The 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment traces its origins to the 4th Infantry Battalion, Wisconsin National Guard

Wisconsin National Guard

The Wisconsin Army National Guard has dual state and federal roles, and is jointly funded and maintained by both governments. Its federal mission is to provide trained units to the United States Army in time of war or national emergency...

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Organization

The 4th Infantry Battalion, Wisconsin National Guard, was organized on 25 April 1884 from Milwaukee companies, expanded and redesignated in 1890 as the 4th Infantry Regiment (four companies transferred to 1st Infantry Regiment 28 April 1898).

The four regiments of the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in Federal service for the War with Spain were as follows:

• 1st Infantry mustered in 14 May 1898 at Milwaukee; mustered out 19 October 1898;
• 2nd Infantry Regiment mustered on 12 May 1898 at Madison; mustered out 11–21 November 1898;
• 3rd Infantry Regiment mustered on 11 May 1898 at Milwaukee; mustered out 4–17 January 1899; and
• 4th Infantry Regiment was reorganized with the addition of new companies and mustered on 11 July 1898; mustered out 28 February 1899 at Anniston Texas.

They were reorganized on 10 June 1899 as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Regiments in the Wisconsin National Guard.

Mexico Border War

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd Infantry Regiments were mustered into Federal service on 30 June 1916 for service on the Mexican Border Service and mustered out at Fort Sheridan, Illinois

Fort Sheridan, Illinois

Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood spread among Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as a United States Army Post named after Civil War Cavalry General Philip Sheridan, to honor his services to Chicago...

, on 19 January 1917 (1st Battalion), 28 February 1917 (2nd Battalion), and 14 December 1916 (3rd Battalion).

World War I

The regiments were again called into Federal service for World War I on 15 July 1917 and drafted into Federal service on 5 August 1917. They were reorganized and redesignated as the 128th and 127th Infantry on 24 September 1917 at Camp MacArthur, Texas, and assigned to the 32nd Division.

The units were Disbanded at Camp Grant, Illinois, on 18 May 1919 (127th) and 19 May 1919 (128th). The 32d Division demobilized on 23 May 1919 at Camp Custer, Michigan.

World War II

The 127th Infantry was reconstituted and was reorganized on 1 April 1921 in the eastern portion of Wisconsin and assigned to 32nd Division. It was inducted into Federal service on 15 October 1940 at Crandon. (The 32nd Division was redesignated on 1 August 1942 as 32nd Infantry Division).

On 26 November 1942, the 127th disembarked at Port Moresby

Port Moresby

Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...

 after a period of training in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The 3rd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment now took over on the Urbana front at Buna

Buna, Papua New Guinea

Buna is a village in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. It was the site in part, of the Battle of Buna-Gona during World War II, when it constituted a variety of native huts and a handful of houses with a airstrip...

 during the battle of Buna–Gona. Not able to be supported by tanks due to the terrain and swampy land, the fighting was a desperate tree-by-tree, bunker-by-bunker struggle. On 24 December 1942, First Sergeant

First Sergeant

First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...

, Elmer J. Burr

Elmer J. Burr

Elmer J. Burr was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...

 was posthumously awarded first Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

 of the campaign by throwing himself onto a grenade and absorbing the explosion protecting his commanding officer. Later the same day Sergeant

Sergeant

Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....

, Kenneth E. Gruennert

Kenneth E. Gruennert

Kenneth E. Gruennert was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...

 was awarded the Medal of Honor for knocking out two enemy bunkers single-handedly, and after being severely wounded in his attack against the first bunker, attacked the second bunker before being killed by a sniper.

It inactivated on 28 February 1946 at Fukuoka, Japan.

Post World War II

It was reorganized and Federally recognized on 18 August 1949 with headquarters in Waukesha, Wisconsin

Waukesha, Wisconsin

Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...

. It was reorganized on 15 February 1959 as the 127th Infantry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System. The 127th Infantry consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battle Groups, elements of the 32d Division.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battle Groups, 127th Infantry were ordered to active Federal service on 15 October 1961 at Appleton

Appleton, Wisconsin

Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...

, Oshkosh

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...

, and Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

, respectively. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battle Groups, 127th Infantry were released from active Federal service and reverted to State control on 10 August 1962.

The 127th Infantry reorganized on 1 April 1963 to consist of 1st, 2nd, and, 3rd Battalions.