33rd Infantry Regiment (United States)

Date: 6 Jul 1916 to 26 May 1956
Location: Panama Canal Zone

The 33rd Infantry Regiment was an American unit stationed in the Panama Canal Zone and Caribbean from 1916-56.

While other American regiments throughout our military history had the designation of 33d Infantry, they have no lineage with the most recent 33d Infantry Regiment.

The 33d Infantry was activated on 6 July 1916 in accordance with War Department General Orders Number 22 dated 30 June 1916 that ordered seven new regiments to be organized; one (the 33d Infantry) in the Canal Zone.

During the construction days ... camps were occupied by troops after being vacated by civilians. ^[1]

During the World War, it guarded Gatun Locks, the dam and spillway, the Monte Lirio and Mindi Bridges, the Chagres River Bridge at Gamboa, the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks, pier 18 and the dry dock at Balboa. During the period from 1916 to 1920, the regiment was engaged in exploring and charting the jungles of Panama.

Distinctive unit insignia: Description: A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1⁄4 inches (3.2 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Argent, a pile cottised Azure, charged with a sword bayonet fesswise of the field. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Silver scroll inscribed “RIDENTES VENIMUS” in Blue letters.

Symbolism: This Regiment was organized in the Canal Zone in 1916, and served there during World War I guarding the canal. This is symbolized by the cotises of Infantry blue on each side of a pile to represent the canal. The motto translates to “Smiling We Come.”

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 8 January 1924.

Coat of arms Blazon Shield Argent, a pile cottised Azure, charged with a sword bayonet fesswise of the field.

Crest None. Motto RIDENTES VENIMUS (Smiling We Come)

Symbolism: Shield This Regiment was organized in the Canal Zone in 1916, and served there during World War I guarding the canal. This is symbolized by the cotises of Infantry blue on each side of a pile to represent the canal.

Crest None.

Background: The coat of arms was approved on 2 March 1921.

Sources

1. ↑ https://military.wikia.org/wiki/33rd_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)

Excerpts from Wikipedia [1]