107th Infantry Regiment (Ohio National Guard)

107th Infantry Regiment (Ohio National Guard)
Unit name	107th Infantry Regiment
Caption	Distinctive unit insignia
Dates	1881–present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Ohio National Guard
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Light infantry, security
Size	Regiment
Command structure	Ohio National Guard, United States Army National Guard
Garrison	Columbus, Ohio
Nickname	"Buckeye Regiment"
Motto	"Pro Patria"

107th Infantry Regiment (Ohio National Guard) is an infantry regiment of the Ohio National Guard with origins in 19th‑century state militia units. The regiment served in major 20th‑century conflicts including World War I and World War II, later adapting to Cold War missions under United States Army Reserve and United States National Guard force structures. Its lineage connects to civic units in Columbus, Ohio, regional mobilizations, and contemporary deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

History

The regiment traces its roots to pre‑Civil War and post‑Reconstruction militia organizations in Ohio. Early antecedents include volunteer companies that served in the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, and state responses to civil disturbances in cities such as Cincinnati, Ohio and Cleveland, Ohio. During the Progressive Era and the implementation of the Militia Act of 1903, Ohio restructured units that would become the 107th, aligning them with federal standards established at Fort Leavenworth and the United States Army War College. In the 20th century the regiment's identity was shaped by mobilizations for World War I, the interwar National Guard system reforms under the National Defense Act of 1920, and peacetime duty during events tied to Labor strikes in the United States and domestic emergencies in Ohio River Valley floods.

Organization and Structure

Historically organized as a multi‑battalion regiment, the 107th included companies drawn from urban and rural counties across Ohio. Its headquarters elements were sited in Columbus, Ohio, with subordinate companies in communities including Dayton, Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, and Akron, Ohio. Under the United States Army Regimental System the regiment fielded line companies, headquarters, service, and medical detachments, integrating with higher echelons such as 42nd Infantry Division and later 37th Infantry Division (United States). During mobilizations the regiment coordinated with Army National Guard sustainment units, Military Police Corps elements, and Combat Support and Combat Service Support organizations.

World War I and Interwar Period

Federalized for World War I mobilization, elements of the regiment were incorporated into National Army formations that trained at camps like Camp Sherman and Camp Dodge. Soldiers served in the American Expeditionary Forces logistics and trench warfare environment on the Western Front, operating alongside units from the British Expeditionary Force and French Army. Postwar demobilization returned the regiment to Ohio, where the interwar period saw reconstitution under the National Guard Bureau with updated tables of organization influenced by lessons from the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and doctrine developed at Fort Benning. The regiment participated in state duties during the Great Depression, supporting public works and relief efforts tied to Works Progress Administration projects and civil stability during events involving the Bonus Army era.

World War II and Cold War Service

In the run‑up to World War II the regiment was federalized again and elements deployed for training and homeland defense, linking with installations such as Fort Polk and Fort Dix. The regiment provided trained infantry replacements and cadre for divisions fighting in the European Theater of Operations and the Pacific Theater of World War II, while some units served in coastal defense and anti‑invasion preparations. During the Cold War the regiment was reorganized under the Pentomic and later ROAD concepts, aligning with nationwide restructuring driven by the Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense policies. The 107th contributed to civil defense during the Cuban Missile Crisis, regular National Guard training cycles, and overseas training exchanges with NATO partners including units from the United Kingdom and West Germany.

Post-Cold War Operations and Modern Role

Following the end of the Cold War the 107th transitioned to modular force structures and participated in peacekeeping, stability operations, and expeditionary deployments. Elements were mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, conducting security, convoy escort, and base support tasks in theater alongside units from the United States Army and Multinational Force Iraq. The regiment also supported federal disaster relief for hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and flooding along the Mississippi River, coordinating with Federal Emergency Management Agency and state emergency management agencies. In the 21st century the regiment trains for homeland support, overseas contingency operations, and interoperability with United States Transportation Command and North Atlantic Treaty Organization partner forces.

Honors and Distinctions

Units of the regiment have received campaign credit for service in major 20th‑century campaigns including World War I operations on the Western Front and various World War II theaters, with decorations awarded at company and battalion levels by the Department of the Army. Soldiers earned individual awards such as the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and Purple Heart during overseas deployments. Unit citations and state commendations from the Governor of Ohio recognized domestic responses to natural disasters and civil contingencies. The regiment’s heraldry and distinctive unit insignia reflect its Ohio heritage and campaign history, incorporating symbols associated with Columbus, Ohio and the Buckeye State.

Notable Personnel and Legacy

Prominent figures who served in units that formed the 107th include state legislators, civic leaders from Columbus, Ohio, and soldiers who later held federal office or senior positions in the United States Army Reserve and Department of Defense. The regiment’s survivors and veterans’ organizations maintain archives in institutions such as the Ohio History Connection and regional historical societies in Franklin County, Ohio and Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The 107th’s legacy endures through commemorations at memorials in Columbus, preservation of battle streamers, and influence on Ohio National Guard doctrine and community relations programs like youth outreach with Reserve Officers' Training Corps units at state universities.

Category:Infantry regiments of the United States Army Category:Ohio National Guard units