179TH Infantry Regiment Memorial Overpass

179TH Infantry Regiment Memorial Overpass

The overpass is on a 2-lane road and spans a single pair of railroad rails. The memorial is a tribute to the service of the 179th Infantry Regiment, which was assigned to the 45th Infantry “Thunderbird” Division, Oklahoma National Guard, was inducted into active Federal service, and fought in World War II and the Korean Conflict. The memorial signs are inscribed with the Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) of the Regiment, and the wording: 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT MEMORIAL OVERPASS IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO SERVED AND DIED WORLD WAR II SEPT. 1940 – MAY 1945 511 COMBAT DAYS 1268 KILLED IN ACTION KOREAN CONFLICT SEPT. 1950 – APRIL 1954 429 COMBAT DAYS 299 KILLED IN ACTION The Regiment served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany, and engaged in 3 amphibious assault landings during World War II. It participated in 8 campaigns: Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe. The Regiment was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for combat action by the 45th Infantry Division at Acquafondata, Italy. The Regiment participated in 4 campaigns during the Korean Conflict: Second Korean Winter, Korea, Summer-Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, and Korea, Summer 1953. The Regiment was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for their combat service in Korea. The 1st Battalion, of the 179th Regiment is the only active battalion serving as of 2017, and is organized as part of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Nicknamed “Tomahawks,” the Regimental Headquarters is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with subordinate companies located in El Reno, Enid, Edmond, Ponca City, and Stillwater. The Regimental Distinguished Unit Insignia (DUI) was approved on August 9, 1927. It features an ultramarine blue shield, representing an infantry lineage, with a silver crossed tomahawk and peace pipe, which refer to American Indian symbols of war and peace, and reflect the heritage of personnel in the unit. The crest is a silver profile of an Indian’s head wearing a war bonnet with blue feather tips, and resting on a silver and blue wreath, which symbolize the Oklahoma Army National Guard. The motto IN OMNIA PARATUS (Prepared in all things) is black on a silver scroll. The features and symbolism of the Regimental Colors (Flag) parallel those of the DUI. The Indian-Head crest is fully colored however, as is an added American Eagle, which is the Coat of Arms of the United States. The Regimental shield is superimposed on the Eagle’s breast, and the Eagle holds in its right claw a green olive branch, and in its left, 13 arrows. The motto is on a streamer held in the Eagle’s beak. Beneath the Eagle is a scroll inscribed: 179TH INFANTRY. In the upper corner of the Colors is featured the number “1” inside an ornate circle, which signifies that the Colors represent the 1st Battalion of the Regiment. The individual primarily responsible for establishing the memorial was COL, USA (Retired) Fred P. Snyder (deceased) of Edmond, Oklahoma. He was a WWII & Korean War veteran who served as the City Manager of Edmond and also as an Oklahoma County Commissioner. He served with, and commanded the 179th Regiment. Oklahoma County was responsible for construction of the overpass.

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Organization Responsible for Installation:

COL, USA (Ret) Fred P. Snyder (deceased) of Edmond, OK. City of Edmond. Oklahoma County.

Memorial War Era(s):

Korea
WWII

Location:

Edmond, Oklahoma County, OK 73034. On W. Waterloo Road, in the Waterloo Community. The memorial is on the boundary road of Oklahoma and Logan Counties. The overpass spans a rail line, and is .1 mi east of the Waterloo Church of the Nazarene located at 457 W. Waterloo Road. The memorial is .3 mi west of the intersection of Waterloo Road and N. Broadway, and 3.7 mi west of the Waterloo Road exit 146, off Interstate Highway I-35. Prominent signs are located on both sides of the overpass on the shoulder of the road.

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179TH Infantry Regiment Memorial Overpass

179TH Infantry Regiment Memorial Overpass

179TH Infantry Regiment Memorial Overpass

179TH Infantry Regiment Memorial Overpass

179TH Infantry Regiment Memorial Overpass

179TH Infantry Regiment Memorial Overpass

 

Published on May 12, 2017