The 31st Infantry Regiment

Formed in 1916, the U.S. Army 31st Infantry Regiment—known as the Polar Bears—has fought in virtually every war in modern American history. This richly illustrated chronicle of the regiment’s century of combat service covers their exploits on battlefields from Manila to Siberia—including Pork Chop Hill, Nui Chom Mountain and Iraq’s Triangle of Death—along with their survival during the Bataan Death March and the years of brutal captivity that followed.

By the members of the 31st Infantry Regiment Association
Foreword by General Barry R. McCaffrey
Afterword by General Stephen J. Townsend
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 527
Bibliographic Info: 187 photos, 19 maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6909-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3276-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Foreword by General Barry R. McCaffrey 1
Preface 5
Introduction 6
Prologue: Birth of a Regiment by Karl H. Lowe 9
Part I. Initial Deployments by Karl H. Lowe
1. Siberia, 1918–1920 15
2. Return to Manila, 1920–1932 46
3. Shanghai, 1932 53
4. Manila Again, 1932–1941 72
Part II. World War II by Karl H. Lowe
5. Enemy Attacks in the Philippines, 1941–1942 87
6. Jungle Warfare 101
7. Surrender 115
8. Captivity 127
9. Occupation Duty: Korea and Japan, 1946–1950 136
Part III. Korea by Karl H. Lowe
10. Inchon, 1950 153
11. North Korea, 1950 163
12. The Chosin Reservoir 171
13. Task Force Faith 181
14. Back to the Offensive: 1951 195
15. Central Korea, 1952 211
16. The Bloodiest Year: 1953 218
17. The Cold War in Korea, 1953–1987 230
Part IV. Vietnam and Cambodia
A. 4th Battalion by James B. Simms
18. Fort Devens, Deployment, Initial Operations 245
19. 4th Battalion in Vietnam, 1967 256
20. 4th Battalion in Vietnam, 1968 270
21. 4th Battalion in Vietnam, 1969 287
22. 4th Battalion in Vietnam, 1970–1971 302
B. 6th Battalion by Karl H. Lowe
23. Fort Lewis, Deployment, First Casualties, 1967–1968 311
24. 6th Battalion in Vietnam: Battles of Da Phuoc and Saigon, 1968 326
25. 6th Battalion in Vietnam: Battles of Can Giuoc and Cai Nua, 1968–1969 344
26. 6th Battalion in Vietnam, 1969–1970 361
27. 6th Battalion in Vietnam and Cambodia, 1970 371
Part V. The 10th Mountain Division Era
by Grady A. Smith
28. Fort Drum: Initial Deployments; Afghanistan 387
29. Iraq and Afghanistan 401
Conclusion: Celebrating the First Hundred Years by Grady Smith 421
Afterword by General Stephen J. Townsend 423
Appendix 1. Officers Roster Upon Activation; Chain of Command at First Deployment 429
Appendix 2. 31st Infantry Chain of Command, 14 December 1941 431
Appendix 3. The Shanghai Bowl Ceremony 432
Appendix 4. 31st Infantry Regiment Soldiers Killed in Action in All Wars 434
Chapter Notes 480
Bibliography 497
Index 503