Lineage and Honors Information as of 12 January 2018

4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment
(The Polar Bears)

  • Constituted 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as Company D, 31st Infantry
  • Organized 1 August 1916 in the Philippines
  • (31st Infantry 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
  • Inactivated 1 July 1957 in Korea and relieved from assignment to the 7th Infantry Division; concurrently redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battle Group, 31st Infantry
  • Redesignated 10 September 1965 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, assigned to the 196th Infantry Brigade, and activated at Fort Devens, Massachusetts (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
  • Battalion relieved 15 February 1969 from assignment to the 196th Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 23d Infantry Division
  • Relieved 26 October 1971 from assignment to the 23d Infantry Division
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company reorganized and redesignated 2 October 1991 as Company D, 31st Infantry, and transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (remainder of battalion concurrently inactivated)
  • Inactivated 1 February 1995 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and withdrawn from the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command; concurrently redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry
  • Battalion assigned 16 April 1996 to the 10th Mountain Division and activated at Fort Drum, New York
  • Relieved 16 September 2005 from assignment to the 10th Mountain Division, and assigned to the 2d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
  • Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 4th Battalion, 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 YUSUFIYAH, IRAQ
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2004-2005
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009-2010
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2015-2016
  • 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
  • Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969
  • Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970
  • Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971
  • Company A additionally entitled to:
  • Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1998-1999
  • Company C additionally entitled to:
  • Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered KHOWST PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN 2002

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

CHARLES R. BOWERY, JR.
Chief of Military History


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