130th Infantry Regiment (United States)

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130th Infantry Regiment
130th Infantry Regiment Coat of Arms.png
Coat of Arms
Active1809
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Branch Illinois Army National Guard
TypeInfantry
SizeRegiment
Nickname(s)BLACKHAWKS
Motto(s)"ALWAYS READY"
Commanders
Current
commander
LTC Edward M. Worman
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia 130 Inf Rgt DUI.png

The 130th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the Army National Guard. It is one of several Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812. [1]

Contents

Lineage

Constituted 1 March 1809 as the Volunteer Militia of Illinois Territory and organized thereafter as independent companies

(Illinois Territory Militia redesignated 26 August 1818 as the Illinois Militia)

Mustered out of federal service 2 July 1831 at Rock Island and elements reverted to independent status in the Illinois Militia

Mustered out of federal service 28 May 1832 at the mouth of the Fox River; veterans concurrently reorganized and mustered into federal service as Colonel Jacob Fry’s Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Militia; mustered out of federal service 15 June 1832 at Ottawa.

Relieved 5 July 1946 from assignment to the 33d Infantry Division and assigned to the 44th Infantry Division (United States)

Ordered into active federal service 15 February 1952 at home stations; released 10 October 1954 from active federal service and reverted to state control; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 44th Infantry Division

Withdrawn 5 February 1987 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System with headquarters at Urbana

Ordered into active federal service 5 January 2005 at home stations; released from active federal service 1 September 2006 and reverted to state control; concurrently, relieved from assignment to the 35th Infantry Division and assigned to the 33d Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Distinctive unit insignia

A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+18 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Argent, a fess Gules of the first and Vert fesswise between, in chief two arrows Or saltirewise behind a Black hawk and in base a fleur-de-lis of the second, overall a saltire Azure. Attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "ALWAYS READY" in Black letters.

The shield is white, the old Infantry color. Service in the Black Hawk War is symbolized by the Black Hawk and the two red arrows, service in the Mexican War by the horizontal belt across the shield of red, white and green, the colors of the Mexican flag. The Civil War service is indicated by the blue saltire cross from the Confederate flag. The service in France during World War I is indicated by the fleur-de-lis.

The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 3 February 1925.

Coat of arms

Argent, a fess Gules of the first and Vert fesswise between, in chief two arrows of the second saltirewise behind a Black hawk Proper and in base a fleur-de-lis of the second, overall a saltire Azure.

That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Illinois Army National Guard: On a wreath Argent and Azure, upon a grassy field the blockhouse of old Fort Dearborn Proper. Motto: ALWAYS READY.

The shield is white, the old Infantry color. Service in the Black Hawk War is symbolized by the Black Hawk and the two red arrows, service in the Mexican War by the horizontal belt across the shield of red, white and green, the colors of the Mexican flag. The Civil War service is indicated by the blue saltire cross from the Confederate flag. The service in France during World War I is indicated by the fleur-de-lis.

The crest is that of the Illinois Army National Guard.

The coat of arms was approved on 17 June 1924.

Campaign streamers

War of 1812

Indian Wars

Mexican War

Civil War

World War I

World War II

War on Terrorism

Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Marion), additionally entitled to:

Decorations

Medal of Honor recipients

World War II
Rank: Private First Class.
Organization: Company C, 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division.
Place: Near Galiano, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
Date: 13 April 1945.
Citation
He was with his unit in a dawn attack against hill positions approachable only along a narrow ridge paralleled on each side by steep cliffs which were heavily defended by enemy mortars, machineguns, and rifles in well-camouflaged spider holes and tunnels leading to caves. When the leading element was halted by intense fire that inflicted 5 casualties, Pfc. Kerstetter passed through the American line with his squad. Placing himself well in advance of his men, he grimly worked his way up the narrow steep hogback, meeting the brunt of enemy action. With well-aimed shots and rifle-grenade fire, he forced the Japs to take cover. He left the trail and moving down a cliff that offered only precarious footholds, dropped among 4 Japs at the entrance to a cave, fired his rifle from his hip and killed them all. Climbing back to the trail, he advanced against heavy enemy machinegun, rifle, and mortar fire to silence a heavy machinegun by killing its crew of 4 with rifle fire and grenades. He expended his remaining ammunition and grenades on a group of approximately 20 Japs, scattering them, and returned to his squad for more ammunition and first aid for his left hand, which had been blistered by the heat from his rifle. Resupplied, he guided a fresh platoon into a position from which a concerted attack could be launched, killing 3 hostile soldiers on the way. In all, he dispatched 16 Japs that day. The hill was taken and held against the enemy's counterattacks, which continued for 3 days. Pfc. Kerstetter's dauntless and gallant heroism was largely responsible for the capture of this key enemy position, and his fearless attack in the face of great odds was an inspiration to his comrades in their dangerous task. [2]
Rank: Staff Sergeant.
Organization: Company I, 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division.
Place: Near Tabio, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
Date: 6 June 1945.
Citation
He volunteered to investigate the delay in a scheduled attack by an attached guerrilla battalion. Reaching the line of departure, he found that the lead company, in combat for the first time, was immobilized by intense enemy mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire which had caused casualties to key personnel. Knowing that further failure to advance would endanger the flanks of adjacent units, as well as delay capture of the objective, he immediately took command of the company, evacuated the wounded, reorganized the unit under fire, and prepared to attack. He repeatedly exposed himself to draw revealing fire from the Japanese strongpoints, and then moved forward with a 5-man covering force to determine exact enemy positions. Although intense enemy machinegun fire killed 2 and wounded his other 3 men, S/Sgt. Woodford resolutely continued his patrol before returning to the company. Then, against bitter resistance, he guided the guerrillas up a barren hill and captured the objective, personally accounting for 2 hostile machinegunners and courageously reconnoitering strong defensive positions before directing neutralizing fire. After organizing a perimeter defense for the night, he was given permission by radio to return to his battalion, but, feeling that he was needed to maintain proper control, he chose to remain with the guerrillas. Before dawn the next morning the enemy launched a fierce suicide attack with mortars, grenades, and small-arms fire, and infiltrated through the perimeter. Though wounded by a grenade, S/Sgt. Woodford remained at his post calling for mortar support until bullets knocked out his radio. Then, seizing a rifle he began working his way around the perimeter, encouraging the men until he reached a weak spot where 2 guerrillas had been killed. Filling this gap himself, he fought off the enemy. At daybreak he was found dead in his foxhole, but 37 enemy dead were lying in and around his position. By his daring, skillful, and inspiring leadership, as well as by his gallant determination to search out and kill the enemy, S/Sgt. Woodford led an inexperienced unit in capturing and securing a vital objective, and was responsible for the successful continuance of a vitally important general advance. [3]

See also

References

  1. "Illinois National Guard > About Us". www.il.ngb.army.mil. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  2. "Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (G-L)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  3. "Howard E Woodford | World War II | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 17 September 2025.