The 50th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.
Lineage
Constituted 15 May 1917 in the Regular Army as the 50th Infantry. Organized 1 June 1917 at Syracuse, New York. Assigned 31 July 1918 to the 20th Division. Relieved 28 February 1919 from assignment to the 20th Division. Inactivated 31 December 1921 in Germany. Demobilized 31 July 1922. Reconstituted 8 January 1942 in the Regular Army as the 50th Armored Infantry and assigned to the 6th Armored Division. Activated 15 February 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Regiment broken up 20 September 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as elements of the 6th Armored Division as follows: 50th Armored Infantry (less 1st and 2d Battalions) as the 50th Armored Infantry Battalion 1st Battalion as the 44th Armored Infantry Battalion 2d Battalion as the 9th Armored Infantry Battalion After 20 September 1943 the above units underwent changes as follows: 50th and 9th Armored Infantry Battalions inactivated 18 September 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York Activated 5 September 1950 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Inactivated 16 March 1956 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Relieved 1 July 1957 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division. 50th, 44th, and 9th Armored Infantry Battalions consolidated 1 July 1959 to form the 50th Infantry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System. Reorganized and redesignated 1 July 1963 as the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Relieved 1 September 1967 from assignment to the 2d Armored Division for duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Served under the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) [Binh Dinh Province] Sep 1967 - Feb 1968. Served under the 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division [Binh Dinh and Kontum Provinces] Mar 1968 - Apr 1968. Served under the 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate) [Binh Dinh Province] May 1968 - Sep 1969. Served under Task Force South, I Field Force Vietnam [Binh Thuan Province] Oct 1969 - Dec 1970 Additional 50th Infantry Units in Vietnam: Co. E (LRP), 50th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division; Dec 1967 - Jan 1969 [Later became Co. E, 75th Infantry (Ranger)]. Co. F (LRP), 50th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division; Dec 1967 - Jan 1969 [Later became Co. F, 75th Infantry (Ranger)]. Company E (Rifle Security), 50th Infantry, Company F (Rifle Security), 50th Infantry, both served as security for U.S. Army Support Command, Da Nang - June 1971 - November 1972 50th Infantry Platoon Scout Dogs (50th IPSD), 4th Infantry Division [Pleiku] 07 March 1967 - 10 December 1970. Assigned 16 December 1970 to the 2d Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Inactivated 27 January 1983 at Fort Hood, Texas and relieved from assignment to the 2d Armored Division. Withdrawn 28 August 1987 from the Combat Arms Regimental System, reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System, and transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command with headquarters at Fort Benning, Georgia. Assigned as part of the 198th Infantry Brigade, after the Brigade's reactivation on 15 May 2007 at Fort Benning, Georgia, to serve as an Infantry Training Brigade.
Campaign participation credit
World War II
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
Vietnam
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/CounterOffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Consolidation I
Consolidation II
Cease-Fire
Vietnam War Memorial
"In remembrance of those killed while serving with the 1st Battalion, 50th United States Infantry Regiment during the War in Vietnam. 1967-1970. May God have mercy on their souls and grant them peace."
Decorations
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered BINH DUONG PROVINCE, French
Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered BREST
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969 Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970 Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970 Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970
Motto
The unit's motto "Play the Game" was taken from "Vitai Lampada" ("They Pass On The Torch of Life"), a poem written in 1892 by Sir Henry Newbolt (1862–1938).