126th (East Lancashire) Brigade, Second World War
Soon after mobilisation, the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment was posted away to become part of 25th Infantry Brigade on lines of communications duties in France. They were replaced by the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, a Regular Army unit that had been stationed in Northern Ireland, under command of Northern Ireland District. The brigade and the rest of the division then began training for war, although, with most of the British Army at the time, with obsolete tactics in trench warfare dating from the 1914-1918 war.


126th (East Lancashire) Brigade, Second World War, Order of battle
The 126th Infantry Brigade was constituted as follows during the war:


126th (East Lancashire) Brigade, Second World War, Commanders
The following officers commanded 126th Infantry Brigade during the war:


126th (East Lancashire) Brigade, Second World War, France and Dunkirk
The 126th Infantry Brigade, under the command of Brigadier Eric Miles DSO MC–a tough but highly competent Regular Army officer of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, with the nickname of "Miles the soldier"–landed, with most of the rest of the division, in France on 15 April 1940 to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Franco-Belgian border. The 42nd Division, led by Major-General William Holmes DSO, came under command of III Corps, serving alongside the 5th Division, a Regular Army formation, and the 44th (Home Counties) Division, a Territorial. The latter division had, along with the 42nd, initially been held back from reinforcing the BEF sooner to participate in potential operations in Northern Europe, although this plan had never come to fruition and both were sent overseas in the same month.


126th (East Lancashire) Brigade, Second World War, France and Dunkirk
During the Battle of France in May 1940 42nd Division helped to hold the line of the River Escaut and the canals, until, with the rest of the BEF, it was forced to withdraw to Dunkirk. When most of the 42nd Division was evacuated from Dunkirk, 126th Brigade remained behind, transferring to the 1st Division for the final part of the battle and only being evacuated on 2 June. After arriving back in England the brigade rejoined the 42nd Division, then serving in Northern Command.


126th (East Lancashire) Brigade, Second World War, France and Dunkirk
During the evacuation Captain Marcus Ervine-Andrews, Officer Commanding (OC) B Company of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, was awarded the regiment's, the brigade and division's first and only Victoria Cross of the war. He was also the first of eight Irish military personnel to be awarded the VC throughout the Second World War.


126th (East Lancashire) Brigade, Second World War, France and Dunkirk
After returning to England, the brigade was reorganised and, due to the very heavy losses sustained in France, absorbed large numbers of conscripted men as replacements, most of whom had no prior military experience, and was tasked mainly with coastal and home defence and training in an anti-invasion role to repel a potential German invasion of England. The invasion never arrived, mainly due to events that happened during the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940, and the brigade was able to begin training for offensive operations.


126th (East Lancashire) Brigade, Second World War, Conversion
On 1 November 1941, the 42nd Division was converted into 42nd Armoured Division, and 126th Brigade was converted into and redesignated 11th Armoured Brigade. Its infantry battalions became tank regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps as 107th Regiment RAC (King's Own) (previously 5th King's Own), 110th Regiment RAC (Border Regiment) (formerly 5th Borders) and 111th Regiment RAC (Manchester Regiment) (5th Manchesters, transferred from 127th Brigade, replacing 1st East Lancs).


126th Air Refueling Squadron
The 126th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard stationed at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. The 126th is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker.


126th Air Refueling Squadron
The squadron was first organized in the Wisconsin National Guard as the 126th Observation Squadron in 1940. It is one of 29 National Guard Observation Squadrons formed before World War II.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
The squadron was first organized as the 126th Observation Squadron in November 1940 as part of the build-up of the United States military after the Fall of France. The 126th trained for reconnaissance with the Wisconsin National Guard. The squadron was called to active service in June 1941 and moved to Hyannis Army Air Field, Massachusetts. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron performed antisubmarine patrols off the New England coast, using a variety of single engine observation aircraft. In October 1942, as two and four engine bombers took over more of the antisubmarine mission, the squadron moved to Birmingham Army Air Field, Alabama, where it was inactivated and its personnel dispersed to other units.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
The squadron was reactivated at Fort Myers Army Air Field, Florida as part of Third Air Force in March 1943 and initially trained, as the 126th Reconnaissance Squadron to be a tactical reconnaissance squadron. In August, its mission changed to photographic reconnaissance and it was redesignated the 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron and converted to the Lockheed F-5 Lightning high speed reconnaissance aircraft. The unit deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it became part of Ninth Air Force in England. The squadron performed aerial reconnaissance of enemy-held territory in Occupied Europe prior to the Normandy Invasion. It supported Operation Overlord, the Normandy invasion in June 1944 by performing visual and photographic reconnaissance of bridges, artillery, road and railway junctions, traffic centers, airfields, and other targets.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, World War II
The squadron moved to France in August 1944, aiding the United States Third Army and other Allied organizations in the liberation of France and the battle to breach the Siegfried Line by flying reconnaissance missions in the combat zone. It flew reconnaissance missions over Germany from January 1945 to V-E Day, assisting the advance of Third Army across the Rhine, to Czechoslovakia and into Austria. It had moved forward to Fürth Airfield, Germany by the time hostilities ended. It then became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe and part of the occupation forces in Germany and was inactivated at Fürth in November 1945.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air Defense Command
The wartime 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron was redesignated the 126th Fighter Squadron and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946. It was organized at General Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and extended federal recognition on 25 June 1947. The squadron was assigned to the newly formed 128th Fighter Group and equipped with North American F-51D Mustangs.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air Defense Command
The squadron upgraded to Lockheed F-80A Shooting Star jet aircraft in 1949. The squadron was federalized during the Korean War on 1 March 1951 and Was redesignated the 126th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron the following day. The 126th moved to Truax Field, Madison where it flew air defense missions. In February 1952.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air Defense Command
As part of a major Air Defense Command (ADC) reorganization that replaced its fighter wings with regional air defense wings, responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage, the squadron's parent 128th Fighter-Interceptor Group was inactivated and the squadron was reassigned to the 31st Air Division. In April, the unit converted to North American F-86 Sabres and flew them until it was released from active duty and inactivated on 1 December 1952.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air Defense Command
The squadron was activated in the Wisconsin Air National Guard the same day and began to equip with the earlier F-86A model of the Sabre. It continued its air defense mission though the 1950s, being upgraded to radar equipped Northrop F-89 Scorpion interceptors in 1954. Its initial equipment was the 20mm cannon armed F-89C, but in 1960 it upgraded to the F-89J, which was armed with the AIR-2 Genie and equipped with data link or interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air refueling
The squadron was designated the 126th Air Refueling Squadron and, along with its parent group, equipped with Boeing KC-97 Stratotankers. The 126th was the first Air National Guard tanker unit to become fully operational. This occurred in December 1963. The squadron participated in a historic operation in a foreign land, when on 2 June 1967, members of the squadron and its support units deployed for a sustained period of time without being mustered into federal service. The 126th, along with four other Air National Guard refueling units, stationed a contingent of KC-97s at Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany. European deployments, designated Operation Creek Party, were destined to last for 10 years.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air refueling
In 1976, the squadron began conversion to the Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, a newer and faster jet tanker. On 4 October 1976, the 126th completed its first mission with the new aircraft and became fully operational with the KC-135 on 2 December 1977. In January 1979 the unit began a 24-hour-per-day Strategic Air Command (SAC) alert commitment. This commitment would be maintained for the next 12 years until President Bush ended the SAC alert in 1991.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air refueling
In 1982 the unit converted to a newer model of the Stratotanke, the KC-135E, with more fuel efficient turbofan engines. In April 1983 the 126th Air Refueling Squadron was involved in the Pacific Tanker Task Force, with flights to Guam, South Korea and Australia. In the spring of 1984 the unit participated in Operation Coronet Giant, an exercise which entailed a direct flight from the United States to West Germany by 12 Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II attack fighters, refueled along the way by three squadron KC-135s.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air refueling
The route spanned 3600 miles, and was the largest mission of this type undertaken by a National Guard force to date. On 21 March 1986 a unit aircraft departed Fargo, North Dakota, with 40 civilian VIP's on board for Tempelhof Central Airport in West Berlin. This was the first Air National Guard flight transporting civilians outside the Continental United States, and was also the first KC-135 authorized to fly into West Berlin through the Berlin Corridors.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Air refueling
During Operation Desert Shield, the squadron was partially activated on 20 December 1990. All aircraft, aircrews and a number of support personnel were dispatched to Cairo West Air Base, Egypt between 27 and 29 December 1990. They became the basis for the 1706th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional). Other unit personnel were mobilized to replace troops sent forward or for other overseas destinations.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Post-Cold War era
Three aircraft and 47 volunteer guard members departed for Moron Air Base, Spain on 28 December 1992 in support of Operation Restore Hope, a humanitarian mission to restore order and provide food and medical supplies to Somalia. At Moron the planes became part of the Moron Tanker Task Force. Over 16 million pounds of fuel were unloaded during the deployment.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Post-Cold War era
During a 24 February 1994 trip to the Azores the unit performed its first "roller mission." Steel rollers were placed on the floor of squadron aircraft making to facilitate loading and unloading cargo. The KC-135 always had a dual mission; refueling and transport, but this modification improved the KC-135's cargo handling capability. On this flight squadron aircraft refueled a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III for the first time.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Post-Cold War era
During July 1996 squadron members deployed to Pisa Airport, Italy for Operation Decisive Endeavor, the American contribution to the United Nations peace enforcement force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over 5,500 personnel from 13 NATO countries formed the Implementation Force (IFOR) air component. Unit members performed deployment rotations from 1 July to 3 August 1996. The 126th had the opportunity to work with tanker units from Mississippi and Nebraska, along with the Italian Air Force.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Post-Cold War era
On 30 April 1999, the 126th Squadron was called to active duty due to the crisis in Kosovo. President Clinton authorized the call for 33,000 reserve personnel to be placed on active duty for up to 270 days. The squadron and elements of the 117th Air Refueling Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard deployed together to Europe to support Operation Allied Force, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military operation against Serbian forces in Kosovo.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Global War on Terrorism
Following the terrorist attacks on the United States the squadron was tasked to provide air refueling support for fighter combat air patrols over major U.S. cities. Dubbed Operation Noble Eagle (ONE), the 126th flew its first ONE mission on 12 September 2001. From September to December 2001, the squadron flew 64 sorties and offloaded over 100,000 pounds of fuel to 156 aircraft. The highest sortie rate occurred in November when fighter combat air patrols occurred every four hours over most of the major U.S. cities.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, History, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Global War on Terrorism
In addition to supporting ONE, the 126th also provided support for Operation Enduring Freedom, deploying aircraft and personnel to Spain to support combat air operations from late September 2001 until the spring of 2002. In 2004, it deployed eight aircraft and 204 personnel to Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France in support of Operation Joint Forge, aimed at maintaining stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina.


