7th Infantry Regiment Association

Welcome to the 7th Infantry Regiment Association website.

 

About the Association

The Seventh Infantry Regiment Association was established in 1987. The Association presently has more than 600 members, comprised of veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Persian Gulf, and members of the Active Army.
The Seventh Infantry Regiment was constituted 11 January 1812, making it one of the five oldest regiments in the United States Army. It ranks first on the Army's Order of Merit List in terms of date constituted, number of campaigns in which it participated, and awards and decorations received.

What's Happening

Cottonbaler Pistol

There has been a request for another order of the Cottonbaler 1911A1 pistols that Leonard Collins arranged for back in 2009.

I have been in contact with Leonard and he is planning on another order of pistols. At this time, there is not a price. He has to price out the pistol and then the engraving.

Here are 2 photos of my Cottonbaler Pistol and the flyer he had at the 2009 Reunion. Cottonbaler pistol flyer
Cottonbaler Pistol - Left Side
Cottonbaler Pistol - Right Side

If interested, please contact Leonard directly. Here his contact information:
Leonard Collins
PO Box 224
Sylvania, GA 30467
803-300-2554

Volens et Potens

Posted on 18 June 2020 by David Spanburg, webmaster

Boswell Scholarship Update

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the application deadline for the Boswell Scholarship has been extended to 3 Jul 2020.

Scholarship Form →
Posted on September 20, 2018 by David Spanburg, webmaster

About the 7th Infantry Regiment Association

Association Objectives

  • To create and perpetuate a viable and cohesive national organization for the purpose of enjoying the camaraderie and unique membership, and in unison, voice concern for the protection of our cherished American ideals and our individual way of life.
  • To support the military policy that maintains reasonable but strong nuclear and conventional, combat-ready regular and reserve component forces, able to provide adequate national security for our nation and its people.
  • To foster the development of good citizenship, patriotism and leadership in our American youth, the future of our nation.
  • To insure that posterity is constantly reminded of those instances of service, sacrifice, and dedication to the preservation of a nation's liberty and freedom by celebrating those dates that recall the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces of the United States of America and especially the Seventh Infantry Regiment and its component units.
  • To encourage and achieve the mutual benefit and support resulting from a close and cooperative alliance between the Association and the active units of the Seventh Infantry Regiment in the United States Army.

The Cottonbaler Creed

Before you stands a damn fine soldier … a COTTONBALER … by God! I can be counted on to accomplish any mission … any task … any job. I have been in the arena. My face is covered with dust, sweat, and blood. I have known the sweet fragrance of freedom for I have paid the price. I am a damn fine soldier … a COTTONBALER … by God!

I earned my nickname at Chalmette in the War of 1812. We stacked cotton bales on the levee and with Andrew Jackson stood the fury of the British square. With spent musket and cannon the British retired from the field that day. They had met some damn fine soldiers … a COTTONBALER … by God!

I remember the Alamo … traveled south and left my mark and my blood at Monterey, Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. I marched triumphantly into Mexico City … proudly proclaiming … COTTONBALERS … by God!

The sound of fury from Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Chickamauga and Chattanooga still rings in my ears and I witnessed the closing acts of the internal strife at Gettysburg. I had fought my brother but done my job … a COTTONBALER … by God!

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History of the 7th Infantry Regiment

The rich heritage of the 7th Infantry Regiment spans 200 years and 12 wars with 76 campaign streamers earned and 14 unit decorations received. The Regiment has served in more campaigns than any other Infantry unit in the United States Army. It was initially organized in response to the “quasi-war” with France during the summer of 1798. The first major conflict in which the Regiment was engaged was the Indian War of 1811 where it fought under General William Henry Harrison in Ohio and Indiana. Its first encounter against foreign troops took place in the War of 1812 where the 7th Infantry saw action in Canada, Florida and Louisiana.

It was the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, while being commanded by Andrew Jackson, who later became President of the United States, that the 7th Infantry was dubbed the “COTTONBALERS.” During that battle the 7th successfully held their position against the British forces from behind a breastwork of cotton bales. The nickname “Cottonbalers” was proudly accepted by the Regiment and a cotton bale was incorporated into the Regimental Coat of Arms and to the Distinctive Unit Insignia. Subsequent to the War of 1812 the 7th Infantry served in Florida and on the Arkansas frontier. Thereafter, it saw action in the Mexican War in such famous battles as the battle at Monterey, Cerro Gordo, and Vera Cruz. Following the Mexican War, the Cottonbalers were busy with such frontier tasks as building forts and roads, and protecting settlers. Between 1815 and 1846 the 7th Infantry participated in several campaigns climaxed by the Florida War against the Seminole Indians.

