The Ohio Army National Guard’s 148th Infantry Regiment was originally organized as the 2nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and brought into Federal service on 23 June 1846. It underwent an almost mind-numbing number of reorganizations and redesignations over the decades, and it wasn’t until it (designated as the 1st Battalion, 73rd Infantry Brigade) was withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System in 1992 and consolidated with the 148th Infantry to form the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry that would be an element of the 73rd Infantry Brigade.
In 2005, it would receive the full current designation of 148th Infantry Regiment, consisting of a single Battalion that would and serving as an element of the 38th Infantry Division. A 2007 reorganization made the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment an element of the 37th Infantry Division. After completing a tour in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the 148th Infantry Regiment reverted to state control in 2012.
In its 150-year plus history, the 148th Infantry Regiments and some of its subordinate units have been honored with five Presidential Unit Citations, five Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Valorous Unit Awards, an Army Superior Unit Award, and two Philippine Presidential Unit Citations.
The motto “We’ll Do it” found on the 148th Infantry Regiment’s Regimental Distinctive Insignia, or unit crest, is taken from World War I when the unit was attempting to cross the swiftly flowing Escaut River without pontoons. According to 148th lore, a certain Major Marlin reminded the men of a “certain ceremony” that was to conducted upon reaching the Rhine. Apparently, the thought of this ceremony was a true motivating factor, because the men—taking up the catchphrase “We’ll do it!”—cut down a tree and then crossed it in Indian file to achieve the crossing.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been
authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
For Enlisted personnel, the insignia is centered on a shoulder loop by placing it an equal distance from the outside shoulder seam to the outside edge of the shoulder-loop button. Officers (except Generals) wearing grade insignia on the shoulder loops center the DUI by placing it an equal distance between the inside edge of the grade insignia and the outside edge of the button.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e),
"Beret" and
"Garrison Cap," respectively.