128th Infantry Regiment (United States)

February 2009 August 2022 128th Infantry Regiment 128InfRegCOA.jpg 125 128th Infantry Regiment 1861–present Wisconsin United States Army Regiment Les Terribles (special designation)Special Designation Listing http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/spdes-123-arng.html United States Army Center of Military History 21 April 2010 14 July 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100609010028/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/spdes-123-arng.html 9 June 2010 dead "Les Terribles" (The Terrible Ones)http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3702&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services 128th Infantry Regiment The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army 10 May 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140512221045/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3702&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services 12 May 2014 dead American Civil WarSpanish–American WarMexican Civil WarWorld War I World War II Iraq War Afghanistan War Robert Bruce McCoy 125px Distinctive unit insignia U.S. Infantry Regiments 127th Infantry Regiment 129th Infantry Regiment The 128th Infantry Regiment ("Les Terribles") is a United States military unit of the Wisconsin National Guard, currently represented by the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment. The 128th has served as part of the American Civil War, Spanish–American War, Mexican Civil War, World War I, World War II, Iraq War and the Afghanistan War. History Civil War The 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry, traces its history to the spring of 1861, when the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, comprising independent companies from throughout the state, was organized and mustered into federal service. The 2nd Wisconsin was joined by several other regiments to form the famous "Iron Brigade," which soon became one of the most feared and respected units on either side in the Civil War for its performance in such battles as Antietam and Gettysburg.U.S. Army Center of Military History - Lineage and Honors Information http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0128in.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20141216121609/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0128in.htm 16 December 2014 dead 2015-01-13 Additionally, Eau Claire was home to the soldiers that comprised Company C of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, otherwise known as the "Eagle Regiment," because of its famous mascot "Old Abe," a pet bald eagle who accompanied the regiment into battle.http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-023/?action=more_essay The Iron Brigade, Old Abe and Military Affairs |Turning Points in Wisconsin History | Wisconsin Historical Society 13 January 2015 4 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101204150829/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-023/?action=more_essay dead The 8th Wisconsin fought in the Western Theater at places such as Vicksburg, Mississippi Spanish-American War In 1898, four infantry regiments from Wisconsin made up of Guardsmen and volunteers were formed and activated at the outbreak of the Spanish–American War. During the brief conflict, Wisconsin Guardsmen participated in the capture of Puerto Rico.http://dma.wi.gov/dma/news/2015news/15008.asp Wisconsin National Guard officer makes his mark on history 2 March 2015 30 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150130152212/http://dma.wi.gov/dma/news/2015news/15008.asp dead A letter from a member of the 2nd Wisconsin describes some of the details of the guardsmen's role in the conflict: "We landed here at Ponce Friday without opposition by the Spaniards. They fled to the hills when we came in sight. But it has been skirmish every day since we landed. We have captured 200 prisoners. The 3rd Wisconsin [National Guard] got into battle yesterday and one man was wounded in the hip, and one of the Massachusetts boys got shot in the neck, and went a mile, and a half before he fell. There was a skirmish last night but have heard of no one being wounded, or killed."http://www.oshkoshmuseum.org/Virtual/exhibit4/e40103a.htm SC411.7.4.3 Letter Three members of the Wisconsin Infantry Regiments died of fever: Captain Dawson of Company F from Merrill died Anniston, Alabama 29 October 1898 of typhoid fever which was preceded by pneumonia.Wood County Reporter November 3, 1898 .p.3 Alfred G. Thoreson, age 21 from Dane County of Co M, 3rd Wisconsin Infantry died of yellow fever on Hospital Ship "Relief" at sea between Puerto Rico and Philadelphia; buried at sea. Fred R. Goodhouse of Mauston Company died 31 October 1898 of heart failure following yellow fever on Hospital Ship "Relief" night before the "Relief" docked