Commonly called a unit crest or DUI for short, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of 130th Infantry Regiment was approved on 3 February 1925. Its white shield is a nod to the Infantry color of white when the unit was originally formed as volunteer militia in 1809, and the horizontal red-white-green belt in the center commemorates the Mexican War. A black hawk and two red arrows recalls service in the Black Hawk War, while Civil War service is remembered with a blue saltire taken from the Confederate flag. A fleur-de-lis signifies service in France during World War I. “Always Ready,” the unit motto, is especially fitting for a National Guard unit that has responded so often to its nation’s call for service.
Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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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Currently comprising the 2nd Battalion, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard, the 130th Infantry Regiment was originally constituted on 1 March 1809 as the Volunteer Militia of Illinois Territory, making it one of two dozen National Guard units with credit for participation in the War of 1812. Its pre-World War I battle honors also include an Indian Wars campaign, three campaigns in the Mexican War, and an amazing 19 Civil War campaigns spanning the period from the Union capture of Forts Henry and Donelson to the conclusion of General Sherman’s March to the Sea.
In the modern era, the 130th Infantry was created after the 4th Infantry Regiments of the Illinois National Guard (the Regiment’s nickname is “Fourth Illinois”) was drafted into Federal service on 5 August 1917 and was reorganized and redesignated as the 130th Infantry, an element of the 33rd Division. It would fight in four World War I campaigns with the 33rd Division; in World War II, it was assigned to the 33rd Infantry Division and took part in two World War II campaigns in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; the Regiment’s HQ Company, 2nd Battalion was also awarded an uninscribed Asiatic-Pacific Theater streamer. Its exemplary service in the Luzon campaign was rewarded with a Philippine Presidential Unit citation.
The Regiment would not be deployed in a combat zone again until the launch of the War on Terrorism, when its 2nd Battalion was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and fought in the Iraqi Governance and National Resolution campaigns. It would subsequently be deployed to Afghanistan with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2008-2009, marking the larges single mobilization of Illinois Soldiers since World War II.
As of Summer 2023, the 2nd Battalion is assigned to the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 35th Infantry Division, Illinois Army National Guard.