126th Air Refueling Squadron, References, Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website .


126th Air Refueling Wing
The 126th Air Refueling Wing (126 ARW) is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard, stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.


126th Air Refueling Wing
The 108th Air Refueling Squadron, assigned to the Wing's 126th Operations Group, is a descendant organization of the World War I 108th Aero Squadron, established on 27 August 1917. It was reformed on 1 July 1927, as the 108th Observation Squadron, and is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II.


126th Air Refueling Wing, Mission
The primary mission of the 126th Air Refueling Wing is to provide air refueling support to major commands of the United States Air Force, as well as other U.S. military forces and the military forces of allied nations. Additionally, the unit can support airlift missions. The unit is also tasked with supporting the nuclear strike missions of the Single Integrated Operational Plan.


126th Air Refueling Wing, Mission
During peacetime, the 126th ARW receives direction through the adjutant general of Illinois, the governor of Illinois and the National Guard Bureau. Upon federal mobilization, the wing is assigned to Air Mobility Command and the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force.


126th Air Refueling Wing, Units
The 126 ARW also has two associate partners: the Active Associate 906th Air Refueling Squadron with the 126 ARW serving as the host organization for this Total Force Initiative association, and the Classic Associate 126th Supply Chain Management Squadron as part of a regionalized Air Mobility Command supply facility.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, World War II
The 344th Bombardment Group (Medium) was constituted on 31 August 1942, and activated on 8 September 1942 at Drane Field in Lakeland, Florida, an auxiliary facility to MacDill Field in Tampa. Initially, the group was equipped with Martin B-26 Marauders and served as a replacement training unit. Moved to RAF Stansted, England, January–February 1944 and assigned to Ninth Air Force.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, World War II
The 344th BG began operations in March 1944, attacking airfields, missile sites, marshaling yards, submarine shelters, coastal defenses, and other targets in German-occupied France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Beginning in May, the 344th helped prepare for the Normandy invasion by striking vital bridges in France. The Pathfinders were a provisional squadron equipped with the top-secret Pff (Oboe) navigational equipment. The Pathfinders would lead a group of 17 planes over the target. The 344th Bombardment Group was selected to lead the IX Bomber Command formations on D-Day, with the first aircraft taking off at 04:12 hours, attacking coastal batteries at Cherbourg, and during the remainder of June, it supported the drive that resulted in the seizure of the Cotentin Peninsula.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, World War II
The unit also defended positions to assist British forces in the area of Caen and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a three-day action against the enemy in late July when the group struck troop concentrations, supply dumps, a bridge, and a railroad viaduct to assist advancing ground forces at Saint-Lô.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, World War II
Another action of the 344th was to knock out bridges to hinder the German Army's withdrawal through the Falaise gap, and bombed vessels and strong points at Brest during August and September.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, World War II
On 30 September the 344th moved to their Advanced Landing Ground at Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France, France (A-59). While at Stansted the group flew over 100 missions, and lost 26 aircraft in combat.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, World War II
After V-E Day the group moved to Schleissheim, Germany for occupation duty and began training with Douglas A-26 Invaders, but continued to use B-26 aircraft. It was transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the United States on 15 February 1946 where it was inactivated on 31 March 1946.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
Redesignated 126th Bombardment Group (Light). Allotted to Illinois Air National Guard on 24 May 1946 and assigned to Chicago Municipal Airport.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
Extended federal recognition on 29 June 1947. Redesignated 126th Composite Group in November 1950, and 126th Bombardment Group (Light) in February 1951. The unit was ordered to active service on 1 April 1951 as a result of the Korean War. The unit was initially assigned to Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB, Virginia.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
The wing moved to Bordeaux-Merignac Air Base, France with the first elements arriving in November 1951. The 126th BW was assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. By 10 November, Bordeaux was considered an operational base and was assigned to the 12th Air Force.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
At Bordeaux, the 126th BW consisted of the 108th, 168th and 180th Bomb Squadrons (Light). The aircraft were marked by various color bands on the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Black/Yellow/Blue for the 108th; Black/Yellow/Red for the 168th, and Black/Yellow/Green for the 180th.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
It flew B-26's for training and maneuvers and stayed at Bordeaux AB until being transferred Laon AB, France on 25 May 1952 where it remained for the balance of the year.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
The 126th was relieved from active duty and transferred, without personnel and equipment, back to the control of the Illinois ANG on 1 January 1953 as the 126th Fighter-Bomber Group and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Flew F-86 Sabres. In 1955, redesignated as the 125th Fighter-Interceptor Group, equipped with F-86Ds.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
On 1 July 1961, the 125th's mission was changed to an air refueling one and was redesignated as the 126th Air Refueling Group, being assigned the KC-97 aircraft.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
Reassigned to Strategic Air Command 1 July 1976 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and redesignated as the 126th Air Refueling Wing. The 126th AREFW flew KC-97Ls for a brief time before converting to KC-135As. It was composed of the 108th Air Refueling Squadron and the 145th Air Refueling Squadron from the Ohio ANG along with the 126th Air Refueling Squadron from the Wisconsin ANG. In 1978 the KC-97s were sent to AMARC. Many of the 126th AREFW's KC-97Ls became gate guards and one is on the field of the former Grissom AFB, Indiana, where the 126th AREFW conducted many hours of transition practice.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Cold War
In 1983 the wing began receiving the KC-135E as a replacement for the "A" model water-wagons, a named used because of 110 seconds of water injection, used to increase thrust for take-off power. With the inactivation of SAC, the group was assigned to Air Mobility Command on 1 June 1992.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Post Cold War
The 126th moved from the former Air Reserve Station at O'Hare International Airport in 1999 as recommended by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's Report to Congress in conjunction with the closure of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard facilities at O'Hare. In 2000, the unit's KC-135E aircraft were upgraded with the new Pacer CRAG (Compass, Radar & GPS) avionics systems. In 2008, the unit completed a transition to KC-135R aircraft as the KC-135E fleet was retired.


126th Air Refueling Wing, History, Stations
Note: ALG = "Advanced Landing Ground" designation of temporary airfields constructed or used by the Allies in Europe following the D-Day landings in 1944.


126th Armed Police Mobile Division (People's Republic of China)
The 126th Division was a division deployed by the People's Republic of China.


126th Armed Police Mobile Division (People's Republic of China), History
The 126th Division was a military formation deployed by the People's Republic of China as part of the People's Volunteer Army (Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) or Chinese Communist Forces (CCF)) during the Korean War. It had a standard strength of approximately 10,000 men. It was a component of the 42nd Army, consisting of the 376th, 377th, and 378th Regiments.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States)
The 126th Aviation Regiment  is a unit of the U.S. Army National Guard.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
From 1963 the 26th Aviation Battalion had been associated with the 26th Infantry Division. A company of the battalion was established in Florida as part of the Florida Army National Guard. Changes to the regimental system in the late 1980s led to the superseding of the battalion by a regiment, itself part of the Aviation Brigade, 26th Infantry Division.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
The 126th's lineage includes that of the 122d Aviation Battalion due to consolidation. The battalion was originally organized and Federally recognized on 18 November 1946 in the Rhode Island National Guard at Providence as the Medical Detachment, 43d Division Artillery. It was ordered into active Federal service on 5 September 1950 at Providence during the Korean War. With the division, the detachment was deployed to Germany to defend against a possible Soviet attack.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
To replace the detachment at home stations, a National Guard of the United States (NGUS) unit with the same designation was organized and Federally recognized on 2 December 1952. On 15 June 1954, the Medical Detachment was released from active Federal service and reverted to state control, and Federal recognition was withdrawn from the NGUS unit.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
On 1 April 1959, it was converted and redesignated as the 43d Aviation Company, still part of the 43d Division, and relocated to Warwick. It was relieved from its assignment to the 43d Division on 18 March 1963, just before the division was inactivated on 1 May. On 1 January 1965, the company became Battery F of the 103d Artillery, and was further redesignated as the 43d Medical Company on 1 March 1966. On 22 December 1967, the 43d Cavalry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, was constituted in the Rhode Island Army National Guard.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
Troop E was organized at Warwick from the 43d Medical Company and Federally recognized on 1 January 1968. Troop E became Troop D of the 26th Cavalry's 1st Squadron in the 26th Infantry Division on 1 May 1971. It was relocated to North Kingstown on 1 June 1974. On 1 October 1986, it was expanded into the 122d Aviation Battalion and relieved from its assignment to the 26th Division.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
The 126th Aviation was constituted 1 October 1987 in the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Army National Guard as a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System; concurrently organized from the 164th and 963rd Aviation Companies, the 1220th Transportation Company, and the 122d Aviation Battalion to consist of the 1st Battalion and Companies D, E, and F, elements of the 26th Infantry Division, and Company G.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
In the mid-late 1980s the Aviation Brigade, 26th Infantry Division was reported to consist of:


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
The 126th Aviation Regiment was reorganized 1 September 1990 in the Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont Army National Guard to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions and Company F, elements of the 26th Infantry Division, and Company G. Reorganized 1 September 1993 to consist of the 1st Battalion, Company F, and the 2d Battalion, an element of the 42d Infantry Division.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
The 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation, is now part of the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island Army National Guard.


