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| 120th Infantry Regiment (United States) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 120th Infantry Regiment |
| Dates | 1898–present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | North Carolina |
| Branch | United States Army (North Carolina National Guard) |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Garrison | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Motto | "Virtus Incendit Vires" |
| Notable commanders | Brigadier General John C. Latham |
120th Infantry Regiment (United States) is an infantry regiment of the North Carolina National Guard with origins in the late 19th century. The regiment has served under the United States Army in major 20th-century conflicts including World War I and World War II, and continued service through the Cold War into the 21st century. Its battalions have been subordinated at times to divisions such as the 30th Infantry Division (United States) and later to brigade combat teams within the United States Army National Guard.
Organized from volunteer militia units in North Carolina during the Spanish–American War, the regiment traces lineage to county-based organizations such as the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry. Federalization for World War I assigned elements to the 30th Division (United States), linking service to campaigns in the Western Front (World War I) including the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, and Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Between wars, the regiment reverted to state control and participated in interwar reorganizations under the Militia Act of 1903 and the National Defense Act of 1920. Federal activation prior to and during World War II again mobilized the regiment within the 30th Infantry Division (United States), producing notable combat actions in the Normandy campaign, the Battle of Normandy, and the Rhineland campaign. Postwar demobilization and the onset of the Cold War led to reorganizations, service during civil defense periods, and later deployments tied to Operation Iraqi Freedom and other federal missions.
Originally formed as a regimental headquarters with multiple companies drawn from Buncombe County, North Carolina, Henderson County, North Carolina, McDowell County, North Carolina, and neighboring counties, the regiment’s organization followed United States Army infantry tables of organization. In World War I and World War II the regiment comprised three battalions, each with rifle companies, weapons companies, and support elements. During the late 20th century reorganization under the ROAD concept and later the Regimental System (United States Army), battalions were reorganized and often reduced to battalion-level elements assigned to the 30th Infantry Division, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, or other National Guard (United States) formations. Command and control shifted among regimental headquarters, state adjutants general in Raleigh, North Carolina, and federal theater commanders during deployments.
Federalized in 1917, the regiment joined the 30th Division (United States) and sailed for the Western Front (World War I). It participated in key late-war offensives including actions in the Champagne-Marne, the Aisne-Marne offensive alongside elements of the British Expeditionary Force and the French Army, and the culminating Meuse-Argonne Offensive under the American Expeditionary Forces. The regiment fought against units of the German Empire during the Spring and Summer 1918 campaigns, earning regimental and divisional recognition for breaching defensive lines. After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the 30th Division performed occupation duties before demobilization at camps such as Camp Jackson (South Carolina) and Camp Sevier.
Reactivated and federalized again prior to 1942, the regiment trained in the United States at centers including Camp Blanding and Camp Shelby. As part of the 30th Infantry Division (United States), it deployed to the European Theater of Operations (World War II), landing in Normandy and engaging in the Battle of Normandy and the breakout at Saint-Lô during the Normandy campaign. The regiment fought in the Northern France campaign, advanced through the Rhineland, crossed the Roer River, and participated in the Battle of the Bulge containment and subsequent Central Europe campaign. It confronted German forces including units of the Wehrmacht and suffered casualties in intense combat for towns and river crossings. Following German surrender, the regiment performed occupation duties in Germany until demobilization.
During the Cold War, the regiment’s structure adapted to peacetime National Guard roles, state emergency response, and federal augmentation under successive defense policies. Elements were redesignated and consolidated with other North Carolina National Guard units, integrating into formations such as the 30th Infantry Division and later the 30th Armored Division. In the post-Cold War era, battalions have supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom deployments, domestic disaster relief after events like Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Floyd, and state missions under the Adjutan't General of North Carolina. Modern force reductions and modular reorganizations resulted in battalion-level units assuming the 120th regimental lineage within brigade combat teams and regional support brigades.
The regiment’s campaign credits include Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Champagne-Marne (World War I); and Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe (World War II). Decorations awarded to the regiment and its soldiers include unit citations and foreign campaign streamers presented by governments such as France and Belgium, and United States unit awards under the Department of the Army. Individual soldiers received decorations ranging from the Distinguished Service Cross to the Silver Star for actions in key engagements. The regiment’s participation in major campaigns placed it alongside formations such as the 1st Infantry Division (United States), 29th Infantry Division (United States), and 82nd Airborne Division in multinational operations.
Regimental heraldry reflects North Carolina roots and combat lineage, with distinctive unit insignia featuring symbols tied to regional service and campaign history. The coat of arms incorporates colors and charges referencing the regiment’s 30th Division (United States) association, French and Belgian campaign honors, and devices representing service in both World Wars. The regiment’s motto, "Virtus Incendit Vires," appears on the regimental colors carried during ceremonies and memorials at monuments and museums such as the North Carolina Museum of History and local veterans’ memorials in Asheville, North Carolina.
Category:Infantry regiments of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations in North Carolina