128th Infantry Regiment (United States)

128th Infantry Regiment
128th Infantry Regiment
Active	1861–present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Wisconsin
Branch	United States Army
Size	Regiment
Nickname(s)	Les Terribles (special designation)
Motto(s)	"Les Terribles" (The Terrible Ones)
Engagements	American Civil War Spanish–American War Mexican Civil War World War I World War II Iraq War
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 128th Infantry Regiment ("Les Terribles") is a United States military unit of the Wisconsin National Guard. The 128th has served as part of the American Civil War, Spanish–American War, Mexican Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Iraq War.

The 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry, traces its history to the spring of 1861, when the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, comprising independent companies from throughout the state, was organized and activated 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. Additionally, Eau Claire was home to the soldiers that comprised Company C of the 8th Infantry, otherwise known as the "Eagle Regiment," because of its famous mascot "Old Abe," a pet bald eagle who accompanied the regiment into battle. The 8th Wisconsin fought in the western theater at places such as Vicksburg, MS.

In 1898, four infantry regiments from Wisconsin were formed and activated at the outbreak of the Spanish–American War. During that brief conflict, Wisconsin Guardsmen participated in the capture of Puerto Rico. 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."

In 1916, Wisconsin infantry units served with General Pershing to chase Pancho Villa along the Texas border and into northern Mexico. 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. 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.