5th Infantry Regiment (United States) - World War II

World War II

The 5th Infantry was posted at Camp Paraiso, Panama Canal Zone from 1939–1943. It had previously been posted at Fort Williams, Maine, where it was nominally assigned to the inactive 9th Infantry Division.

With the onset of World War II, the 5th Infantry was made a part of the 71st Infantry Division and participated in an experiment to develop a "light" infantry division, capable of operating in harsh terrain from the mountains to the desert. The light division was deemed unnecessary for World War II and the 71st Infantry Division was converted back to a regular infantry division. The 5th was sent to Europe in January 1945 with the rest of the division and was in the front lines a month later. Initially taking defensive positions, the 5th was soon on the offensive, driving into Germany. The regiment fought through southern Germany, capturing the cities of Fulda, Bayreuth and Nuremberg. The 5th Infantry was the first U.S. Army unit to cross the Danube River and the first to invade Austria. For its participation in the Second World War, the 5th was presented the following Battle Streamers: Rhineland, Central Europe, and American Theater.