1st North Dakota Infantry

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, friends, and this one's worth your full attention. Now, most regiments get a good story or two. Maybe a battle, maybe a border posting, maybe a war.

This one, well, this one kept showing up every time history decided to get loud. We're standing in Hidalgo County, Texas, where on the seventh of April, 1960, a marker went up in recognition of one thousand and seven officers and enlisted men of the 1st North Dakota Infantry, North Dakota National Guard. Those men camped right here in this area, 1916 to 1917, during Mexican Border Service.

Just one chapter in a very long book. The outfit got its start as the 1st Dakota Infantry, organized in 1883. Two years later, in 1885, it was redesignated the 1st North Dakota Infantry.

That name had a good run. Then the Spanish-American War came calling, 1898 to 1899, and the regiment went off into federal service for the War of Insurrection as well. Came back.

Settled in. Then came the border, right here in this patch of South Texas, 1916 to 1917. And then the world really opened up.

The regiment was redesignated the 164th Infantry and shipped to France as part of the AEF, the American Expeditionary Forces, 1917 to 1918. That's World War One. Most outfits would've called that a full life.

Not these fellows. World War Two, Pacific Theatre of Operations, 1941 to 1945. And here's the part that stops you cold.

This regiment, as a part of the Americal Division, was the first United States Army component to take the offensive in World War Two. Guadalcanal. The date on that distinction: October 13, 1942.

The first to go on the attack. In the whole war. You let that sit for a moment.

They weren't done. The Korean Conflict brought the regiment to Camp Rucker, Alabama, 1951 to 1953. And then, in 1955, the long run of the 164th Infantry came to a close when the regiment was converted to the 164th Engineer Group, North Dakota National Guard.

From a Dakota territory infantry in 1883 to the Pacific's first offensive strike in 1942, to a marker in the Texas brush country, this outfit covered a lot of ground. Literally and otherwise.

What the marker says

Erected 7 April 1960 In recognition of 1007 officers and enlisted men of the 1st North Dakota Infantry, North Dakota National Guard which occupied this area as a camp site 1916-1917. HISTORY Organized as 1st Dakota Infantry 1883 Redesignated 1st North Dakota Infantry 1885 FEDERAL SERVICE Span.-Amer. War & War of Insurrection 1898-1899 Mexican Border Service 1916-1917 REDESIGNATED 164TH INFANTRY WWI - - AEF - FRANCE 1917-1918 WWII - Pacific Theatre of Operations 1941-1945 Korean Conflict - Camp Rucker, Alabama 1951-1953 This regiment, as a part of the Americal Division, was the first United States Army component to take the offensive in World War II - Guadalcanal, 13 October 1942. Converted to 164th Engineer Group NDAK NG 1955