126th Cavalry Regiment (United States)

126th Cavalry Regiment
126th Cavalry Regiment coat of arms
Active	1855–present
Country	USA
Allegiance	Michigan
Branch	United States Army
Role	Reconnaissance
Size	Squadron
Nickname(s)	Second Michigan (special designation)
Motto(s)	"Courage Sans Peur" (Courage Without Fear)
Colors	Blue and Silver
Engagements	Civil War Spanish–American War Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II Iraq Kuwait
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation
Commanders
Current commander	LTC Bart Verbanic
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 126th Cavalry Regiment ("Second Michigan") is a United States military unit of the Michigan Army National Guard. The 126th was originally an infantry regiment, then was converted into an armoured role, and then was converted to a light cavalry reconnaissance unit, with subordinate units stationed in Cadillac, Wyoming, Dowagiac, and Manistee.

The 126th Infantry existed for its first 144 years as an infantry unit. The 126th Infantry dates back as early as 12 July 1855 when the Grand Rapids Light Guard and Grand Rapids Artillery companies were organized. The first officers of the Grand Rapids Light Guard included Wright L. Coffinberry as captain; Frederick W. Worden, E.T. Nelson, and A.L. Gage as lieutenants; Milton S. Littlefield, Benjamin B. Church, S.S. Porter, and G.M. McCray as sergeants. Other charter members of the Light Guard included Edward A. Earle, Joseph C. Herkner, Benjamin Luce, Henry Spring, Miles Adams, E. H. Hunt, Dr. Willard Bliss, Frank Earle, Warren P. Mills, James Sargeant, J.E. Earle, John Grady, C.B. Hinsdill, Charles D. Lyon, George E. Judd, Henry Whipple, Robert M. Collins, F. Shriver, Byron R. Pierce, B. D. Ball, Edwin S. Pierce, John Seymour, Samuel Judd, Thomas Sargeant, G. W. Remington, William Livingston, Henry Ely, and Joseph Houseman. Later that year Ringgold’s Light Artillery was organized, and four years later in 1859, the Grand Rapids Rifles came into existence. These companies along with several others from Ionia formed the 51st Volunteer Uniformed Michigan Militia Regiment prior to the American Civil War.