59th Coast Artillery Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
History
During the Philippines Campaign (1941–42) the regiment opperated the following Batteries- A Battery Hearn
- B Battery Crockett
- C Battery Wheeler
- D Battery Cheney
- E Battery Fort Drum (El Fraile Island)Fort Drum (El Fraile Island)Fort Drum , also known as the “concrete battleship,” is a heavily fortified island fortress situated at the mouth of Manila Bay in the Philippines, due south of Corregidor Island. It was occupied by the Japanese in World War II, and was recaptured by the U.S...
- F Battery Smith
- G Battery Fort HughesFort HughesFort Hughes was part of the harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bays built by the Philippine Department of the U.S. Army in the early 1900s....
- H Battery Geary
- I Battery (AA) Fort Hughs
- K Battery James
Lineage
Constituted 1 December 1917 in the Regular Army as the 59th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps) and organized 1 January 1918 at Fort HamiltonFort Hamilton
Historic Fort Hamilton is located in the southwestern corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn surrounded by the communities of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Bensonhurst, and is one of several posts that are part of the region which is headquartered by the Military District of Washington...
, New York from existing Regular Army and New York National Guard Companies of Coast Artillery. (National Guard Companies demoblized at Camp Upton
Camp Upton
Camp Upton was an installation of the United States Army located in Yaphank on Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. It was located near Camp Mills.-History:...
, New York during January and February 1919 but regiment continued on active status).
(Service Battery; Headquarters Detachment and Combat train, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions inactivated 30 September 1922 at Fort Mills
Fort Mills
Fort Mills was the location of US Major General George F. Moore's headquarters for the Philippine Department's Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. This was one of the locations at which, under the National Defense Act of 1935, coastal artillery training was conducted.-References:*McGovern,...
, Philippine Islands. Batteries G, and H activated 11 October 1922 at Fort Mills). Redesignated 20 February 1924 as the 59th Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense)(Heavy Tractor); Concurently batteries C, D, E, and F activated at Fort Mills. Remainder of regiment activated 30 May 1941 at Fort Mills.
- surrendered 6 May 1942 to the Japanese forces on CorregidorCorregidorCorregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is a lofty island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location, Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of...
Island, Philippine Islands.
Inactivated 2 April 1946 at Fort Mills. Redesignated 26 December 1947 as the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion and activated 1 January 1948 at Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
, Texas. Redesignated 24 February 1953 as the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. Inactivated 1 September 1958 at Fort Bliss.
- Reorganized and redesignated 31 July 1959 as the 59th Artillery a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Per fess vair and Argent, in base a thistle Proper. Attached above from a wreath Argent and Azure a demi-lion rampant Gules grasping in dexter claw a sword Or. Attached above and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “DEFENDIMUS” in Red letters.
- Symbolism
The vair on the shield is from the arms of the Coast Defenses of New York, the thistle is one of the emblems of Lorraine and is borne on the arms of Nancy not far from St. Mihiel. The crest it taken from the arms of St. Menehould in red for Artillery. The motto translates to “We Defend.”
- Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 15 August 1930. It was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons) on 23 November 1953. The insignia was redesignated for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 5 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 59th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
Blazon
- Shield
Per fess vair and Argent, in base a thistle Proper.
- Crest
On a wreath Argent and Azure a demi-lion rampant Gules armed and langued of the second grasping in dexter claw a sword Or. Motto: DEFENDIMUS (We Defend).
- Symbolism
- Shield
The vair on the shield is from the arms of the Coast Defenses of New York, the thistle is one of the emblems of Lorraine and is borne on the arms of Nancy not far from St. Mihiel.
- Crest
The crest it taken from the arms of St. Menehould in red for Artillery.
- Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 1 April 1921. It was amended to correct the motto on 28 April 1927. It was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 21 April 1949. The insignia was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons) on 23 November 1953. It was redesignated for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 5 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 59th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
Campaign Streamers
World War I- St Mihiel
- Meuse-Argonne
- Lorraine 1918
World War II
- Philippine Islands
Decorations
- Presidential Unit CitationPresidential Unit CitationThe Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
(Army), Streamer Embroidered BATAAN (59th CA cited for period 29 Dec. 1941- 28 Feb. 1942 - Presidential Unit CitationPresidential Unit CitationThe Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
(Army), Streamer Embroidered MANILA AND SUBIC BAYS (59th CA cited for period 14 March- 9 April 1942 - Presidential Unit CitationPresidential Unit CitationThe Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
(Army), Streamer Embroidered DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINES (59th CA cited for period 7 Dec. 1941- 10 May 1942 - Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Streamer Embroidered 7 DECEMBER 1941 TO 10 MAY 1942
See also
- Philippines Campaign (1941–42)
- Fort Drum (El Fraile Island)Fort Drum (El Fraile Island)Fort Drum , also known as the “concrete battleship,” is a heavily fortified island fortress situated at the mouth of Manila Bay in the Philippines, due south of Corregidor Island. It was occupied by the Japanese in World War II, and was recaptured by the U.S...
- United States Army branch insigniaUnited States Army branch insigniaBranch insignia of the United States Army refers to military emblems that may be worn on the uniform of the United States Army to denote membership in a particular area of expertise and series of functional areas...
- commons:Field Army insignia of the United States Army
- Corps insignia of the United States ArmyCorps insignia of the United States ArmyShoulder sleeve insignia are cloth emblems worn on the shoulders of U.S. Army uniforms to identify the primary headquarters to which a soldier is assigned...
- Division insignia of the United States ArmyDivision insignia of the United States ArmyShoulder sleeve insignia are cloth emblems worn on the shoulders of US Army uniforms to identify the primary headquarters to which a soldier is assigned. The SSI of some army divisions have become known in popular culture....
- Brigade insignia of the United States ArmyBrigade insignia of the United States ArmyShoulder sleeve insignia are cloth emblems worn on the shoulders of US Army uniforms to identify the primary headquarters to which a Soldier is assigned. Like Division sized units, separate brigades of the United States Army are allowed their own SSI to distinguish their wearers from those of...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Army unitsCoats of arms of U.S. Army unitsCoats of arms of US Army units are heraldic emblems associated with units in the US Army. By Army regulation, all regiments, and some other units, of the US Army organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment are authorized a coat of arms to be displayed on the organization's standard,...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Air Defense Artillery RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Air Defense Artillery RegimentsCoats of arms of US Air Defense Artillery Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with Field artillery, Air Defense Artillery, and coast artillery regiments in the US Army...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Artillery RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Artillery RegimentsCoats of arms of US Artillery Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with field artillery, air defense artillery, and coast artillery regiments in the US Army...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Armor RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Armor RegimentsCoats of arms of US Armor Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with armor regiments in the US Army. By Army regulation, all regiments of the US Army organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment are authorized a coat of arms to be displayed on the organization's standard, called the...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Army Aviation RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Army Aviation RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Army Aviation Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with aviation regiments in the US Army. By Army regulation, all regiments of the US Army organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment are authorized a coat of arms to be displayed on the organization's standard,...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Cavalry RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Cavalry RegimentsCoats of arms of US Cavalry Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with armor and cavalry regiments in the US Army. By Army regulation, all regiments of the US Army organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment are authorized a coat of arms to be displayed on the organization's standard,...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Engineer BattalionsCoats of arms of U.S. Engineer BattalionsCoats of arms of U.S. Engineer Battalions are heraldic emblems associated with units in the US Army. By Army regulation, all regiments, and some other units, of the US Army organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment are authorized a coat of arms to be displayed on the organization's...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Infantry RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Infantry RegimentsCoats of arms of US Infantry Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with infantry regiments in the US Army. By Army regulation, all regiments of the US Army organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment are authorized a coat of arms to be displayed on the organization's standard, called...
- Distinctive unit insignia (U.S. Army)
External links
- http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/coast59.htm
- http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lh.html
- http://concretebattleship.vcwsg.org/3rd%20battalion%2059th%20CA%20History.htm
- http://concretebattleship.org/Slideshow/kuncken/kuncken.htm
- http://www.airdefenseartillery.com/online/2010/Coast%20Artillery%20Journal/Extract/CA%201928/Mar%201928.pdf
- http://corregidor.org/btty_histories/control/order_battle_59.htm