1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (United States)

1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (United States)
Unit name	1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment
Dates	1967–1972
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Battalion
Command structure	11th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division
Battles	Vietnam War
Decorations	Valorous Unit Award

1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (United States) was a United States Army infantry battalion that served with distinction during the Vietnam War. Activated as part of the 23rd Infantry Division's 11th Infantry Brigade, the battalion was a key combat unit in the I Corps Tactical Zone of South Vietnam. Its service was marked by intense combat operations against People's Army of Vietnam and Viet Cong forces before its inactivation in the early 1970s.

History

The battalion was constituted in the Regular Army on 3 May 1861 as part of the original 20th Infantry Regiment. The lineage of its parent regiment includes service in the American Civil War, the Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War. The specific 1st Battalion was activated on 1 July 1967 at Fort Lewis, Washington, as an element of the 11th Infantry Brigade, which was itself assigned to the newly formed 23rd Infantry Division. This activation was part of the United States Army's broader buildup of forces for the escalating conflict in Southeast Asia.

Organization and lineage

Organized under the Reorganization Objective Army Division structure, the battalion was a standard infantry battalion consisting of a headquarters company, four rifle companies (A, B, C, and D), and a combat support company. It traced its direct lineage to Company A of the historic 20th Infantry Regiment. As part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, its higher headquarters was the 23rd Infantry Division, a unit often referred to by its Vietnam War nickname, the "Americal Division".

Vietnam War service

The battalion deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in December 1967. It operated primarily in the volatile I Corps region, conducting operations in Quảng Ngãi and Quảng Tín Provinces. The unit participated in numerous significant campaigns and operations, including Operation Wheeler/Wallowa and the defense of key locations like Chu Lai. It was heavily engaged during the Tet Offensive of 1968 and subsequent counteroffensives. The battalion also took part in operations within the A Sầu Valley and around Hill 55, experiencing sustained combat against regular People's Army of Vietnam units.

Post-Vietnam and inactivation

Following the Vietnamization policy, the battalion's operational tempo decreased. The 11th Infantry Brigade was withdrawn from South Vietnam in November 1971. Subsequently, the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry was inactivated on 15 October 1972 at Fort Lewis. The battalion's colors were later reactivated under different United States Army brigades in subsequent decades, but its distinct service as part of the 23rd Infantry Division concluded with this inactivation.

Commanders and notable personnel

The battalion was led by a succession of lieutenant colonels during its combat tour. Among its notable personnel was then-First Lieutenant Robert L. Howard, who served as a platoon leader with the unit before transferring to the Special Forces and later receiving the Medal of Honor for actions in 1968. The battalion's ranks included several soldiers who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star for valor in combat.

Honors and distinctions

For its actions in Vietnam, the battalion was awarded the Valorous Unit Award for extraordinary heroism during the period 25 January to 12 February 1968. It also earned the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm unit citation. The battalion's campaign participation credit includes the Tet Counteroffensive, the Summer-Fall 1969, and the Sanctuary Counteroffensive campaigns, among others designated by the United States Army Center of Military History.

Category:Infantry battalions of the United States Army Category:United States Army units and formations in the Vietnam War