Courtesy Photo | Pictured is the regimental crest. Je Suis Pret means "I Am Ready."... read more read more
BISMARCK, N.D. - Soldiers who served together in battle more than 70 years ago are meeting in Mandan this weekend for an annual reunion.
In February, 1941, the 164th Infantry Regiment, North Dakota Army National Guard, mobilized for what was to be a year of training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. By October, 1942, they were making history as the first U.S. Army unit to offensively engage the enemy, in either theater, when they reinforced the beleaguered Marines at Guadalcanal.
To put that into perspective, that’s almost 20 months before the Allies landed in Europe on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
“The entire state was affected by the mobilization of the 164th Infantry,” said Vern Fetch, current president of the 164th Infantry Association that hosts the annual reunion. “The regiment had about 1,700 men located in 17 communities throughout North Dakota.”
Those locations were Fargo, Devils Lake, Harvey, Lisbon, Bottineau, Bismarck, Cavalier, Grafton, Rugby, Cando, Williston, Carrington, Valley City, Jamestown, Edgeley, Dickinson, and Wahpeton.
Fetch, a retired colonel who joined the 164th Infantry during the Korean War era, noted that many other North Dakotans and Minnesotans who were drafted in early 1941 were processed through Fort Snelling and were sent to Camp Claiborne to join the units from their home states.
The first casualty of the war for the 164th was a soldier from Grand Forks who was killed by Japanese naval artillery Oct. 13, 1942, the day the regiment landed on Guadalcanal. Just 11 days later, the 1st Marine Division was having difficulty defending the line on Edson’s Ridge and requested reinforcements. Their support came in the form of 3rd Battalion, 164th Infantry.
Marine battalion commander Lt. Col. Chesty Puller and the commander of the 164th Third Battalion, Lt. Col. Robert K. Hall from Jamestown, worked together to place Soldiers in foxholes along with Marines to bolster the defense. The eight-round automatic fire from the army-issued M1 rifles and the additional machine guns from the heavy weapons company helped turn the tide during the Second Battle for Henderson Field. The second night of this action became known as the Battle of Coffin Corner, so named for the thousands of Japanese infantry killed in the banzai attack on the perimeter.
The soldiers earned the respect of the Marines and the Army regiment was awarded the Navy Presidential Unit Citation.
The regiment served for a month with the Marines before the next regiment from the Americal Division arrived on Guadalcanal. The 182nd Infantry, Massachusetts Army National Guard, arrived Nov. 12 and the 132nd Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard, followed Dec. 8.
The 164th participated in campaigns on Guadalcanal; Bougainville (Northern Solomons); Leyte; and Cebu, Bohol, Mindanao (Southern Philippines), earning four bronze "battle" stars on the Asiatic Pacific Campaign ribbon and serving over 600 days in contact with the enemy. Americal Division was slated to spearhead the invasion of Japan as part of Operation Olympic. They were training for that invasion when the war ended.
The roots of the 164th Infantry grow deeply into North Dakota’s history. The unit evolved from the 1st North Dakota Volunteers, which served in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the Mexican Border Incident. The 164th Infantry served in World War I, World War II and served as a training regiment at Fort Rucker during the Korean War.
“The 164th Infantry Association has 106 WWII veterans on its roles,” said Ben Kemp, retired chief warrant officer who serves as secretary/treasurer and reunion coordinator for the organization. “There's almost that many members from the Korean War,” he added.
Membership also extends to about 400 spouses, descendants, and friends. In addition to hosting the annual reunion, the association published a book “They Were Ready” in 2010, prints a news magazine that continues to tell the stories of the soldiers who served, and offers a presentation entitled “History, Heroism, Heritage” which discusses the 164th Infantry’s significance to North Dakota history, emphasizing its performance during World War II and its enduring legacy.
The first reunion was held in Fargo by a few guys from Company B who got together shortly after returning from the South Pacific in late 1945. The 69th annual reunion begins Friday at the Seven Seas motel in Mandan.
The Patriot Guard will help greet a few of the WWII soldiers who arrive at the Bismarck airport on Thursday and Friday. Attendees include 11 veterans of WWII, with an average age of 93. They're coming from North Dakota, California, Missouri, Kentucky, New Mexico and Alabama. In addition, 10 veterans of the Korean War mobilization and numerous family members plan to attend. Activities include a short program at the 164th Memorial at the ND Veterans Cemetery, a band concert, a memorial service with Taps, banquet, and dance.
The public is invited to the concert performance of the 188th Army National Guard Band, a descendant of the 164th Infantry Band, at 2pm on Saturday at Dykshoorn Park, Mandan. The inclement weather location will be the Mandan High School Auditorium. Displays of U.S. and Japanese WWII military equipment will be on display at the Seven Seas on Friday and Saturday afternoons.
For additional information or research about the 164th Infantry, contact Shirley Olgeirson, PO Box 1111, Bismarck, ND 58502 or email editor164thinfantrynews@hotmail.com.
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2014 20:46 |
| Story ID: | 142117 |
| Location: | BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,141 |
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