126th Aviation Regiment (United States), History
The 3d Battalion is part of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Its Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment is located on Camp Edwards, which is part of the Massachusetts Military Reservation in Bourne, Massachusetts.


126th Baluchistan Infantry
The 126th Baluchistan Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army raised in 1825 as the 2nd Extra Battalion of Bombay Native Infantry. It was designated as the 126th Baluchistan Infantry in 1903 and became 2nd Battalion 10th Baluch Regiment in 1922. In 1947, it was allocated to the Pakistan Army, where it continues to exist as 7th Battalion of The Baloch Regiment.


126th Baluchistan Infantry, Early history
The regiment was raised in 1825 at Bombay as the 2nd Extra Battalion of Bombay Native Infantry. In 1826, it was designated as the 26th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. In 1856, it was dispatched to Persia, where it took part in the Battle of Kooshab during the Anglo-Persian War of 1856-57. In 1891,  the regiment was localized to the Province of Baluchistan and reconstituted with Balochis, Brahuis, Pathans and Punjabi Muslims. It adopted uniforms of drab colour with red trousers and its designation was changed to 26th (Baluchistan) Regiment of Bombay Infantry. In 1900 it was sent to China to suppress the Boxer Rebellion. In 1901, the regiment's designation was changed to 26th Baluchistan Infantry.


126th Baluchistan Infantry, 126th Baluchistan Infantry
Subsequent to the reforms brought about in the Indian Army by Lord Kitchener in 1903, all former Bombay Army units had 100 added to their numbers. Consequently, the regiment's designation was changed to 126th Baluchistan Infantry and it was delocalized from Baluchistan. On the outbreak of the First World War, the regiment was sent to Aden, where it remained during the war except for brief stays in Egypt in 1915 and Mesopotamia in 1917.


126th Baluchistan Infantry, Subsequent History
In 1922, the regiment was grouped with five other Baluch battalions: 1st & 2nd Battalions of 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry, 127th Queen Mary's Own Baluch Light Infantry, 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis and the 130th King George's Own Baluchis (Jacob's Rifles), to form the 10th Baluch Regiment. The 126th Baluchistan Infantry was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion of the new regiment. During the Second World War, 2/10th Baluch fought with great gallantry in the Malayan Campaign.


126th Baluchistan Infantry, Subsequent History
The battalion was taken prisoner by the Japanese on Singapore Island after the surrender of British forces on 15 February 1942. It suffered a total of 1596 casualties in the war and during the Japanese captivity. The battalion won distinction for resisting intense enemy pressure to join the Japanese-sponsored Indian National Army. Prominent among them was Lieutenant Abrar Hussain, who was awarded the MBE for his heroic conduct whilst a Prisoner of War. On its return from captivity, the battalion was reformed in 1946. On the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the Baluch Regiment was allocated to Pakistan Army. In 1956, on the merger of 8th Punjab and Bahawalpur Regiments with the Baluch Regiment, 2 Baluch was redesignated as 7 Baluch (now 7 Baloch). During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the battalion fought with distinction in the Kasur Sector.


126th Battalion (Peel), CEF
The 126th Battalion (Peel), CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in Peel County. After sailing to England in August 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 109th and 116th Battalions, CEF, and the 8th Reserve Battalion on October 13, 1916. The 126th Battalion (Peel), CEF, had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. .


126th Battalion (Peel), CEF
The 126 Battalion (Peel), CEF is perpetuated by The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment).


126th Delaware General Assembly
The 126th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 5, 1971, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor Russell W. Peterson and Eugene Bookhammer as Lieutenant Governor.


126th Delaware General Assembly
Currently the distribution of seats for both houses was based on a court interpreted interpretation of the federal 1960 census. It resulted in a large shift in membership numbers to the New Castle County area and ruling that the election districts would abandonment of county lines for their boundaries, but could design whatever district boundaries that would accomplish such population equals. Subsequent census were adjusted such boundaries to continue such adjectives, the next being in 1972.


126th Delaware General Assembly
In the 126th Delaware General Assembly session both chambers had a Republican majority.


126th Delaware General Assembly, Members, Senate
About half the State Senators were elected every two years for a four-year term, except the decade district redesign year, when all served two years. They were designed for equal populations from all districts and its accomplishment occasionally included some territory from two counties.


126th Delaware General Assembly, Members, House of Representative
All the State Representatives were elected every two years for a two-year term. They were designed for equal populations from all districts and its accomplishment occasionally included some territory from two counties.


126th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
The 126th Division (第126師団, Dai-hyakunijūroku Shidan) was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Resolution Division (英断兵団, Eidan Heidan). It was formed 16 January in Mishan as a triangular division. It was a part of the 8 simultaneously created divisions batch comprising 121st, 122nd, 123rd, 124th, 125th, 126th, 127th and 128th divisions. The nucleus for the formation was the 12th border guards group in Miaoling fortress, Mizuki fortress garrisoned by parts of the 11th independent border guards group, parts of 3rd cavalry brigade and left-behind elements of the 25th Division. The 126th division was permanently assigned to 5th army.


126th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
In July 1945, the division was brought to the nearly full strength, expanding artillery company to 126th artillery regiment and adding 126th Airborne (Assault) battalion, expanding by 9 August 1945 from 12500 to 19000 men in ranks. Nothetheless, the artillery was understrength. Artillery regiment has just 21 Type 38 10 cm Cannons, while infantry regiments has only half the required complement of the Infantry support guns. Also, the lack of machine guns, ammunition, and low quality of personnel led the Kwantung Army command to estimate the 126th division being only 20% combat effective.


126th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
The 126th division was tasked with protecting a border of Mudanjiang from 9 June 1945.


126th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
9 August 1945, at the start of the Soviet invasion of Manchuria the 126th division was standing against 6 rifle divisions and 3 armoured brigades of the Red Army. On the retreat to the Linkou County, parts of the 126th artillery regiment were involved in the Asayama incident - a forced suicide of the Japanese refugees, resulting in 1300 civilian deaths.


126th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
The division has stopped at Mudanjiang together with the 135th division and set up a defensive lines, after being reinforced by 31st independent anti-tank battalion, 18th engineer regiment and 2nd company of the 20th heavy artillery regiment. The massed Red Army attack has started 14 August 1945, but the 126th division held the defences until 16 August 1945, buying time for population of Mudanjiang to flee. As the result of heavy Japanese resistance, Soviet forces have stopped the attempts to storm the Mudanjiang and bypassed the city on the southern flank.


126th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), Action
The 126th division has surrendered to the Red Army 17 August 1945 and was disarmed 18 August 1945. Most of personnel was taken prisoner by the Soviet Union. About 4000 men have died either during fighting or in the Siberian labour camps.


126th Field Artillery Regiment
The 126th Field Artillery Regiment was a regiment in the United States Army National Guard.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Lineage
Constituted in the National Guard of Wisconsin as the 1st Cavalry and partially organized by redesignation of Light Horse Squadron of Milwaukee as Troop A (constituted 25 March 1880 as Light Horse Squadron and organized 26 April 1880 at Milwaukee). Troop B organized 24 June 1916 at Milwaukee; remainder of regiment organized April–July 1917 at locations as follows-


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Lineage
Mustered into federal service 31 July 1917; drafted on 5 August 1917. reorganized and redesignated 120th Field Artillery and assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division (United States)28 September 1917. Demobilized 16 May 1919 at Camp Grant, Il.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Lineage
Reorganized 1 April 1929 as a three squadron regiment with elements activated or redesignated as follows-