at Philadelphia. Pancho Villa Expedition and World War I In 1916, Wisconsin infantry units served with General Pershing to chase Pancho Villa along the Texas border and into northern Mexico.http://reedsburg-vfw.com/rteg.html Greenwood Memorial VFW Post 987 The Wisconsin troops were again activated in 1917 as the United States declared war on Germany. After a period of intensive training, the Wisconsin Guardsmen were redesignated as the 128th Infantry, assigned to the 32nd Division and sent to France. In the closing months of the war, the 128th Infantry participated in several major campaigns including Alsace, Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne and Meuse-Argonne. For their fury in combat, the nickname "Les Terribles" or "The Terrible Ones" was given to them by the French.WISCONSINOLOGY: "The Terrible Ones"... a coat of arms explained http://wisconsinology.blogspot.com/2008/05/terrible-ones-coat-of-arms-explained.html https://web.archive.org/web/20141228044529/http://wisconsinology.blogspot.com/2008/05/terrible-ones-coat-of-arms-explained.html 28 December 2014 live 2014-12-23 Brief History of the 'Red Arrow' Tom Bruss http://www.32nd-division.org/history/32hist.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20150327184715/http://www.32nd-division.org/history/32hist.htm 27 March 2015 live 2014-12-23 As they pierced the famed Hindenburg Line, the 32d Infantry Division became known as the "Red Arrow" Division – a name that has remained to the present day and is reflected in shoulder patch.http://www.32nd-division.org/history/32hist.htm History of the 32D 'Red Arrow' Infantry Division & 32D 'Red Arrow' Infantry Brigade - 32D 'Red Arrow' Veteran Associationhttps://books.google.com/books?id=qTyyA2MpIBMC&q=red+arrow+hindenburg+line&pg=PA272 All Our Yesterdays: A Brief History of Detroit 0814313817 Woodford Frank Bury Woodford Arthur M. 1969 Interwar period The 128th Infantry arrived at the port of New York on 5 May 1919 on the USS George Washington and was demobilized 19 May 1919 at Camp Grant, Illinois. Per the terms of the National Defense Act of 1920, the 128th Infantry was reconstituted in the National Guard in 1921, assigned to the 32nd Division, and allotted to the state of Wisconsin. The 128th Infantry was reorganized and federally recognized on 16 April 1921 with headquarters at West Salem, Wisconsin. The headquarters was successively relocated as follows: Superior, Wisconsin, in 1923; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1925; Menomonie, Wisconsin, 20 February 1929; Sparta, Wisconsin, 14 April 1930; and to the Wisconsin Veteran's Home, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 3 November 1931. The regiment, or elements thereof, was called up to perform the following state duties: three companies to perform riot control during the “Milk Strike” at Shawano, Wisconsin, 15–20 May 1933; Headquarters 1st Battalion and three companies to perform strike duty during labor disturbances at Kohler, Wisconsin, 28 July–20 August 1934. The regiment conducted annual summer training most years at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, 1921–27, and Camp Williams, Wisconsin, 1928–39. In 1928, the regiment conducted joint summer training at Camp Douglas with the 101st Division's 404th Infantry Regiment.Clay Steven E. 2010 U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 1. The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations, 1919-41 Fort Leavenworth, KS Combat Studies Institute Press 419 World War II The 128th was called to federal service on 15 October 1940. After training in Louisiana, the unit was moved by convoy to Port Adelaide, Australia. In 1942 the 128th, as part of the 32nd, broke through the Japanese lines at the Battle of Buna ("Bloody Buna"), New Guinea; in 1944 defeated Japanese General Adachi's divisions at Saidor and Aitape, New Guinea; defeated the Japanese Imperial First Marines in Leyte (Imperial First Marines only loss in 200 years); and pierced the Yamashita Line in Luzon. The 128th Regiment and 32d Division were still in combat action when the cease fire order came on 15 August 1945. The 32d Infantry Division had been in combat 654 days – more than any United States division in any war.Highlights of the 32D 'Red Arrow' Infantry Division during World War II Tom Bruss http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2.html https://web.archive.org/web/20141223185800/http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2.html 23 December 2014 live 2014-12-23 VJ Day: A shining moment for 32nd Division http://wisguard.dodlive.mil/2014/08/15/vj-day-a-shining-moment-for-32nd-division/ https://web.archive.org/web/20141223190050/http://wisguard.dodlive.mil/2014/08/15/vj-day-a-shining-moment-for-32nd-division/ 23 December 2014 dead 2014-12-23 When the cold war peaked with the Soviet blockade of Berlin in October 1961, President