164th Regiment (United States)

The 164th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) is a training unit of the North Dakota Army National Guard. As the 164th Infantry Regiment, it was formed during World War I, but traces its history to Dakota Territorial Militia units formed in the 1880s. The regiment was the first United States Army unit to land on Guadalcanal during World War II.

Memorial marker located at ND Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan, ND

History

19th century

The 164th Infantry was originally organized as the 1st Infantry Regiment, Dakota Territorial Militia, in 1885. Upon the admission of North Dakota to the United States in 1889, the regiment was reorganized as the 1st Infantry Regiment, North Dakota National Guard. The regiment was mustered into federal service on 20 May 1898 for service in the Spanish-American War as the 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out on 25 September 1899, resuming its state service.

World War I

The regiment entered federal service on 3 July 1916 for service on the Mexican border, and was stationed at Mercedes, Texas. On 14 February 1917, it was mustered out of service at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. On 5 August 1917, the 1st North Dakota was drafted into federal service, and assigned as an element of the 41st Division. On 4 October 1917, it was redesignated the 164th Infantry Regiment. The 41st Division went to France, but did not see combat and was broken up, with its personnel being reassigned as replacements to frontline units.