The 304th Regiment was created primarily with men from Connecticut as part of the 76th Infantry Division on 29 August 1917, at Camp Devens, Massachusetts, for the purpose of fighting Imperial Germany in World War I.

The unit arrived in England, rested, then crossed the Channel for Le Havre, France, on 27 July 1918.

The 304th Infantry was reconstituted in the Organized Reserve on 24 June 1921, assigned to the 76th Division, and allotted to the First Corps Area.

[2] With America's declaration of war on Nazi Germany in 1941, units in the Reserve Forces were called to active duty.

The 304th Regiment, with the rest of the 76th Division, was called to active duty on 15 June 1942, and sent to Fort Meade, Maryland, to prepare for deployment overseas.

Colonel Wallace A. Choquette took command on 28 September 1943, and the unit set forth for Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.