274th Infantry Regiment (United States)

274th Infantry Regiment
Coat of Arms of the 274th Infantry Regiment
Active1943-1945
Country United States
Branch United States Army
TypeInfantry
SizeRegiment
Nickname"The Battle Axe Regiment"
Motto"L'Avant Garde"
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
ColonelSamuel Glenn Conley
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 274th Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Army during World War II. The 274th Infantry Regiment was deployed to the European Theater of Operations as part of the 70th Infantry Division which took part in the Rhineland Offensive, the Ardennes Offensive, the Central Europe Campaign, and the occupation of Germany.

World War II

The 274th Infantry Regiment was activated on June 15, 1943, at Camp Adair in Oregon as part of the 70th Infantry Division.[1][2] The regiment was commanded by Colonel Samuel Glenn Conley of Van Wert, Ohio.[3] The regiment moved to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for further training on July 29, 1944. The regiment was later moved with the rest of the division to Camp Myles Standish in Massachusetts for departure on November 18, 1944.[1][2] The regiment landed in Marseille, France on December 1, 1944, where it took part in the Rhineland Offensive, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Central Europe Campaign, most notably at the Battle of Forbach, the Battle of Wingen-sur-Moder, and the Battle of Saarbrücken during the latter stages of Operation Northwind.[1][2]

The 274th Infantry Regiment was attached to the following divisions in 1945 during the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaigns:[1]

The 274th Infantry Regiment was deactivated on October 11, 1945, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey along with the rest of the division following its return to the United States.[1]

Command

Commander

Executive Officers

Staff Officers

  • Captain Jay C. Underwood - Battalion S1 (Service).[6]
  • Major Paul J. Durbin - Battalion S2 (Intelligence).[7]
  • Major Walter W. Greenhalgh - Battalion S3 (Operations).[7]
  • Captain Lewis M. Botterff - Battalion S4 (Supply & Logistics).[7]

Battalion Commanders

  • Lieutenant Colonel James T. Willis - 1st Battalion.[8][9]
  • Lieutenant Colonel Wallace R. Cheves - 2nd Battalion.[8][9]
  • Lieutenant Colonel Karl S. Landstorm - 3rd Battalion.[8][9]

Company Commanders

  • Headquarters Company: Captain John R. Clark.[10]
  • Service Company: Captain Herbert F. Wickham.[11]
  • Cannon Company: Captain Roy H. Meiners.[12]
  • Anti-Tank Company: First Lieutenant Ray Stieff.
  • Medical Detachment: Major William F. Gassaway.[13]
  • Company A: William R. Hughes.[14]
  • Company B: Wilson H. DeCamp.[15]
  • Company C: George S. Blanchard.[16]
  • Company D: Brandon H. Kellogg.[17]
  • Company E: Eugene A. Sisson.[18]
  • Company F: Robert J. Davenport.[19]
  • Company G: Fred J. Cassidy.[20]
  • Company H: James D. Kidder.[21]
  • Company I: Edwin B. Keith.[22]
  • Company K: Francis L. Thompson.[23]
  • Company L: Ernest C. Murphy.[24]
  • Company M: Charles E. McFarland.[25]

Awards

The 2nd Battalion, 274th Infantry Regiment received a Presidential Unit Citation for action at Wingen-sur-Moder in France from January 4–7, 1945. Later, while attached to the 45th Infantry Division the 274th Infantry Regiment received a letter of commendation from the division's commander.[26][27]

Notable people

  • Samuel Glenn Conley, was the commanding officer of the 274th Infantry Regiment, he later fought in the Korean War. By the end of his military career Conley held the rank of Brigadier General. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery[4]
  • Raymond E. Evans, Staff Sergeant of Company G. Awarded the Silver Star for actions on February 21, 1945, near Etzling and Stiring-Wendel. Evans actions led to the surrender of 32 German soldiers and their subsequent capture[28][29]
  • Felix Benjamin Treviño, San Antonio city council member and political official. Treviño served in Company E of the 274th Infantry Regiment during the war and later was a prominent community leader in San Antonio[30]
  • William E. Lehman, Staff Sergeant of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 274th Infantry Regiment was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for covering a grenade with his own body after accidentally pulling the pin and safety catch, in the process saving the lives of five of his comrades at the cost of his own[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Stanton, Shelby L. (1991). World War II Order of Battle. New York: Galahad Books. pp. 139–140, 238. ISBN 978-0-88365-775-1.
  2. ^ a b c "Units: 274th Infantry Regiment". The Trailblazers. July 15, 1943. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Cheves, Wallace R. (January 1, 1946). Snow Ridges and Pillboxes: A True History of the 274th Infantry Regiment in World War II. p. 367. ASIN B00LCEIY7O.
  4. ^ a b "Samuel Conley". Hall of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star, U.S. Military Awards. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  5. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 7
  6. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 342
  7. ^ a b c Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 8
  8. ^ a b c Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 6
  9. ^ a b c Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 343
  10. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 367
  11. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 151, 343, 372
  12. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 369
  13. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 373
  14. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 376
  15. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 379
  16. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 383
  17. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 385
  18. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 390
  19. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 393
  20. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 396
  21. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 399
  22. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 403
  23. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 406
  24. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 410
  25. ^ Cheves, Snow Ridges & Pillboxes, p. 413
  26. ^ "Honor Roll: 274th Infantry Regiment". The Trailblazers. October 10, 1946. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  27. ^ "Units: 274th Infantry 2nd BN Presidential Unit Citation". The Trailblazers. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  28. ^ "Silver Star". Hall of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star, U.S. Military Awards. October 26, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  29. ^ "Honor Roll: 274th Infantry Regiment Citations". The Trailblazers. February 20, 1945. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  30. ^ Texas State Historical Association. "Felix Benjamin Treviño: Civic Leader and San Antonio City Council Member". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  31. ^ "William Lehman". Hall of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star, U.S. Military Awards. November 6, 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
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