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Lineage
Relieved from the 23rd Cavalry Division converted and redesignated as the 126th Field Artillery, 1 October 1940.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, History
Following conversion from the 105th Cavalry Regiment, the 126th FA Regiment was subordinated to the 32nd Infantry Division. The regiment was initially equipped with 75-mm field guns. The 126th FA Regiment, less its second battalion, was redesignated the 126th Field Artillery Battalion on 31 January 1942. The regiment's second battalion had been redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 173rd FA Regiment on 16 January 1942. The 126th FA Battalion was reequipped with 105-mm howitzers during World War II and saw service in Australia, Goodenough Island, New Guinea, and the Philippines with the 32nd Division. On 28 February 1946, the 126th FA Battalion was inactivated in Japan.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, History
The 126th FA Battalion was reorganized on 23 June 1947 as part of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Consolidation with the 132nd Anti - Aircraft Battalion in 1959 resulted in the reemergence of the 126th FA Regiment, with one missile battalion and one field artillery battalion. The FA battalion was called to active duty for ten months during 1961–1962. A further reorganization on 5 November 1963 designated the regiment's second battalion as the 1st Battalion, 126th Field Artillery. The missile battalion became a battery and was later relieved of assignment to the regiment in 1971.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, History
After riot control duty in Milwaukee in July 1967, the 1-126 FA Battalion was released from assignment to the 32nd Division in December of the same year. The reorganization of 1 July 1971 reduced the regiment to a single battalion and, on 1 May 1972, redesignated the regiment as the 126th Field Artillery. Subsequent assignments for the battalion were to the 257th FA Group and finally to the 57th FA Brigade. In 2007, the 1st Battalion, 126th Field Artillery was converted to the 257th Brigade Support Battalion, which inherited the regimental lineage.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Distinctive unit insignia
A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 3/64 inches (2.66 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned:  Per pale Or and Gules, two chevronels counterchanged in dexter chief a horse's head Sable, eyed of the first within an annulet of the third. Attached above on a wreath Or and Gules a badger couchant Proper. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “FOLLOW ME” in Black letters.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Distinctive unit insignia
Yellow (Or) for the Cavalry service, is impaled with the scarlet for the Regiment's conversion into Field Artillery during World War I. The two chevronels represent the two chevrons of a year's overseas service. The ringed horse's head device is that of the Light Horse Squadron, organized in Milwaukee in 1880, in which the regiment had its origin. The motto “Follow me” is the keynote of modern cavalry tactics.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Distinctive unit insignia
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 126th Field Artillery Regiment on 7 June 1973. It was redesignated effective 1 September 2008, for the 257th Support Battalion.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Coat of arms, Blazon
Per pale Or and Gules, two chevronels counterchanged in dexter chief a horse's head erased with an annulet Sable.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Coat of arms, Blazon
That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Wisconsin Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, a badger couchant Proper. Motto FOLLOW ME.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Coat of arms, Blazon
Yellow (Or) for the Cavalry service, is impaled with the scarlet for the Regiment's conversion into Field Artillery during World War I. The two chevronels represent the two chevrons of a year's overseas service. The ringed horse's head device is that of the Light Horse Squadron, organized in Milwaukee in 1880, in which the regiment had its origin. The motto “Follow Me” is the keynote of modern Cavalry tactics.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Coat of arms, Blazon
The crest is that of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Coat of arms, Blazon
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 105th Cavalry Regiment (1st Wisconsin National Guard) on 30 January 1923. It was redesignated for the 126th Field Artillery Battalion on 19 May 1942. It was redesignated for the 126th Artillery Regiment on 30 December 1963. The insignia was redesignated for the 126th Field Artillery Regiment on 27 September 1972. It was redesignated effective 1 September 2008, for the 257th Support Battalion. It was amended to correct the crest symbolism on 28 March 2011.


126th Field Artillery Regiment, Distinctive trimming
A twisted silk cord, 1/4 inch in Diameter, or scarlet and gold strands, worn in a single snug loop around the left sleeve-band, passing under the shoulder loop of the service coat.


126th Guards Rifle Division
The 126th Guards Rifle Division was a Red Army division from 1945 to 1946, part of the Southern Group of Forces. The 126th Guards Rifle Division was originally the 10th Guards Airborne Division (10-я гвардейская воздушно-десантная дивизия), which was transformed into a rifle division on 20 December 1945.


126th Guards Rifle Division
After briefly becoming part of 9th Mechanised Army (after 57th Army was reorganised within the Southern Group of Forces, the division was disbanded on 30 November 1946.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
The 10th Guards Airborne Division was formed on 8 December 1942 from the 3rd and 4th Maneuver Airborne Brigades in Dimitrov in the Moscow Military District. Until 5 February 1943, the division conducted training. The 10th Guards Airborne Division became part of the 68th Army. The division took up positions on the Lovat River. On 22 July, the division was withdrawn from the line in preparation for battles south of Staraya Russa. On 17 August, the division was in its positions. The 18th Army started the offensive.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
The 10th Guards Airborne was in reserve and was to expand gains made by the 1st Guards Airborne Division and 26th Rifle Division. The 19th Guards Airborne Regiment temporarily captured Derekovo while the 24th Guards Airborne Regiment attacked Chirikov. On 19 August, the division again attempted to capture Derekovo and Chrikov, but failed. After reinforcement, the division tried again on 22 August, but attacks stalled against fierce resistance. On 26 August, the division withdrew and concentrated at Parfino.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
On 6 September, the division arrived at Kharkov, where it became part of the 82nd Rifle Corps of the 37th Army. On 1 October, the division crossed the Dnieper. The 30th Guards Airborne Regiment captured the village of Mishurin Horn. The division fought battles to hold its bridgehead until 14 October. On 16 October, the division attacked in the direction of Krivoi Rog, which it captured. On 26 February 1944, the 10th Guards Airborne was awarded the title 'Krivoi Rog' for its successful capture of the city.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
The division crossed the Inhulets River at Inhul-Radionovka on 27 February. Between 13 and 14 March, the division pursued German troops in the direction of Kazanka on the Southern Bug. On 16 March, the division led the  offensive in the direction of Voznesensk. The division captured Yelanets on 18 March and Voznesensk on 23 March. Crossing the Southern Bug, the division continued to advance, capturing Kotovsk, Bogunskiy and Oskarovku. On 4 April, during the Odessa Offensive, the division captured Rozdilna. For its performance during the offensive, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
The division reached the Dniester on 11 April in the area of Caragaș. It crossed the river on the next day and fought to hold its bridgehead until 18 April. From 18 to 26 April, the division was transferred to Tiraspol, where it was replenished. On 27 April, it went back into combat around Varnița, fighting to hold another bridgehead. On 8 May, it was withdrawn from combat again.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
On 2 June, the division was concentrated near Caragas, where it conducted training until 15 August. On 20 August, the division, as part of the 37th Army fought in the Second Jassy–Kishinev Offensive. In the offensive, the division captured Comrat, Basarabeasca and Leova. The division surrounded and eliminated a large group of enemy soldiers. Between 28 August and 6 September, the division mopped up German survivors on the Prut, taking 4,000 prisoner. On 10 September, the division crossed the Danube and entered Romanian territory. On 28 September, the division was awarded the Order of Suvorov 2nd class for its actions during the Second Jassy–Kishinev Offensive.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
Advancing southwards, the division entered Bulgarian territory at Serdement and advanced through Dobrych, Pereslav and Sliven. On 29 September the division was in the village of Golubnitsy, where it stayed until 30 October. On 4 November, the 10th Guards Airborne began a march to Belgrade, where it arrived on 9 November. On 18 November, it was in Sambir, where it became part of the 57th Army's 6th Guards Rifle Corps. On 23 November, the division crossed the Danube near Botin. By 25 November, it was advancing along the line of Dushevitsa and Knyajevo, breaking through German defences.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
The division captured the city of Koposhvar on 2 December. On 5 December, the division advanced to Nadbayom, where it went on the defensive. Between 14 December and 6 January 1945, the division fought German counterattacks in order to hold its gains. On 6 January, the 19th and 24th Guards Airborne Regiments were awarded the Order of Kutuzov 3rd class for their actions in the crossing of the Danube.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
On the same day, the division replaced the 73rd Rifle Division in another position, which it defended until 25 March. After repulsing German counterattacks, the division went on the offensive on 29 March. Breaking through German defences, the division pursued the German troops into Austria. On 4 April, the division was on the Hungarian-Yugoslav border at Križevci. On 7 April, it entered Austrian territory and was in the area of Feringa on the next day. On 19 April, it took positions in Raabau, which it held to 8 May.


126th Guards Rifle Division, History
On 9 May, the division entered Graz, where it ended the war. In June and July, the division marched back through Alba Iulia, Tulcea to the Soviet Union, where it became the 126th Guards Rifle Division on 20 December. It was part of the 6th Guards Rifle Corps of the 57th Army in the Southern Group of Forces. It was stationed in Buda. The division was disbanded on 30 November 1946.


126th Guards Rifle Division, Composition
The following units were part of the 10th Guards Airborne Division.


126th Illinois Infantry Regiment
The 126th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.


126th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Service
The 126th Illinois Infantry was raised in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 volunteers in the late summer of 1862. The recruits were all from Moultrie, Shelby, Montgomery, Mercer, and Rock Island Counties. It was organized in Alton, Illinois beginning on September 2, 1862 and mustered in for three years service on September 4 under the command of Colonel Jonathan Richmond.


126th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Service
The regiment took the field on November 20, 1862, manning the fortifications along the Mississippi River at Columbus for a week before joining Ulysses S. Grant's army at LaGrange, and being attached to the XIII Corps. They spent the winter guarding supply lines and railroads around Jackson and Humboldt. Staying behind while the main force advanced down the Mississippi River and against Jackson, the regiment eventually joined in the Siege of Vicksburg on May 28, 1863. They were present for the Confederate surrender on July 4 and were then assigned to duty in Helena. From August 1 to early September 1863 they joined General Frederick Steele and his expedition against Little Rock. There they saw action at the Battle of Bayou Fourche where the Confederate forces under General Sterling Price were defeated and Union forces exercised control over most of Arkansas.


126th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Service
After the Little Rock expedition, the 126th was stationed at DeValls until August 1864. During this time they saw little combat and simply endured the monotony of daily life in the army. The lone action was some light skirmishing that occurred on June 25–26, 1864 at the tiny settlement of Clinton. The regiment spent the rest of the war in the vicinity of Pine Bluff in central Arkansas. After spending almost their entire service serving in a rear echelon role the 126th Illinois was mustered out of service on July 12, 1865 at Pine Bluff.


