The 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has a long and rich history, stretching back over a hundred and fifty years, to just before the American Civil War. Originally created in 1856 in the Virginia Militia as the West Augusta Guard, the Guard was mustered into Confederate service as the 5th Virginia Infantry in 1861. During the war, the unit participated in 18 campaigns, including the famous First Battle of Manassas, where General Bernard Lee saw General Jackson “standing like a stone wall”, and ordered his wavering troops to “Rally on the Virginians”, which became the Brigade’s motto. This famous moment is where Jackson earned the name “Stonewall Jackson” and the Brigade was nicknamed the “Stonewall Brigade.”
The 116th surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865, along with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia. In 1874, it was reorganized as the West Augusta Guard once again. In 1881 it was redesignated as the 2nd Regiment of Infantry, before being disbanded in 1885. The unit was reactivated in 1892, and briefly mustered into federal service for half a year in 1898 as the 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In 1899 it was reformed into the West Augusta Guard again before being quickly formed into the 70th Infantry in 1900. It was redesignated as the 1st Infantry in 1908.
Between 1916 until the end of World War I, the unit fought in two campaigns—the Meuse-Argonne offensive and Alsace 1918. During the war, in 1917, it consolidated with elements from two other units to form the 116th Infantry. After the war it was demobilized at Camp Lee, Virginia in 1919. A year later it reconsolidated with another two units and became the 2nd Provisional Regiment. In 1921 it changed again into the 1st Infantry briefly, only to go back to being the 116th Infantry the following year.
The 116th fought in four campaigns during WWII, and earned two decorations for their actions on the beaches of Normandy, a Presidential Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. It was deactivated after the war, but quickly reorganized at Staunton.
The unit became the 116th Infantry Brigade after its consolidation in 1975, and took on its current name of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2005. The Brigade has seen action in Afghanistan as well, and earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2012.
Related Items
116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Patch (SSI)
116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Unit Crest (DUI)