussia this November and visit old friends, honor our fallen, and learn what the battalion is up to these days.

Registration information on the flyer below!

09/23/2026

Don’t wait, CARS Mess Registration is open!

We invite all current and former Associators to join the Regiment in this years annual regimental mess on 14 NOV 2026. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the mess, a tradition re-born in the post-WWII era.

The attached QR codes or below links will take participants to registration and to a special block or rooms reserved at the event hotel and an alternate adjacent venue.

111th Infantry Regimental Mess 2026
https://associators111.org/mess-payment/

Two blocks of Hotel rooms are now available for the 111th Infantry Regimental Mess. This year, attendees may choose from two convenient hotel options:

Sheraton Valley Forge King of Prussia
Located at the site of the Regimental Mess event.
https://app.marriott.com/resview2?id=1776103266958&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Element Valley Forge King of Prussia
https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1776103408567&key=GRP&app=resvlink

We look forward to seeing everyone in November!

09/17/2026

September 17th, 1862- Antietam

The 111th Infantry Regiment traces it's heritage through many units from the Philadelphia region. Among those units one of the most famous is the 72nd Pennsylvania, or Baxter’s Fire Zouaves. On this day in 1862 the predecessor of today’s 111th Infantry advanced into one of their bloodiest engagements.

The 72nd Pennsylvania was part of the Philadelphia Brigade, under BG Oliver O Howard. The Regiment marched with the rest of their Brigade across the East Woods, and the Bloody Cornfield where so many other Pennsylvanians had fallen in combat earlier. As they marched through the cornfield, the men of nearby Pennsylvanians of the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry called out “three hearty cheers” and “Three more for Phila!” The Brigade advanced in step across the field. Despite the terrible terrain. Deployed in an attack towards the “West Woods” the 72nd would soon find itself in a precarious situation.

As the men of the 72nd followed a general advance through the west woods towards skirmishing at Poffenberger Farm, the situation changed rapidly. As the advance slowed the men of the 72nd found themselves ground to a halt, waiting for the Brigades in front of them to advance. Many leaned on their ri**es, or sat on the ground waiting for orders to continue their attack. At this moment on their left flank, Confederate Brigades emerged from the woods and cut towards them. The 72nd was caught completely off guard. As volley after volley poured into their ranks the 72nd was forced to pull back from the woods, and the rest of the Brigade, and then the entire Division followed suit. In the first moments of the attack nearly half of the regiment was wounded or killed.

The 72nd fell back and was not regrouped until the following day. Their action at Antietam would bloody them, but not take them out of the fight. They would return to action at Fredericksburg in December, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and several other battles in the war.

To learn more about the 111th Infantry’s predecessor, the 72nd Pennsylvania look for the book “Stopping Pickett: The History of the Philadelphia Brigade”

09/11/2026

09/08/2026

111th Infantry Wh***ey Fundraiser!

Have you ever wanted your own bottle of 28th Division Wh***ey? 🥃

What if it also helped support the Regimental Association and CARS Mess?

Now is your chance! John Fitch Distilling, in partnership with the 28th Infantry Division Association is offering a special run of Red Keystone Reserve with a portion of each sale going directly to the 111th Regimental Fund.

For more information, or to place an order, check out https://111th.johnfitchdistilling.com/home

This fundraiser is handled directly through John Fitch, who will produce, bottle, and ship the wh***ey from their distillery in Pennsylvania. The Association will receive a donation from the distillery for every bottle purchased, and each bottle will feature a QR Code which when scanned, shares the story of the 111th Infantry.