Blue and white, the overwhelmingly predominant colors of the 131st Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia are the current and old colors of the Infantry branch. Horizontal bars called barrulets run across the middle of the insignia; the two wavy barrulets stand for Spanish-American War service (top) and for overseas service in France during World War I (bottom), and the middle bar (closet) is for Mexican Border service. Four fleurs-de-lis are for the four campaigns the Regiment fought in during World War I. The “1” inside the red diamond is the insignia of the old First Regiment of Infantry, Illinois National Guard.
DUCIT AMOR PATRIAE, the unit motto, is Latin for “Led By Love Of Country.” The unit crest was approved on 19 April 1927.
lso 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 (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. 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.
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The 131st Infantry Regiment was founded in the Illinois State Guard as the 1st Battalion of Infantry and organized on 14 September 1874 in Chicago. Prior to World War I, the unit would be called into Federal service for the War With Spain in 1898 and Mexican Border duty in 1916. In 1917, the unit was first given the designation when it was redesignated as the 131st Infantry for the first time after being drafted into the Federal army. Assigned to the 33rd Division, the Regiment fought in four World War I campaigns before returning stateside for demobilization in 1919.
During World War II, the Regiment was relieved from assignment to the 33rd Infantry Division. Sent to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, it would go on to earn a Navy Presidential Unit Citation for service Guadalcanal and a Philippine Presidential Citation; additionally, the B Company of the Regiment’s 1st Battalion was awarded an Army Presidential Unit Citation for actions at Bougainville.
As of 2023, the 131st Infantry Regiment has no active components.