126th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Frederick H. Dyer in his Compendium of the War of the Rebellion wrote of the 126th Illinois: Duty at LaGrange, Tenn., till January, 1863. (6 Companies moved to Jackson, Tenn., December 19, 1862; thence moved to Humboldt, Tenn. R.R. crossing at Fork Deer River December 20. Action at Humboldt December 21.) 4 Companies on duty at Jackson, Tenn., and 6 Companies at Humboldt, Tenn., January to March 25; then at Jackson till May 25, 1863. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., May 25–28. Siege of Vicksburg May 28 - July 4. Moved to Helena. Ark., July 24.


126th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Expedition against Little Rock, Ark., August 1 - September 10. Bayou Fourche and capture of Little Rock September 10. Moved to Duvall's Bluff October 24, and duty there till August 19, 1864. Action at Clinton June 25–26. Moved to Pine Bluff, Ark., August 19, and duty there till February 12, 1865. Scouts from Pine Bluff toward Camden and Monticello January 26–31. At mouth of White River, Ark., till June 12, and at Pine Bluff till July 12.


126th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Casualties
The regiment lost 6 men killed or mortally wounded, 4 officers and 192 enlisted men dying of disease for a total of 202 fatalities.


126th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 126th Infantry Division (German: 126. Infanterie-Division) was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 15 October 1940 in Münster.


126th Infantry Regiment (France)
The 126th Infantry Regiment is a regiment first constituted during the French Revolution.


126th Infantry Regiment (France), History, World War I
Garrison: Brive-la-Gaillarde, 48th Infantry Brigade, 12th Army Corps. Assigned to the 24th Infantry Division (French: 24e Division d'Infanterie) from August 1914 to November 1918.


126th Infantry Regiment (France), History, Interwar period
The 126e RI was in garrison at Brive-la-Gaillarde in January 1939, and recalled to apply the "barrage plan" in the Pyrénées-Orientales.


126th Infantry Regiment (France), History, World War II
The regiment illustrated capability in June 1940 to halt offensives, while record marching 350 km in two weeks.


126th Infantry Regiment (France), History, World War II
The regiment was reconstituted in 1944 from marquis of Corrèze and Périgord and participated in the liberation of Alsace, then entered the Black Forest. In January 1945, the 126th Infantry Regiment was integrated into the First Army, which was first at the disposition of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Free French Division 1re DFL, where the 126th reinforced the 2nd Brigade during the period of the defensive mounted on Strasbourg, and the surveillance of left wing of the Rhin. Then, with the 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division 2e DIM, and participating with the 9th Colonial Infantry Division 9e DIC to campaign battles, combat of Karlsruhe, Ruppur, Rastadt with the 23e RIC and 6e RIC.


126th Infantry Regiment (France), Traditions, Insignia of the 126e RI
White Buffalo since 1937, on the background of a blue Cross of Lorraine since 1944.


126th Infantry Regiment (France), Traditions, Insignia of the 126e RI
Lieutenant-colonel Godefroy, regimental commander of the 126e RI endowed the regiment with an insignia featuring the ruins of Oradour, to evoke the 134th Infantry Regiment (French: 134e Régiment d'Infanterie, 134e RI) which was integrated to the 126e RI in October 1945.


126th Infantry Regiment (France), Traditions, Insignia of the 126e RI
The actual insignia of the regiment was endowed by colonel Mestelan, regimental commander from 1979 to 1981.


126th Infantry Regiment (France), Traditions, Decorations
The regimental colors of the 126e RI are decorated with:


126th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 126th Infantry Regiment ("Second Michigan") is a United States military unit of the Michigan Army National Guard. The 126th was originally an infantry regiment, then was converted into an armoured role, and then was converted to a light cavalry reconnaissance unit, with subordinate units stationed in Cadillac, Wyoming, Dowagiac, and Manistee. It was converted back to an infantry unit in 2016.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Early history
The 126th Infantry existed for its first 144 years as an infantry unit. The 126th Infantry dates back as early as 12 July 1855 when the Grand Rapids Light Guard and Grand Rapids Artillery companies were organized. The first officers of the Grand Rapids Light Guard included Wright L. Coffinberry as captain; Frederick W. Worden, E.T. Nelson, and A.L. Gage as lieutenants; Milton S. Littlefield, Benjamin B. Church, S.S. Porter, and G.M. McCray as sergeants.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Early history
Other charter members of the Light Guard included Edward A. Earle, Joseph C. Herkner, Benjamin Luce, Henry Spring, Miles Adams, E. H. Hunt, Dr. Willard Bliss, Frank Earle, Warren P. Mills, James Sargeant, J.E. Earle, John Grady, C.B. Hinsdill, Charles D. Lyon, George E. Judd, Henry Whipple, Robert M. Collins, F. Shriver, Byron R. Pierce, B. D. Ball, Edwin S. Pierce, John Seymour, Samuel Judd, Thomas Sargeant, G. W. Remington, William Livingston, Henry Ely, and Joseph Houseman. Later that year Ringgold’s Light Artillery was organized, and four years later in 1859, the Grand Rapids Rifles came into existence. These companies along with several others from Ionia formed the 51st Volunteer Uniformed Michigan Militia Regiment prior to the American Civil War.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War
The four companies formed the core of the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment that joined the Civil War on 13 June 1861. The regimental commander at the time was Colonel Daniel McConnell. The Third Michigan fought in twelve campaigns before it was mustered out in June 1864. Besides five Grand Rapids companies, the Third included companies from Boston and Lyons in Ionia County, Lansing, Muskegon, and Georgetown.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War
On 13 June 1861 the Third Regiment marched out of Cantonment Anderson in Grand Rapids, Michigan towards the recently constructed railroad depot near Leonard and Plainfield streets, where it boarded and departed the area for the war. While attached to Richardson’s brigade of Colonel Miles’s Division, the Third participated in its first engagement against Confederate forces just thirty-eight days after being federalized. It began as a part of a reconnaissance in force towards Blackburn’s Ford along Bull Run (the term "run" is southern for creek or small river).


