THE ORIGINAL FIRST BATTALION

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY 
OFFICE OF THE REGIMENTAL COMMANDER
Schofield Barracks, T. H.

January 19, 1931.

SUBJECT: History of Organization

TO: The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C.

1. Records at these Headquarters show that the First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Infantry, was organized from the Second Provisional Battalion, Unassigned Infantry, at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, under authority of the Act of Congress approved February 2nd, 1901, and Paragraph 2, General Orders, No. 13, A.G.O., dated February 8th, 1901. This organization sailed from San Francisco on the Transport "Sheridan," February 16th, 1901, and arrived at Manila, March 18th. It continued, as designated, until May 29th, 1901. 

2. The provisions of Paragraph 9c, Changes No.1, AR 345-105, dated November 22, 1930, are interpreted to   permit the inclusion of organization data and the record of activities of the original First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Infantry in Southern Luzon, in the history of this regiment, and verification is requested. 

                                                            (Signed) WM. E. HUNT,
                                                            Colonel, Twenty-Seventh Infantry,
                                                            Commanding.

AG 314.73-27th Inf.
(1-19-31) Misc. (Ret.). 1st Ind. CPK
War Department, A.G.O., February 4, 1931-To the Commandant, The Army War College. 
    For remark.
            By order of the Secretary of War:

H. H. PFIEL,
Adjutant General.

Historical Section, Army War College, February 13,1931-To the Adjutant General (through the Commandant, A.W.C.)

1. The first sentence of Par. 9c, Changes No. 1, AR 345-105, reads as follows: 
    "When the history of a color-bearing organization has been determined in compliance with existing regulations, which also determines its battle honors and furnishes data for determining its coat of arms, the change in status of any of its subsidiary units to that of independent organizations, or subsidiary units in other color-bearing organizations, will not operate to change its past history, its battle honors, or its coat of arms. 
    
    It is believed that the reason for this incorporation of this change in Army Regulations was to protect a color-bearing unit from the loss of its history and battle honors, once they have been formally determined and approved, by the subsequent transfer of any of its subsidiary units. The case of the Twenty-Seventh Infantry referred to in the basic letter is as follows: 
    
    In February, 1901, the Second Provisional Battalion of Infantry at the Presidio of San Francisco, was assigned to the Twenty-Seventh Infantry as its First Battalion. This Battalion sailed for the Philippine Islands the same month, arrived at Manila March 18, and was assigned to duty in Southern Luzon. In May, 1901, this battalion was transferred to the Twenty-Sixth Infantry and the Second Battalion of the Twenty-Sixth Infantry at Fort McPherson, Georgia, was transferred to the Twenty-Seventh Infantry, becoming the First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Infantry. At the time of the transfer of these battalions, the organizations of the Twenty-Seventh Infantry was not yet completed. Its Second Battalion was being organized at Plattsburg Barracks, New York, and its Third Battalion had not yet been organized. The history of the Twenty-Seventh Infantry, which also determines its battle honors and furnishes data for determining its coat of arms" could not, therefore, have been determined at that time. It is, therefore, believed that the Twenty-Seventh Infantry has no claim under the provisions of Par. 9c, Changes No.1, AR 345-105, to the history of the battalion which was transferred to the Twenty-Sixth Infantry in May, 1901. 

    Furthermore, if the Twenty-Seventh Infantry were given credit for the service of the battalion described above, it would in no way affect the battle honors of that regiment. The Twenty-Seventh Infantry now has credit for the Philippine Insurrection: "Mindanao." Since the battalion which was transferred to the Twenty-Sixth Infantry had no combat service during the time that it belonged to the Twenty-Seventh Infantry, it could not bring any new battle honors to the Twenty-Seventh Infantry. 

3. In consideration of the above, it is recommended that request of the Commanding Officer of the Twenty-Seventh Infantry to include organization data and record of activities of the original First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Infantry, be not favorably considered. 

                                                    (Signed) S. C. VESTAL, 
                                                     Colonel, C.A.C. D.O.L. 
                                                     Chief, Historical Section, A.W.C.

 

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