158th Infantry  "Cuidado"

                               The Pacific WWII

The 158th, "The greatest fighting combat team ever deployed for battle".

The fighting in the Pacific had its share of Hispanic heroes. The 158th Regimental Combat Team (an Arizona National Guard Unit) was organized originally as the 1st Arizona Volunteer Infantry in late 1865. Some of its first companies were comprised of Maricopa and Pima Indians who participated in several compaigns against the Apache. it was during this period that the unit adopted as their motto "Cuidado" a Spanish word meaning "take care."

During World War II, the unit was called into Federal service on September 16, 1940 and sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for training. In February 1941, the 158th was moved to Camp Barkley, Texas for more training and then to manuevers in Louisiana.

When war became a reality on December 7, the 158th found itself enroute to Panama for jungle training and to guard the Panama Canal Zone. It was there that they adopted the deadly Bushmaster snake for their insignia. In January 1943, the unit was on the move again - to Brisbane, Australia where it became part of the U.S. Sixth Army.
 
 

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