COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – The United States Army Western Hemisphere Command’s Army Security Cooperation Group-South was redesignated as the 551st Infantry Regiment during a ceremony Friday at Fort Benning.
The redesignation honors the heritage of the original 551st Infantry Battalion, known as the “GOYAs,” which suffered roughly 80 percent casualties before its deactivation in World War II.
Families witness the ceremony
Family members of the original World War II veterans attended the ceremony. Col. Jacob White, deputy commander of the 551st, said the event marked a significant moment for those who have kept their loved ones’ memories alive without the unit being active in the Army.
“We were able to also do it in front of the families and lineage from the original 551st veterans who fought in World War Two,” White said. “So it’s a really huge day bringing back a historic unit back into the active roles of the army.”
A legacy to carry forward
White said the current soldiers in the unit will have significant expectations as they carry the regiment’s history forward…