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Association Officers and Board of Directors

Association Officers

Honorary President: VACANT

Honorary Colonel of the Regiment: LTG John Le Moyne, USA Retired

Honorary Command Sergeant Major of the Regiment: CSM Curly Faulk, USA Retired

President:Greg Cullison*

1st Vice President:

2nd Vice President:

Immediate Past President:Dave Jensen

Secretary:Phil Salois

Treasurer: Joe Washart

Association Board of Directors

  • Stephan Borkowski
  • Kent Cowel
  • Greg Cullison
  • Shawn Huebner
  • Al Watson

Chaplain: Father Phil Salios

Historian: Dr. John McManus

New Orleans Liaison:

Belgian Liaison Officer:

Newsletter Editor: David Spanburg

Webmaster: David Spanburg

2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry CDR: *

2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry CSM: *

* Denotes Active Duty

Lineage

7th Infantry Regiment Lineage

  • Constituted 11 January 1812 in the Regualr Army as the 8th Infantry
  • Organized in 1812 in Tennessee, Georgia, and the adjeacent territories
  • Consolidated May-October 1815 with the 24th Infantry (consitituted 26 June 1812) and the 39t Infantry (constituted 29 January 1813) to to form the 7th Infantry
  • Consolidated May-June 1869 with the 36th Infantry (See Annex) and consolidated unit designated as the 7th Infantry
  • Assigned 21 November 1917 to the 3rd Division(later redesignated adn the 3rd Infantry Division)
  • Releived 1 July 1957 from assignment to the 3rd Infantry Division and reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
  • Withdrawn 16 Decemver 1987 from the Combar Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System

Annex (36th Infantry)

  • Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 3rd Battalion, 18th Infantry
  • Organized 16 OCt 1861 at Camp Thomas, Ohio
  • Reorganized and redesignated 26 December 1866 as the 36th Infantry
  • Consolidated May-June 1869 with the 7th Infantry as consolidated unit designated as the 7th Infantry

Regimental Decorations:

  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for COLMAR
  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for CHOKSONG
  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for SEGOK
  • Presidential Unit Citation (army) for KOWANG-NI
  • Valorious Unit Award for SAIGON - LONG BINH
  • Valorious Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT
  • Army Superior Unit Award for 1994
  • French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star, World War I for AISNE-MARNE
  • French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II for COLMAR
  • French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragere
  • Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for UIJONGBU CORRIDOR
  • Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for IRON TRIANGLE
  • Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece) for Korea

Regimental Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms

Blazon:

Shield: Per fess Argent and Azure, a fess embattled to chief Or masoned Sable between in chief a field gun Gules on a mount Vert and in base hree bendlets sinister of the first.

Crest: On a wreath of the colors (Argent and Azure), a cotton bale Argetn banded Sable in front of the two bayonets in saltire Or.

Motto: VOLENS ET POTENS (WIlling and Able).

Symbolism:

Shield: The shield is white and blue, the old and present Infantry colors. The field gun is for the battle of Cerro Gordo, where the 7th participated in the decisive attack by an assault on Telegraph Hill, a strongly fortified point. This portion of the shield is in Mexican colors--red, white and green. The wall is for the battle of Fredericksburg in which the Regiment held for twelve hours a position only eighty yards in front of a stone wall protecting the enemy. The base alludes to the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 3d Division with which the 7th Infantry served during World War I.

Crest: The cotton bale and bayonets in the crest are taken from the arms of the 7th Infantry adopted in 1912.

Coat of Arms Background: The coat of arms was originally approved on 5 July 1921. It was amended on 15 Oct 1923 to add a new crest.

Regimental Crest

Distinguished Unit Insignia

Description: A gold color metal and enamaled device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height overall consisting of the crest an motto of the coat of arms.

Symbolism: The collon bale and bayonets are teken from the arms of the 7th Infantry adopted in 1912.

Distinguished Unit Insignia Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved on 18 October 1923. It was revised 13 March 1973 to clarify description and symbolism.

Campaign Participation

War of 1812

  • Canada
  • New Orleans
  • Florida 1814
  • Louisiana 1815

Mexican War

  • Monterey
  • vera Cruz
  • Cerro Gordo
  • Conteras
  • Churubusco
  • Monino del Ray
  • Chapultepec
  • Texas 1846

Civil War

  • Fredericksburg
  • Mufreesborough
  • Chancellorsville
  • Gettysburg
  • Chickamauga
  • Chattanooga
  • Atlanta
  • New Mexico 1861
  • New Mexico 1862
  • Tennessee 1862
  • Mississippi
  • Kentucky 1862
  • Tennessee 1863
  • Georgia 1864

Indian Wars

  • Little Big Horn
  • Nez Perces
  • Utes
  • Pine Ridge
  • New Mexico 1806
  • Wyoming 1866
  • Montana 1872

War with Spain

  • Santiago

Philippine Insurrection

  • Samar 1901
  • Samar 1902

World War I

  • Aisne
  • Champagne-Marne
  • Aisne-Marne
  • St. Mihiel
  • Meuse-argonne
  • Ile de France 1918
  • Champagne 1918

World War II

  • Algeria-French Morocco (with Arrowhead)
  • Tunsia
  • Sicily (with Arrowhead)
  • Naples-Foggia
  • Anzio (with Arrowhead)
  • Rome-Arno
  • Southern France (with Arrowhead)
  • Rhineland
  • Ardennes-Alsace
  • Central Europe

Korean War

  • 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 1969 Counteroffensive
  • Summer-Fall 1969
  • Winter-Spring 1970
  • Santuary Counteroffensive
  • Counteroffensive, Phase VII

Southwest Asia

  • Defense of Saudia Arabia
  • Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
  • Cease Fire

War on Terrorism

  • Iraqi Soverignty
  • New Dawn