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War
On 21 July, the Third marched with Richardson’s brigade back to Blackburn’s ford to keep the rebels occupied while the rest of McDowell’s army hit the Confederate’s left flank. After desultory firing at the ford, Richardson learned of the Federal rout on the right and was recalled to Centreville. What they saw was utter chaos and confusion as the Confederate forces, now reinforced, literally cut through the advancing and then retreating Union forces.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War
Morale by the close of that first summer was presumably low in the Third Michigan. During the next few months a number of officers including Colonel McConnell resigned and returned home to Grand Rapids. Major Champlin, who had originally organized Ringgold's Light Artillery back in 1855, assumed command of the regiment on 28 October 1861, and under him, the Third went into winter quarters at Alexandria, Virginia. That next March, the Third Michigan was assigned to General Berry’s Brigade of the Third Red Diamond Division and entered the Peninsula campaign. A few months later at Fair Oaks, the regiment’s losses were severe—thirty killed, one hundred and twenty-four wounded, and fifteen missing. Included among the dead was Captain Samuel Judd, and Colonel Champlin had been severely wounded.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War
Several months following Lee's surrender in April 1865, a great homecoming by the citizens of Grand Rapids was held for the returning heroes. On 4 July 1865, tables were set the entire length of the Pearl Street Bridge for a welcome-home celebration.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War, Medal of Honor recipients
Two soldiers in the Third earned the Medal of Honor.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War, After the Civil War
In the months and years that followed, veterans' groups were formed under the banner of the Grand Army of the Republic; however, the Old Third Michigan didn't organize an association until 23 February 1871. When they did, they elected Colonel Edwin S. Pierce, president; John H. Sumner, secretary; and Colonel George E. Judd, treasurer.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War, After the Civil War
In Grand Rapids, the earliest of the new, independent companies was the Valley City Zouaves, organized first in 1866 and reorganized on 14 March 1873. However, this company did not remain in existence for long and was never actually mustered into state service.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War, After the Civil War
Several years after the end of the Civil War, the Grand Rapids Guard company was organized by veterans of the Third and other regiments. The company was mustered into state service in 1872 as part of the Michigan State Troops. It was called out to aid authorities during a riot at the Muskegon County jail in 1873 and to quell a disturbance at Greenville during the Flat River labor dispute in 1874. That year the Grand Rapids Guard became Company B 2nd Infantry Regiment when the regiment was organized at Grand Rapids. Over the course of the next 24 years through various reorganizations the 2nd Infantry included companies from Coldwater, Kalamazoo, Flint, Bay City, East Saginaw, Port Huron, Marquette, Niles, Ionia, Manistee, Big Rapids, Three Rivers, and Grand Haven.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), American Civil War, After the Civil War
The Michigan State Troops were redesignated as the Michigan National Guard on 31 December 1894, in response to a growing use of that designation across the country. It was first applied to the New York state militia in 1824 as a compliment to General Lafayette, who had been visiting the United States at that time. Lafayette had commanded the Garde Nationale in Paris around 1789.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War with Spain
In 1898, the 2nd Infantry was mobilized for the war with Spain as one of five Michigan regiments. It was redesignated the 32nd Volunteer Infantry Regiment and included twelve battalions: four from Grand Rapids, four from Detroit, and one each from Coldwater, Grand Haven, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. The 32nd rendezvoused at Island Lake and was sent to Tampa, Florida with Colonel William T. McGurrin in command. It was just about to embark for Cuba when hostilities ceased and the 32nd returned home.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War with Spain
Back at home, the regiment resumed its 2nd Infantry designation and moved into a new armory. This was the first time since 1855 that all four Grand Rapids companies were located in one armory. The remaining companies were located at Coldwater, Kalamazoo, Big Rapids, Lansing, Manistee, Muskegon and Battle Creek. Owing to poor showings in annual inspections, the Manistee company was dropped for Grand Haven and a new company was organized at Manistee. The Battle Creek company also was disbanded and Adrian joined the regiment. The Lansing company was eventually redesignated as artillery, and an Ionia company joined the 2nd.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War with Spain
The Clark Building armory in Grand Rapids was thought in its day to be one of the finest armories in the state. Its furnishings and equipment had a value estimated at $11,000. The drill hall was rather large, and the armory included ample equipment rooms, assembly rooms, billiard rooms, reading rooms, officers' rooms, an indoor target range eighty feet in length, a cafe, club rooms, elegantly furnished parlors, and a library.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War with Spain
In 1903, Congress passed the Militia Act of 1903, which had a huge impact on the Second Michigan and all other militia units in the United States. The bill and its amendments in effect served to nationalize the militia and reduce its status as a state volunteer force. Under terms of the act, the organized militia was uniformly redesignated as the National Guard and organized along army lines, with provisions for federal weapons and equipment. Twenty-four training sessions per year plus a summer encampment were now required for all units. Federal instruction and inspection were authorized and provisions made which elevated the status of Guard officers to equality with their federal counterparts.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War with Spain
On 3 September 1912, in response to a request from officials at the state prison in Jackson, the governor directed that Companies C and M, Second Infantry from Kalamazoo, join companies of the First Infantry in aiding civil authorities in quelling the riot and protecting the institution from outside attack or interference with the discipline of the convicts. Within two hours of receiving the order, both companies were ready to leave the armory. The entire regiment saw service in the 1913 copper strike in the Upper Peninsula, serving in copper country from 24 July to the first of November. During the regiment’s stay, there was no loss of life and negligible property damage for any of citizen.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Mexican Border War
On 19 June 1916, the entire Michigan National Guard was called out for service on the Mexican border instigated by raids on American border towns by the Mexican Pancho Villa. The Thirty-second was mustered into federal service on the first of July. The organization of the 2nd included four companies from Grand Rapids, two from Kalamazoo, and one each from Coldwater, Adrian, Ionia, Grand Haven, Muskegon and Big Rapids. This war also became known as the Pancho Villa Expedition.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Mexican Border War
Shortly thereafter, the regiment departed for El Paso, Texas, arriving at Camp Cotton on 12 July, located a mere three hundred yards from the Mexican border. Upon its arrival, regular army inspectors took note of the excellent condition of the regiment and the short amount of time it took to get settled into camp. The next four weeks were spent in intensive training. During this time, details were organized to guard important points in the vicinity of El Paso. On 15 August, the regiment took over the entire outpost along the Rio Grande and the boundary line in New Mexico.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Mexican Border War
This consisted of a line stretching from Fort Hancock, 50 miles (80 km) southeast of El Paso, to Las Cruces, New Mexico, for a total of 47 miles (76 km) in length. While the Grand Rapids battalion was on the border, construction work on the new Michigan Street armory was completed.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Mexican Border War
On Saturday, 13 January 1917, the final inspection of the regiment had been conducted. The regiment struck camp on Thursday and returned to Fort Wayne, where it was mustered out of service on 15 February. Under federal laws Congress adopted in June 1916 the regiment reverted to its National Guard status.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War One
The 32nd returned home that spring only to find itself being activated for the World War. In September, it was ordered to Camp MacArthur, Texas, where it underwent another major reorganization to become part of the 32nd Division, which included Michigan and Wisconsin troops.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War One
Under the command of Colonel Joseph Westnedge, the 32nd became the 126th Infantry Regiment. The new regiment included the following companies: A-Coldwater, B-Adrian, C-Kalamazoo, D-Ionia, E-Ann Arbor, F-Jackson, G-Detroit, H-Detroit, I-Big Rapids/Muskegon, K-Grand Rapids, L-Grand Haven/Muskegon, and M-Grand Rapids. In addition, the regimental headquarters, machine gun company, supply company, sanitary detachment and band were all from Grand Rapids.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War One
The regiment left the United States on 19 February 1918 bound for France. When it first arrived it was used for replacements and supply duty. Soon, the regiment, along with the 32nd Division, was sent into battle. When the war was over on 11 November, the 126th had seen service in four major campaigns and earned the French Croix de Guerre. The 126th returned in May 1919 but without its dearly beloved Colonel Westnedge who had died that previous fall from the effects of mustard gas. PFC Joseph William Guyton, the first American killed on German-held territory in WWI, was posthumously awarded the French Croix de guerre.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War One
Following the war, Colonel Earl R. Stewart reorganized the 126th with units coming from many of the same towns as those of the pre-war 32nd. The only actions the unit participated in between the World Wars were the 1936 Second Army maneuvers across Allegan County and the 1937 Flint Sit-Down Strike.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two
On 15 October 1940, before the United States involvement in the Second World War, the 126th headed to Louisiana along with the rest of the Red Arrow Division. The makeup of the 126th included the following units: Headquarters, Headquarters Company & Anti-Tank Platoon, Service Company, Band-Grand Rapids; 1st Battalion Headquarters Detachment-Adrian, Co A-Coldwater, Co B-Adrian, Co C-Kalamazoo, Co D-Holland; 2nd Battalion Headquarters Detachment-Muskegon, Co E-Big Rapids, Co F-Grand Haven, Co G-Muskegon, Co H-Ionia; 3rd Battalion Headquarters Detachment, Co I, Co K, Co L, Co M-all Grand Rapids.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two
During the summer of 1941, the regiment participated in the Third and Fourth Army maneuvers—nicknamed the Louisiana Maneuvers—which provided the army high command a good look at the preparedness of the regiment. The first test, which was held in the vicinity of Camp Beauregard, was conducted from 16 June through the 27 and included the Thirty-second Division as well as the Thirty-seventh from Ohio. From 16–30 August, the maneuvers expanded to include the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth divisions.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two
During September, the largest maneuvers were held with the Seventh Corps of the Second Army, opposing the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth corps of the Third Army. The Grand Rapids Guard was part of the Fifth Corps. It was the largest maneuver of its kind in the history of the army and included some one hundred thousand men.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Redirected to Pacific
Initially trained for the war in Europe, they were turned around in late March and told to be in San Francisco in three weeks. On 18 April 1942, the 32nd Division boarded a convoy of seven Matson Line ships, and the 126th boarded the S.S. Lurline, a luxury liner converted to transport duty, and four days later sailed for the South Pacific. The regiment crossed the equator on 30 April, and the international date line on 7 May, reaching Adelaide, Australia, seven days later. There, the 126th unloaded and moved to Camp Sandy Creek some 18 miles (29 km) outside the city.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Redirected to Pacific
In August 1942, the 126th moved 900 miles (1,400 km) to Brisbane and was billeted at Camp Cable. The camp was named in honor of Corporal Gerald Cable, the first member of the 32nd Division killed by the Japanese during World War II. Cable, a member of Service Company, 126th Infantry, along with approximately twenty other men, were on board a ship transporting trucks and other equipment from Brisbane to Adelaide when a torpedo hit the ship in the stern.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Move to New Guinea
The 126th was organized into a regimental combat team composed of the entire 126th Infantry Regiment; Company A, 107th Medical Battalion; Company A, 114th Engineer Battalion; 1st Platoon, Company D, 107th Medical Detachment; Section C, 10th Evacuation Hospital; 107th Quartermaster Company; and a number of other support forces. Colonel Lawrence A. Quinn was in command of the combat team. First, Second, and Third battalions were under the command of Lt. Col. Edmund Carrier, Lt. Col. Henry Geerds, and Lt. Col. Clarence Tomlinson, respectively. The regiment was the first U.S. force to be dispatched to Port Moresby in New Guinea in September 1942. Once in Port Moresby the Regiment was put to work constructing the American base camp, once again missing out on valuable training.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Trek across Owen Stanley Range
In October 1942 the 2nd Battalion, assisted by several hundred natives carriers, was sent across the Owen Stanley Ranges via the Kapa Kapa Trail toward Jaure, where they were to flank the Japanese retreating towards the coast on the Kokoda Trail. The total distance over the mountains to the Japanese positions was over 130 miles (210 km), and most of the trail was rarely used.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Trek across Owen Stanley Range
They were completely unprepared; the Battalion suffered greatly from exposure to the elements in the mountains. The troops also suffered from malaria, dengue fever, bush typhus, trenchfoot, and tropical dysentery. The men carried only six days rations, expecting to be resupplied en route.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Trek across Owen Stanley Range
Some of their rations included including hardtack, rice, and Australian bully beef which had become rancid. Many men got food poisoning. They had leather toilet seats but no machetes, insect repellent, waterproof containers for medicine or personal effects, and it rained heavily every day. It was "one of the most harrowing marches in American military history."


