70th Anniversary of the 163rd

Missoulian: Resolution would honor Montana Guard unit forWWII efforts

SJ21: Joint resolution recognizing the 70th anniversary of the 163rd, WWII service 

WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment (1917-1953) and its successor units, the 163rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (1953-1970), 1/163rd Infantry Battalion (Mechanized), 163rd Armored Brigade (1970-1995), and the 1/163rd Infantry Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment (1995-present) has served Montana and this nation in war and in peace for the past century; and

     WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment was ordered into active duty on September 16, 1940, with a force of 1,700 men, including nearly 200 representatives of Montana tribes and after training for 1 year became part of the initial American forces ordered into duty in the Pacific theater when the United States entered World War II in December 1941; and

     WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment earned numerous citations and letters of appreciation from Army headquarters during and after World War II, in particular for what General Jacob Devers referred to as "76 days of unrelieved fighting, a record in jungle warfare," as the 163rd Infantry Regiment and the 41st Infantry Division to which it was assigned carried on a 1,000-mile campaign in the jungles of New Guinea; and

     WHEREAS, the year 2013 is the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the 163rd Infantry Regiment's heroic efforts to help the allied forces win the Battle of Sanananda, Papua New Guinea, in World War II in the Southwest Pacific, a battle recognized as the first major land victory against the Japanese forces; and

     WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment battled enemy forces, fighting in Papua New Guinea, in the Battles of Aitape, Biak, Wadke, in the southern Philippines in the battle of Zamboanga, and in the Sulu Archipelago with amphibious landings on Tawi-Tawi, Jolo, Sanga-Sanga, and Bongao; and

     WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment was credited with winning three major battles, Sanananda, Biak, and Zamboanga, and three smaller battles, Wadke, Jolo, and Calinan; and

     WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment served as one of the initial occupation forces in Japan in World War II until being demobilized and sent home in January 1946; and

     WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regimental Combat Team, upon its return to Montana, became a major element of Montana's National Guard, serving as the basis for the Montana Army and Air National Guard, which continue to serve Montana today; and

     WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment is the successor to the following: volunteer troops known as the Montana Territorial Volunteers, who served from 1867 to 1887; the First Montana Infantry Regiment; the Montana National Guard formed in March 1887; the First Montana Infantry Regiment, United States Volunteers, which was formed to fight in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars in 1898-1899 and which later became the 2nd Montana Infantry providing emergency services for Montana before being activated to serve on the U.S.-Mexican border in 1916 and being redesignated as the 163rd Infantry Regiment prior to being called to duty in World War I in 1917-1919; and

     WHEREAS, more than 100,000 Montanans have served or are currently serving in units associated with the 163rd Infantry Regiment and deserve recognition for their accomplishments in serving the state and the country including in the Global War on Terror beginning in 2001 and continuing today.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

     That the 63rd Legislature recognizes the 163rd Infantry Regiment and its successors on the 70th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Sanananda, Papua New Guinea, and tenders to every officer and to every man and woman of the 163rd Infantry Regiment and its successors and expresses deep gratitude of the whole body of citizens for this great victory, purchased with the blood of their bravest, hopeful that the Regiment and its successors will accept this expression as evidence of the love and devotion that we have for it, which sustains us on the home front and inspires us to dedicate each day to aid our men and women overseas and at home.