The 120th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Army National Guard.

The unit is an organic element of the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the North Carolina Army National Guard. Currently, 1st Battalion is the only active battalion in the Regiment and is organized as a combined arms battalion under the Brigade Unit of Action table of organization and equipment.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 120th Infantry Regiment's distinctive unit insignia, approved on 28 June 1928, consists of a gold metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall, consisting of a shield blazoned azure, in pale a prickly pear cactus and the entrance to the canal tunnel over the St. Quentin Canal. Attached below the shield is a blue scroll inscribed "VIRTUS INCENDIT VIRES" in gold.

The shield is blue for infantry. The cactus represents service on the Mexican border as the 3rd Infantry, North Carolina National Guard. The tunnel symbolizes the mouth of the tunnel in the Hindenburg Line at Bellicourt, France, captured by the 120th Infantry on 29 September 1918.

Recent history

The 120th "Tusk Hogs" went back to combat for the first time in nearly 60 years in early 2004 as part of the 30th Heavy Separate Brigade, North Carolina National Guard. In Iraq, they served under the 1st Infantry Division. Brigade Headquarters was at FOB Caldwell, east of Baghdad, while the Battalion was based (for most of the deployment) at FOB Bernstein, about 45 miles south of Kirkuk. The Brigade, including the 120th, redeployed in early 2005.

The "Tusk Hogs" were again called to serve in late 2008. Following training at Camp Shelby, Miss. and Fort Stewart, Ga., the now-renamed 120th Combined Arms Battalion deployed in early 2009 and is currently serving in central Iraq (as of Nov. 2009).

References

Bibliography

• "120th Infantry Regiment" The Institute of Heraldry website. [628378]
• "The Army Lineage Book Volume II: Infantry" Department of the Army.