Military unit
The 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, later the 59th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, was a regiment in the United States Army. It served as a heavy artillery regiment in France in World War I, and was in the Battle of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, in World War II.
History
World War I
Constituted 1 December 1917 in the Regular Army as the 59th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps) (CAC) and organized 1 January 1918 at Fort Hamilton, New York from existing Regular Army and New York National Guard Companies of Coast Artillery.[1] Moved to France March 1918, armed there with 24 British-made 8-inch howitzers, served with the 32nd Brigade (CAC) on the Western Front, including support of I and IV Army Corps. Returned to the US in January 1919 and later moved to Camp Lewis, Washington state (National Guard Companies demobilized at Camp Upton, New York during January and February 1919 but regiment continued on active status).[2][3]
World War II
During the Philippines campaign (1941–1942) the regiment garrisoned much of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays, along with the 91st Coast Artillery and 92nd Coast Artillery of the Philippine Scouts. Its commander in World War II was Colonel Paul Bunker. It operated at least the following batteries, at Fort Mills, Corregidor unless otherwise noted:[4]
- A Battery Hearn
- B Battery Crockett
- C Battery Wheeler
- D Battery Cheney
- E Battery Fort Drum (El Fraile Island)
- F Battery Smith
- G Battery Fort Hughes
- H Battery Geary
- I Battery (AA) Fort Hughes
- K Battery James
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 in (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Per fess vair and Argent, in base a thistle Proper. Attached above from a wreath Argent and Azure a demi-lion rampant Gules grasping in dexter claw a sword Or. Attached above and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “defendimus” in Red letters.
The vair on the shield is from the arms of the Coast Defenses of Southern New York, the thistle is one of the emblems of Lorraine and is borne on the arms of Nancy not far from Saint-Mihiel. The crest is taken from the arms of St. Menehould in red for Artillery.[5] The motto translates to “We Defend.”
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 15 August 1930. It was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons) on 23 November 1953. The insignia was redesignated for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 5 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 59th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
Blazon
Per fess vair and Argent, in base a thistle Proper.
On a wreath Argent and Azure a demi-lion rampant Gules armed and langued of the second grasping in dexter claw a sword Or. Motto: DEFENDIMUS (We Defend).
Symbolism
The vair on the shield is from the arms of the Coast Defenses of New York, the thistle is one of the emblems of Lorraine and is borne on the arms of Nancy not far from St. Mihiel.
The crest it taken from the arms of St. Menehould in red for Artillery.
Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 1 April 1921. It was amended to correct the motto on 28 April 1927. It was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 21 April 1949. The insignia was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons) on 23 November 1953. It was redesignated for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 5 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 59th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
United States