| 124th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1860-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Army National Guard |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Nickname | Seminoles |
| Motto | Florida and Country |
| Engagements | American Civil War Spanish-American War World War I World War II Vietnam War Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation |
The 124th Infantry Regiment (FIRST FLORIDA) is a regiment of the Florida Army National Guard. Its motto “Florida and Country” was adopted by the 124th Infantry at the outbreak of the American Civil War (War Between the States), during which regiments of Florida’s “Light Infantry” were mustered and fought at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. They also fought in the Battle of Antietam and Battle of Gettysburg.
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The regiment is entitled to claim its descent from the first garrisons in America first mustered on 16 September 1565. The regiment was originally organized 1884-1892 in the Florida State Troops from new and existing companies as the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th Battalions of Infantry with Headquarters at Jacksonville, Ocala, Pensacola, Gainesville, and Arcadia, respectively
Battalions consolidated, reorganized, and mustered into Federal service for the Spanish American War20-25 May 1898 at Tampa. Reorganized unit became the 1st Florida Volunteer Infantry; eight companies mustered out 3 December 1898 at Tampa and four companies mustered out 27 January 1899 at Huntsville, Alabama
Expanded and reorganized 17-18 August 1899 in the Florida State Troops as the 1st and 2d Regiments of Infantry. The Florida State Troops redesignated in 1909 as the Florida National Guard.
2d Regiment of Infantry mustered into Federal service in June 1916; mustered out of Federal service in March 1917
1st and 2d Regiments of Infantry drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917 at Jacksonville and Wauchula, respectively
Consolidated, reorganized, and redesignated 1 October 1917 as the 124th Infantry and assigned to the 31st “Dixie” Division, as part of the mobilization for World War I and for operations along the Mexican border. Demobilized 14 January 1919 at Camp Gordon, Georgia
Reconstituted and reorganized 1920-1921 in the Florida National Guard as the 1st Infantry; Headquarters Federally recognized 4 June 1921 at Jacksonville. Redesignated 19 December 1921 as the 154th Infantry and assigned to the 39th Division. Redesignated 1 July 1923 as the 124th Infantry; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 39th Division and assigned to the 31st Division.
Inducted into Federal service 25 November 1940 at home stations
Relieved 15 December 1941 from assignment to the 31st Division
Inactivated 2 March 1944 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Assigned 5 April 1944 to the 31st Infantry Division and activated in Australia with personnel from the 154th Infantry (constituted and activated in 1942 in the Army of the United States) The 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry, participated in the campaigns of New Guinea and the Philippines where it was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Following World War II and through, 1963 the regiment went through various reorganizations and re-designations. On 15 February 1963, the regiment was re-designated the 1st and 2nd Battalions, as elements of the 53rd Separate Infantry Brigade.
The regiment was inactivated 16 December 1945 at Camp Stoneman, California. Reorganized, and Federally recognized 15 February 1946 in the Florida National Guard as the 124th Infantry with Headquarters at Jacksonville. Relieved 13 June 1946 from assignment to the 31st Infantry Division. Assigned 5 July 1946 to the 48th Infantry Division.
The Regiment broken up 1 November 1955 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows:
124th and 154th Armored Infantry Battalions consolidated 15 April 1959 to form the 124th Infantry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st and 2d Armored Rifle Battalions, elements of the 48th Armored Division
Reorganized 15 February 1963 to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions, elements of the 53d Separate Infantry Brigade
Reorganized 1 March 1964 to consist of the 1st Battalion and the 2d Battalion, an element of the 53d Armored Brigade
Reorganized 20 January 1968 to consist of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions, elements of the 53d Infantry Brigade
Withdrawn 1 May 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System with headquarters at Miami.
On 26 Dec 2002, the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry, was ordered into active federal service in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Ordered into active Federal service 2 January – 16 January 2003 at home stations; On the night of 19 March 2003, Soldiers of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry, positioned in Jordan, were among the first U.S. soldiers to cross into Iraq. Released 11 April – 21 May 2004 from active Federal service and reverted to state control. The regiment was reorganized on 1 September 2007 to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions, elements of the 53d Infantry Brigade Combat Team (3d Battalion hereafter separate lineage).
In March 2005, elements of 2nd Battalion were activated in support of the Global War on Terrorism and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan. In June 2006, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry, was activated and deployed as part of Multi-National Force - Iraq. The 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry, is currently deployed as part of the largest deployment of Florida National Guard Soldiers since World War II, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry Regiment is currently headquartered in Orlando, Florida. It consists of six companies: Headquarters Company in Orlando, Company A in Leesburg Company B in Sandford Company C in Ocala, Company D in Eustis and an attached Forward Support Company (FSC), Co F (-), 53rd Brigade Support Battalion FSC (IN) in Orlando. 2nd Battalion is a subordinate unit of the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States).
World War I: Streamer without Inscription World War II: New Guinea (with arrowhead), Southern Philippines War on Terrorism: Afghanistan: Consolidation I; 2nd Battalion entitled to two campaign streamers.
Company B (Cocoa), 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to: Southwest Asia, Defense of Saudi Arabia, Liberation and Defense of Kuwait and Cease-Fire
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