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Trek across Owen Stanley Range
The Battalion took 42 days to cross the mountains and reach the coast. They never saw a Japanese soldier during their trek, and the battalion reached the north coast after the Australians who had fought the Japanese down the Kokoda Trail. During their march, the remainder of the Regiment was flown across the Owen Stanley Range, arriving before the 2/126th. The battalion earned the nickname "The Ghost Battalion" during the march, referring not only to the ghost-like conditions encountered when they passed 3,080 metres (10,100 ft)-high Mount Obree, which they nicknamed Ghost Mountain, but to their condition upon arrival.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Battle of Buna-Gona
Lt . Gen. Robert Eichelberger found that when the soldiers of 2/126th arrived at the front they were not ready for combat. Nonetheless, after a week's rest, the men were ordered to the front where they were key players in the extremely difficult Battle of Buna-Gona. The unit was decimated by the battle. The 126th Infantry was the hardest-hit of the three regiments of the 32nd Infantry Division . It had 131 officers and 3,040 enlisted men when it entered combat against the Japanese in mid-November. At the conclusion of the battle on 22 January, the unit had been decimated by disease as well as battle. Only 32 officers and 579 enlisted men were left, less than a full battalion.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Other campaigns
After taking part in the Western New Guinea campaign, the unit later fought in Leyte and Luzon. The 32nd Division logged a total of 654 days of combat during World War II, more than any other United States Army division. The unit was inactivated in 1946 after occupation duty in Japan.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War Two, Recognition
Three soldiers in the 126th earned the Medal of Honor:


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Cold War
Following the War, the 126th returned to its home stations, but over the course of the next 45 years it underwent many transformations and reorganizations. It lost its attachment to towns such as Adrian, Coldwater, Muskegon, Ionia, and Kalamazoo. For a time, Greenville, Alma and South Haven were elements of the 126th.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Cold War
In March 1953, Wisconsin Highway 32, as well as a portion of former U.S. Route 12 in Michigan, was named in honor of the 32nd Infantry Division, and all Highway 32 shields carry the Red Arrow insignia. A memorial plaque describing the division is located at southern end of WI-32 on Sheridan Road in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Ceremonies were held along the route and included veterans of the Grand Rapids Guard, which had been part of the Thirty-second Division during both world wars. Although US-12 was later moved when Interstate 94 was built, portions of the Red Arrow Highway still exist between Kalamazoo and New Buffalo


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Cold War
A devastating tornado struck the Hudsonville, Standale, Comstock Park, and northern Grand Rapids areas on 3 April 1956. More than eight hundred members of the regiment were called to state duty to protect lives and property.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Cold War
On 15 March 1959, the regiment reorganized into two Battle Groups, the First and Second Battle Groups 126th Infantry, with both organizations' headquarters located at Grand Rapids. This dramatic reorganization in the U.S. Army was in effect the termination of the regimental system, an old tradition in military forces worldwide. This new "pentomic" system created five such battle groups in the Forty-sixth Division. The 126th Infantry, heroic in two world wars, ceased to exist less than forty-two years after its organization.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Cold War
Recognizing the problems of the "pentomic" divisional alignment in a nuclear era, the U.S. Army reorganized under the new ROAD (Reorganization Objectives Army Division) concept on 15 March 1963. Both First and Second Battle Groups were carved up to reform First, Second, and Third battalions 126th Infantry along with the new Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Second Brigade, Forty-sixth Infantry Division headquartered in Grand Rapids.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Cold War
On Palm Sunday, 11 April 1965, a series of tornadoes struck the southern part of the Lower Peninsula. The deadly twisters first struck north of Grand Rapids in the Alpine township area. Companies A and C, Third Battalion, 126th Infantry were called into action almost immediately and joined the Kent County Civil Defense Force, as well as other state, county, and city law enforcement agencies. The two companies managed to secure the affected area, prevent looting, and assisted with other disaster response duties.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Cold War
The new Grand Valley Armory in Wyoming, Michigan was dedicated on 31 May 1965, providing a permanent home to the Second Brigade Headquarters, along with First and Third battalions 126th Infantry, and the Forty-sixth Infantry Division Band.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Cold War
On 15 November 1965, the most radical reorganization in the history of the National Guard took place on orders of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara creating a Selected Reserve Force (SRF or "super-ready force"). The Second Brigade, Forty-sixth Infantry Division, under command of Colonel Robert T. Williams, was designated the headquarters for SRF units in Michigan, with the Third Battalion 126th Infantry designated as West Michigan’s SRF battalion. All Michigan elements of the SRF were additionally assigned to the Thirty-eighth Infantry Division of Indiana, an SRF division in the event of mobilization.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Maintaining civil order and reorganization
The Third Battalion 126th Infantry was ordered to state active duty on 31 August 1966, following four nights of racial violence at Benton Harbor, Michigan. A total force of four hundred officers and men were assembled. The force was reduced the next day to a total of 175, and training was undertaken to prepare for any deployment into the problem area. On Labor Day, the fifth of September, the battalion was stood down as the situation came under control without the use of troops. On 23 July 1967, the Grand Rapids Guard was called to active state duty once again, this time in response to rioting in the city of Detroit where arsonists and sniper fire had caused extensive damage from fires, resulting in deaths to both rioters and civilian authorities.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Maintaining civil order and reorganization
With the loss of the 46th Infantry Division in 1968, the 126th was scaled down to a single Infantry battalion, and the 1st and 2nd battalions' colors were retired. The reorganization redesignated the Second Brigade as the Forty-sixth Brigade assigned to the Thirty-eighth Infantry "Cyclone" Division, headquartered in Indianapolis. Some elements of the First and Third battalions were reorganized as divisional support elements such as Co. D 113th Engineer Battalion, Co. D (FS) 738th Maintenance Battalion, Second Platoon Thirty-eighth MP Company, Second Truck Platoon Co. B Thirty-eighth Supply and Transportation Battalion, and Brigade Admin Section Thirty-eighth Admin Co.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Maintaining civil order and reorganization
On 4 April 1968, Martin Luther King Jr., a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, was assassinated. The Michigan National Guard was ordered to state active duty the next day, to prevent possible outbreaks of violence similar to the previous summer (such as those in Detroit, Newark, Tampa, Buffalo, Plainfield). Headquarters Forty-sixth Brigade and Third Battalion, 126th Infantry proceeded to Detroit and established round-the-clock patrols to prevent any incidents. The brigade’s separate units remained at the Grand Valley Armory and were reinforced by units from Muskegon and Greenville in the event of outbreaks in other western state cities. These units were released two days later. The Forty-sixth Brigade and Third Battalion moved to Belle Isle for two days before being released from state duty on the tenth of April and returning to their home stations.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Maintaining civil order and reorganization
On 13 October 1990, fifty years after being mobilized for World War II, the 126th Infantry Regiment, including veterans of many of the "old 126th" and "Red Arrow" units, paraded through the city of Grand Rapids and were honored by many state and local dignitaries. The occasion marked the anniversary of the mobilization of National Guard troops prior to World War II, and the grand old 126th Infantry’s 135th birthday. On 3 June 1991, the city of Wyoming, under Mayor Harold Voorhees, passed a resolution designating Forty-fourth Street as 126th Infantry Memorial Boulevard.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Maintaining civil order and reorganization
Street signs that included the regimental crest were placed along the Wyoming portion of the street. On 20 August 1992, the Michigan Historical Commission placed the 126th Infantry on the State Register of Historic Sites. A marker was commissioned and dedicated in front of the Grand Valley Armory on 11 November 1992, prior to the start of the traditional Grand Rapids Veterans Day parade. The Grand Rapids Guard, Incorporated, underwrote the $2,200 expense.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Maintaining civil order and reorganization
During the summer of 1996, The 126th Infantry was mobilized to provide security for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), Maintaining civil order and reorganization
In the spring of 1991, the 126th Infantry learned it might be inactivated along with the rest of the Forty-sixth Infantry Brigade as part of a post–cold war reorganization plan by the Pentagon. A minor reorganization followed and resulted in bringing Alma back into the battalion as Company A Third Battalion 126th Infantry. Units at Grand Haven and Holland consolidated and were redesignated as Det. 1 Co. B and Company B (-). In the late 1990s, the units at Grand Haven and Holland were disbanded. In 1999, the 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry ended 144 years of Infantry tradition when it was reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 126th Armor.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War on Terror
Following the attack on the United States on 11 September 2001, elements of the 126th Armor were mobilized stateside under Operation Noble Eagle for Airbase Security Enforcement at both TACOM and Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Later, other members were deployed to Texas and California with the mission of loading and unloading ships in support of the War On Terror. In 2004, a small contingent was sent to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the task of training Afghan soldiers.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War on Terror
On 4 January 2005, a company-sized element of the battalion was mobilized at Fort Dix, New Jersey for (Security Forces) training, and then later deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This particular unit was stationed in the Green Zone in central Baghdad with the primary mission of providing security for Iraq's top-tier one government personnel, while also having a minor role in conducting route security missions in Western Baghdad. The company returned home to Grand Rapids, Michigan on 26 February 2006.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War on Terror
On 12 August 2005, a permanent memorial to the 126th was dedicated at Camp Grayling, Michigan. In October 2006 the 1–126 Armor transitioned to the 1–126 Cavalry, consisting of scout, infantry, and headquarters troops. In April 2007 the unit was alerted for service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit was mobilized to Fort Hood, Texas in January 2008 and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in April 2008. During their deployment they have served as a Security Force (SECFOR) unit, providing convoy security to distribution operations in Kuwait and Iraq. They returned to Michigan on 12 December 2008.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War on Terror
In early January 2012 they deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and returned home in late 2012. On 20 May 2012, two vehicles from C-Troop 1–126 hit Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) while conducting combat and security patrols in the Shah Wali Kot district of Afghanistan. 10 members of the unit received Purple Hearts for their injuries. The unit received the Valorous Unit Award as an attached unit to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment via permanent order 274-04 on 2 October 2013.


126th Infantry Regiment (United States), War on Terror
In March 2016, the unit began transitioning back to infantry. In January 2017, it joined the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, as the Army added a third maneuver battalion to its brigade combat teams.


