59th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (United States)

The  59th Coast Artillery Regiment is a regiment in the United States Army.

History
During the Philippines Campaign (1941–42) the regiment operated the following Batteries:
 * A Battery Hearn
 * B Battery Crockett
 * C Battery Wheeler
 * D Battery Cheney
 * E Battery Fort Drum (El Fraile Island)
 * F Battery Smith
 * G Battery Fort Hughes
 * H Battery Geary
 * I Battery (AA) Fort Hughes
 * K Battery James

Lineage
Constituted 1 December 1917 in the Regular Army as the 59th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps) and organized 1 January 1918 at Fort Hamilton, New York from existing Regular Army and New York National Guard Companies of Coast Artillery. (National Guard Companies demoblized at Camp Upton, New York during January and February 1919 but regiment continued on active status). (Service Battery; Headquarters Detachment and Combat train, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions inactivated 30 September 1922 at Fort Mills, Philippine Islands. Batteries G, and H activated 11 October 1922 at Fort Mills). Redesignated 20 February 1924 as the 59th Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense)(Heavy Tractor); Concurrently batteries C, D, E, and F activated at Fort Mills. Remainder of regiment activated 30 May 1941 at Fort Mills. Inactivated 2 April 1946 at Fort Mills. Redesignated 26 December 1947 as the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion and activated 1 January 1948 at Fort Bliss, Texas. Redesignated 24 February 1953 as the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. Inactivated 1 September 1958 at Fort Bliss.
 * surrendered 6 May 1942 to the Japanese forces on Corregidor Island, Philippine Islands.
 * Reorganized and redesignated 31 July 1959 as the 59th Artillery a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System.

Distinctive unit insignia
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Per fess vair and Argent, in base a thistle Proper. Attached above from a wreath Argent and Azure a demi-lion rampant Gules grasping in dexter claw a sword Or. Attached above and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “DEFENDIMUS” in Red letters. The vair on the shield is from the arms of the Coast Defenses of New York, the thistle is one of the emblems of Lorraine and is borne on the arms of Nancy not far from St. Mihiel. The crest it taken from the arms of St. Menehould in red for Artillery. The motto translates to “We Defend.” The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 15 August 1930. It was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons) on 23 November 1953. The insignia was redesignated for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 5 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 59th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
 * Description
 * Symbolism
 * Background

Blazon
Per fess vair and Argent, in base a thistle Proper. On a wreath Argent and Azure a demi-lion rampant Gules armed and langued of the second grasping in dexter claw a sword Or. Motto:  DEFENDIMUS (We Defend).
 * Shield
 * Crest

Symbolism
The vair on the shield is from the arms of the Coast Defenses of New York, the thistle is one of the emblems of Lorraine and is borne on the arms of Nancy not far from St. Mihiel. The crest it taken from the arms of St. Menehould in red for Artillery.
 * Shield
 * Crest

Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 1 April 1921. It was amended to correct the motto on 28 April 1927. It was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 21 April 1949. The insignia was redesignated for the 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons) on 23 November 1953. It was redesignated for the 59th Artillery Regiment on 5 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 59th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

Campaign streamers
World War I World War II
 * St Mihiel
 * Meuse-Argonne
 * Lorraine 1918
 * Philippine Islands

Decorations

 * Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer Embroidered BATAAN (59th CA cited for period 29 Dec. 1941- 28 Feb. 1942
 * Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer Embroidered MANILA AND SUBIC BAYS (59th CA cited for period 14 March- 9 April 1942
 * Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer Embroidered DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINES (59th CA cited for period 7 Dec. 1941- 10 May 1942
 * Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Streamer Embroidered 7 DECEMBER 1941 TO 10 MAY 1942