Kennedy became the third United States president in the 20th Century to call the 128th, as part of the 32d Infantry Division, to federal active service. The division trained at Ft. Lewis, WA, for 10 months, maintaining a high level of readiness until the crisis abated. In August 1962 its soldiers returned home and resumed their status as Wisconsin National Guardsmen.Red Arrow honed for potential Cold War conflict 50 years ago http://dma.wi.gov/dma/arng/berlinredarrows/honed.asp https://web.archive.org/web/20150205172501/http://dma.wi.gov/dma/arng/berlinredarrows/honed.asp 5 February 2015 live 2015-02-05 The 2nd Battalion, 128th Infantry, was formed as a result of the transitioning of the 32d Infantry Brigade from a mechanized unit to a separate light infantry brigade in September 2001.https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-128in.htm 2nd Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment It was reorganized as the 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry Regiment on 1 September 2007 when the 32nd became a modular brigade.6 February 2019 105th Cavalry Regiment Lineage and Honors https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/armor-cav/105cvrg.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20150522063732/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/armor-cav/105cvrg.htm dead 22 May 2015 4 August 2020 U.S. Army Center of Military HistoryBoyd Sara 9 September 2008 National Guard gets its biggest call since WWII A-3 Green Bay Press-Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681070/wi-arng-deployment/ subscription Distinctive unit insignia Description A metal and enamel device 1+1/16 in cm in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: Azure, on a pale Or the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 32nd Division Proper (a Red arrow having shot through a line), on a chief of the second three fountains. Attached above on a wreath of the colors Or and Azure, a badger couchant Proper. Attached below and to the sides a Gold scroll inscribed "LES TERRIBLES" in Blue letters. Symbolism The shield is blue for Infantry. The pale, dividing the shield into thirds, alludes to three of the major offensive engagements in which the organization as an element of the 32nd Division participated in World War I. The red arrow is the design of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 32d Division. Traditionally, the word "Wisconsin" means "wild rushing waters," thus the three fountains, heraldic symbols for water, appropriately stand for the Wisconsin Army National Guard regiments: First, Second and Third, from which elements stemmed to make up the organization during World War I. The motto translates to "The Terrible Ones."http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3702 Coat of Arms 1 January 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20161123215645/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3702 23 November 2016 dead https://books.google.com/books?id=99fh34SJWr8C&q=terrible+ones+128&pg=PA172 U.S. Army Heraldic Crests: A Complete Illustrated History of Authorized Distinctive Unit Insignia 9780872499638 Stein Barry Jason Capelotti Peter Joseph 1993 Background The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 15 March 1926. It was amended to revise the description on 20 April 1926. Coat of arms Blazon Shield – Azure, on a pale Or the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 32nd Division Proper (a Red arrow having shot through a line), on a chief of the second three fountains. Crest – That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Wisconsin Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure, a badger couchant Proper. Motto LES TERRIBLES (The Terrible Ones). Symbolism Shield – The shield is blue for Infantry. The pale, dividing the shield into thirds, alludes to three of the major offensive engagements in which the organization as an element of the 32d Division participated in World War I. The red arrow is the design of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 32d Division. Traditionally, the word "Wisconsin" means "wild rushing waters," thus the three fountains, heraldic symbols for water, appropriately stand for the Wisconsin Army National Guard regiments: First, Second and Third, from which elements stemmed to make up the organization during World War I. Crest – The crest is that of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Background – The coat of arms was approved on 25 March 1926. It was amended to revise the blazon of the shield on 20 April 1926. References 2/128th Information 1/128th Information Institute of Heraldry Category:Wisconsin National Guard units Category:Infantry regiments of the United States Army National Guard Category:Military units and formations in Wisconsin 128 Category:Military units and formations established in 1861