126th Machine Gun Artillery Division
The 126th Machine Gun Artillery Division was a division of the Soviet Army and the Russian Ground Forces. It existed from 1989 to 1998. The division was originally formed as the 192nd Motor Rifle Division in Blagoveshchensk during 1969. It became the 126th Machine Gun Artillery Division in 1989 and was disbanded in 1998.


126th Machine Gun Artillery Division, History
In 1969, the 192nd Motor Rifle Division was activated in Blagoveshchensk. It was subordinated to the 35th Army. During the Cold War, the division was maintained at 70% strength. On 1 October 1989, it became the 126th Machine Gun Artillery Division. The 684th Motorized Rifle Regiment was disbanded and replaced by the 57th Machine Gun Artillery Regiment. In 1998, the division was disbanded.


126th New York Infantry Regiment
The 126th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.


126th New York Infantry Regiment, Service
The 126th New York Infantry was organized at Geneva, New York, and mustered in for three years service on August 22, 1862, under the command of Colonel Eliakim Sherrill.


126th New York Infantry Regiment, Service
The regiment was attached to Miles' Command, Harpers Ferry, Virginia, September 1862. Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, to December 1862. 3rd Brigade, Casey's Division, Defenses of Washington, D.C., to February 1863. 3rd Brigade, Casey's Division, XXII Corps, to April 1863. 3rd Brigade, Abercrombie's Division, XXII Corps, to June 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, II Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, II Corps, to June 1864. Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, II Corps, to November 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, II Corps, to June 1865.


126th New York Infantry Regiment, Service
The 126th New York Infantry mustered out of service June 3, 1865. Recruits and veterans were transferred to the 4th New York Heavy Artillery.


126th New York Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
The regiment left New York for Baltimore, Maryland, then moved to Martinsburg, Virginia on September 2, 1862. Retreat to Harper's Ferry, September 11–12. Defense of Harpers Ferry, September 12–15, 1862. Maryland Heights September 12–13. Bolivar Heights September 14–15. Regiment surrendered September 15. Paroled September 16 and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, then to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, and duty there guarding prisoners until November. Declared exchanged November 22, 1862. Moved to Washington, D.C., November 23–25. Camp at Arlington Heights, Virginia, defenses of Washington, to December 3, 1862, and at Centreville, Virginia, until June 1863.


126th New York Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Ordered to join Army of the Potomac in the field and joined II Corps June 25. Gettysburg Campaign June 25-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1–3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5–24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan until October. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13–17. Bristoe Campaign October 9–22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7–8. Brandy Station November 8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty near Brandy Station, Virginia, until May 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6–7. Morton's Ford February 6–7.


126th New York Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5–7; Spotsylvania May 8–12; Po River May 10; Spottsylvania Court House May 12–21. Assault on the Salient, "Bloody Angle," May 12. North Anna River May 23–26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26–28. Totopotomoy May 28–31. Cold Harbor June 1–12. Before Petersburg June 16–18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22–23, 1864. Demonstration north of James River July 27–29. Deep Bottom July 27–28. Demonstration north of James River August 13–20.


126th New York Infantry Regiment, Detailed service
Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14–18. Ream's Station August 25. Reconnaissance to Hatcher's Run December 9–10. Dabney's Mills February 5–7, 1865. Watkins' House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. On line of Hatcher's and Gravelly Runs March 29–30. White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3–9. Deatonville Road, Sailor's Creek, April 6. High Bridge and Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville until May 2. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 2–12. Grand Review of the Armies May 23.


126th New York Infantry Regiment, Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 276 men during service; 16 officers and 137 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 122 enlisted men died of disease.


126th New York State Legislature
The 126th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to April 23, 1903, during the third year of Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.'s governorship, in Albany.


126th New York State Legislature, Background
Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, 50 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts; senators for a two-year term, assemblymen for a one-year term. The senatorial districts were made up of entire counties, except New York County (twelve districts), Kings County (seven districts), Erie County (three districts) and Monroe County (two districts). The Assembly districts were made up of contiguous area, all within the same county, .


126th New York State Legislature, Background
At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Social Democratic Party, the Prohibition Party, the Socialist Labor Party, and a "Liberal Democratic" faction also nominated tickets.


126th New York State Legislature, Elections
The New York state election, 1902, was held on November 4. Gov. Benjamin B. Odell, Jr. was re-elected; and State Senator Frank W. Higgins was elected Lieutenant Governor; both Republicans. Of the other six statewide elective offices up for election, four were carried by the Republicans and two by the Democrats. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Republicans 665,000; Democrats 656,000; Social Democrats 23,000; Prohibition 20,000; Socialist Labor 16,000; and Liberal Democrats 2,000.


126th New York State Legislature, Sessions
The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1903; and adjourned on April 23.


126th New York State Legislature, Sessions
John Raines (R) was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate with 25 votes for and 24 against him. Republican senators Edgar T. Brackett, Walter L. Brown and Nathaniel A. Elsberg voted against Raines.


126th New York State Legislature, Sessions
On January 20, the Legislature re-elected Thomas C. Platt (R) to a second term as U.S. Senator from New York, for a six-year term beginning on March 4, 1903.


126th New York State Legislature, State Senate, Districts
Note: In 1897, New York County (the boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx), Kings County (the borough of Brooklyn), Richmond County (the borough of Staten Island) and the Western part of Queens County (the borough of Queens) were consolidated into the present-day City of New York. The Eastern part of Queens County (the non-consolidated part) was separated in 1899 as Nassau County. Parts of the 1st and 2nd Assembly districts of Westchester County were annexed by New York City in 1895, and became part of the Borough of the Bronx in 1898.


126th New York State Legislature, State Senate, Members
The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Luke A. Keenan, Jotham P. Allds and Albert T. Fancher changed from the Assembly to the Senate.


126th New York State Legislature, State Senate, Members
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."


126th New York State Legislature, State Assembly, Assemblymen
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."


126th Ohio General Assembly
The One Hundred Twenty-sixth Ohio General Assembly was the legislative body of the state of Ohio in 2005 and 2006. In this General Assembly, both the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives were controlled by the Republican Party. In the Senate, there were 22 Republicans and 11 Democrats. In the House, there were 60 Republicans and 39 Democrats.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment
The 126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 126th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry (or 126th OVI) was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Service
The 126th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, and mustered in for three years service on September 4, 1862, under the command of Colonel Benjamin Franklin Smith.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Service
The regiment was attached to Railroad Division, Western Virginia, to January 1863. Martinsburg, Virginia, VIII Corps, Middle Department, to March 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, VIII Corps, to June 1863. 3rd Brigade, French's Command, VIII Corps, to July 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, III Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, VI Corps, Army of the Potomac and Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to June 1865.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Service
The 126th Ohio Infantry mustered out of service at Washington, D.C. on June 25, 1865.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Service, Detailed service, 1862
Moved to Parkersburg, Va., September 16, 1862. Moved to Cumberland, Md., October 17, 1862, and to North Mountain December 12. Guard duty on Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from North Mountain to Martinsburg December 12–20, and duty at Martinsburg until June 14, 1863.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Service, Detailed service, 1863
Expedition to Greenland Gap April 15–22. Action at Martinsburg June 14 (Company B). Retreat to Harper's Ferry June 15–17. Guard stores to Washington, D.C.; thence to Frederick, Md., July 1–5. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5–24. Action at Wapping Heights, Va., July 23. Duty in New York City during draft disturbances August 18-September 5. Bristoe Campaign October 9–22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7–8. Kelly's Ford November 7. Brandy Station November 8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Service, Detailed service, 1864
Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6–7, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5–7. Spotsylvania May 8–12; Spotsylvania Court House (where a monument to the regiment stands) May 12–21. Assault on the Salient "Bloody Angle" May 12. North Anna River May 23–26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26–28. Totopotomoy May 28–31. Cold Harbor June 1–12. Before Petersburg June 18-July 6. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22–23. Ordered to Baltimore, Md., July 6. Battle of Monocacy Junction, Md., July 9. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty at Kernstown until December. Moved to Washington, D.C., December 3; thence to Petersburg, Va. Siege of Petersburg December 9, 1864, to April 2, 1865.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Service, Detailed service, 1865
Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3–9. Sayler's Creek April 6. Guard prisoners at Burkesville April 6–15. March to Danville April 15–27, and duty there until May 16. Moved to Richmond, Va., May 16; thence to Washington, D.C., May 24-June 2. Corps Review June 9.


126th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 296 men during service; 9 officers and 111 enlisted men killed, 10 officers and 379 enlisted men wounded, 2 officers and 142 enlisted men died of disease.


126th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
The 126th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers was an infantry regiment of the Union Army of the American Civil War.


126th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, History
The 126th Pennsylvania was recruited in Juniata, Fulton, and Franklin counties during the summer of 1862. Its term of enlistment was nine months. Many of the men and officers had served in the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, a regiment whose term had expired. James G. Elder became the colonel of the 126th, D. Watson Rowe lieutenant colonel, and James C. Austin major. The regiment was mustered into service at Camp Curtin between August 6 and 10, after which it was ordered to Northern Virginia. It was there assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, V Corps in the Army of the Potomac.


126th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, History
The division arrived too late to participate in the Battle of Antietam. While encamped near the battlefield in the weeks afterward, the 126th received its regimental flags and was reviewed by President Abraham Lincoln. The regiment's first battle came three months later at Fredericksburg, where it lost 27 killed, 50 wounded, and 3 missing. Following the battle, the 126th served as part of the rearguard while the rest of the Army retreated across the river.