Lineage and Honors Information as of 3 April 2012
31st INFANTRY REGIMENT
(THE POLAR BEARS)
- Constituted 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as the 31st Infantry
- Organized 1 August 1916 in the Philippines
- Assigned 22 October 1921 to the Philippine Division
- Relieved 26 June 1931 from assignment to the Philippine Division
- Assigned in 1941 to the Philippine Division
- Surrendered 9 April 1942 to the Japanese 14th Army
- Reorganized 19 January 1946 in Korea as an element of the 7th Infantry Division
- Relieved 1 July 1957 from assignment to the 7th Infantry Division and reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
- Withdrawn 16 January 1986 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
- Transferred 2 October 1991 to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
- Withdrawn 1 February 1995 from the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
- Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 31st Infantry Regiment
Campaign Participation Credit
- World War I
- Siberia 1918
- Siberia 1919
- World War II
- Philippine Islands
- Korean War
- UN Defensive
- UN Offensive
- CCF Intervention
- First UN Counteroffensive
- CCF Spring Offensive
- UN Summer-Fall Offensive
- Second Korean Winter
- Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
- Third Korean Winter
- Korea, Summer 1953
- Vietnam
- Counteroffensive, Phase II
- 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
- War on Terrorism
- Campaigns to be determined
Decorations
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered LUZON 1941-1942
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BATAAN
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINES
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered QUANG TIN PROVINCE
- Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered CHOSIN RESERVOIR
- Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered HWACHON RESERVOIR
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered QUE SON - HIEP DUC
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SAIGON
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered PARROT’S BEAK
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered YUSUFIYAH, IRAQ
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2004-2005
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009-2010
- Navy Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered PANMUNJOM
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 7 DECEMBER 1941 TO 10 MAY 1942
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered INCHON
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1953
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1946-1948; 1953-1957
By Order of the Secretary of the Army:
Robert J. Dalessandro
Director, Center of Military History
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