1st Filipino Infantry Regiment (United States)

1st Filipino Infantry Regiment
Regiment Coat of Arms
Active	4 March 1942 – 10 April 1946
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Motto(s)	"Laging Una" (Always First)
March	"On to Bataan"
Engagements	World War II New Guinea campaign Philippines Campaign (1944–45) Battle of Leyte Battle of Samar Battle of Luzon Battle of Bataan Battle of Corregidor Battle of the Visayas
Decorations	Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Campaign streamers	New Guinea Leyte Southern Philippines
Disbanded	1952
Commanders
Regiment Commander	Colonel Robert H. Offley Colonel William Robert Hamby
Insignia
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment was a segregated United States Army infantry regiment made up of Filipino Americans from the continental United States and a few veterans of the Battle of the Philippines that saw combat during World War II. It was formed and activated at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, under the auspices of the California National Guard. Originally created as a battalion, it was declared a regiment on 13 July 1942. Deployed initially to New Guinea in 1944, it became a source of manpower for special forces and units that would serve in occupied territories. In 1945, it deployed to the Philippines, where it first saw combat as a unit. After major combat operations, it remained in the Philippines until it returned to California and was deactivated in 1946 at Camp Stoneman.

In 1898, the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States and, after a conflict between Philippine independence forces and the United States, Filipinos were allowed to immigrate freely to the United States as U.S. nationals. Most immigrants chose to settle in the Territory of Hawaii and the West coast. In 1934, U.S. policy changed and their status as nationals was revoked.