History
The 138th Infantry Regiment traces its lineage to the St. Louis Greys, a volunteer militia company organized in 1832. The Greys first saw combat in the Mexican–American War, mustering into federal service in May 1846 as part of the St. Louis Legion. They fought at the Battles of Embudo Pass and Taos, and later took part in the occupation of Chihuahua City. [1]
By 1860, the Greys were part of the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment (Missouri Volunteer Militia), which patrolled the Missouri–Kansas border during the “Southwest Expedition.” In 1861, during the Camp Jackson Affair, Union forces captured the militia in St. Louis. Many members subsequently joined the Missouri State Guard and reorganized at Memphis as the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment (Confederate), part of the renowned 1st Missouri Brigade [1] .
The regiment fought in nearly every major Western Theater campaign of the Civil War, including Shiloh, Iuka, Corinth, Champion Hill, the Siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign, Franklin, Nashville, and Fort Blakely, where it surrendered in April 1865 [2].
Reorganized after the war, the unit became the 1st Regiment, Missouri National Guard. In 1898, nearly every member volunteered for the Spanish–American War, but the regiment never deployed overseas. The Militia Act of 1903 and National Defense Act of 1916 integrated Missouri’s Guard into the federal system.
In World War I, the First and Fifth Missouri Regiments were consolidated as the 138th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. The regiment fought in the Vosges Mountains, the St. Mihiel Offensive, and the Meuse–Argonne Offensive, where it advanced through Vauquois, Cheppy, and Exermont with Col. George S. Patton’s tanks. Two members, Captain Alexander Skinker and Private Nels Wald, earned the Medal of Honor [1] .
During World War II, the 138th was deployed to Alaska and the Aleutian Islands campaign, where it manned defenses and constructed outposts at Adak and Atka. The regiment was inactivated in 1944 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, with its soldiers reassigned as replacements. [1]
After the war, the regiment was reorganized in St. Louis but reduced to a single battalion by 1963. Its lineage was transferred to the 1138th Engineer Battalion in 1974. The regiment was reactivated in 2010, with its colors uncased in 2015. The 3rd Battalion, 138th Infantry was reestablished in 2022, headquartered in Kansas City [2][25].
2017 Operation Enduring Freedom - OSS Deployment
1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment deployed to Qatar in 2017 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield) to provide force protection of U.S. military assets and was there during the turbulent beginning of the GCC-Qatar Crisis. The battalion conducted security operations and was tasked with Quick Reaction Force responsibilities at various outposts in the region, but mainly in the base of Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. [2]
2023 Operation Spartan Shield/Operation Inherent Resolve Deployment
An element of 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment deployed in May 2023 in support of Operation Spartan Shield & Operation Inherent Resolve [3] where for the first time in over a decade, 39 Missouri National Guard Infantryman received their Combat Infantryman Badge's for Combat Operations and engaging in multiple firefight's during Operation Inherent Resolve while stationed in RLZ, Syria at a ceremony in December 2023 in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, the unit at that time was attached to the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team assigned to Task Force Reaper. [4]
Current Unit Structure and Locations of the 138th [5] [6]
1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company/HHC - Jefferson Barracks
- Alpha Company - Mexico, MO
- Bravo Company - Bridgeton, MO
- Charlie Company - Perryville, MO
- Delta Company - Sikeston, MO
3rd Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company/HHC - Kansas City, MO
- Alpha Company - Booneville, MO
- Bravo Company - Lamar, MO
- Charlie Company - West Plains, MO
- Delta Company - Clinton, MO [7]
Command Teams
1st Battalion Commanders
- LTC Kevin Fujimoto (2008-2011)
- LTC Levon Cumpton (2011-2013)
- LTC Martin Clay (2013-2015)
- LTC Douglas McConnell (2015-2018)
- LTC Tom Pickle (2018-2020)
- LTC Peter J. McCann (2020-2023)
- LTC Shawn Edwards (2023-2024)
- LTC Timothy (TJ) Halls (2024-Current)
1st Battalion Command Sergeants Major
- CSM Scott Kennedy (2008-2009)
- CSM Larry Godsey (2009-2018)
- CSM Don Lilleman (2018-2021)
- CSM Wes Blanscet (2021-2022)
- CSM Eric Jordan (2022-Current)
3rd Battalion Commanders
- LTC Tyson K Erdman (2022-2025)
- LTC Miciah Pyatt (2025-Current)
3rd Battalion Command Sergeants Major
- CSM Wes Blanscet (2022-Current)
