Dakota Company / 2-121 Infantry

SFC Ronald M. 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry is one of the oldest units in the U. S. Army, tracing its lineage to Georgia state militia units formed between 1810 and 1825. The regimental nickname "The Gray Bonnets" is derived from the title of a song, "Put On Your Old Gray Bonnets" adopted in 1928 as the official air, or marching song, of the regiment. The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the regiment

is an "Old Gray Bonnet" proper, and is one of the few Distinctive Unit Insignias in the U. Army designed to be manufactured and worn in pairs (left and right). The Regimental Crest is a blue shield with a gray saltire cross and a prickly pear and fleur-de-lis and a Boar's Head with an oak branch in its mouth on top. The blue background represents the Infantry while the gray cross symbolizes the unit's Confederate Service. The cactus represents duty on the Mexican border, and the fleur-de-lis service in France during World War I. The Boar's Head with oak leaf is the crest of the Georgia Army National Guard. The unit's motto is "Facendium Est", or "It Shall Be Done". Alpha Company 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry mobilized for Desert Storm, but did not deploy in time to be able to participate in the war. After certifying at the National Training Center as combat-ready, they demobilized. Alpha Company 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Stabilization Force (SFOR) Rotation 9 to provide support operations for Task Force Eagle (United States contingent to United Nations Operations in support of Dayton Peace Accord). The SFOR9 rotation was scheduled from March to October 2001. Alpha Company was the only unit in the Task Force to operate in the Republic of Srpksa, which is the Serbian controlled sector of Bosnia. Alpha Company 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry mobilized as a component of the 48th Brigade Combat Team in 2004 for combat operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism. In May 2005 the unit began deploying to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and experienced some of the fiercest combat actions in the campaign. During the first half of the brigade's deployment to Iraq, Alpha Company spent much of its time in the southwest region of Baghdad. The unit's focus shifted during the second half of the deployment to a theater security mission primarily consisting of convoy es**rt and civilian military operations. On April 20, 2006, at Ft. Stewart, members of the Alpha Company 2-121st returned home after a year of combat operations in Iraq. As a part of the United States Army's ongoing transformation to a lighter, more modular force Alpha Company 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry was re-designated as light infantry in 2007. The unit gave up its M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and became a dismounted force, with its anti-armor (Delta) company receiving up-armored HMMWVs. In December 2007, Alpha Company 2nd Battalion 121st Infantry was alerted that it would be deployed to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In January 2009, the Alpha Company 2-121st began training for the expected year-long deployment. The unit was subsequently deployed to Afghanistan in April. While deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Alpha Company 2-121st participated in training the Afghan Security Forces while conducting Counter Insurgency Operations in Kabul Regional Command areas of operation. In March 2010 the unit redeployed from Afghanistan and demobilized at Fort Stewart, GA. The Valdosta Armory would remain home to the Alpha Company until 2012 when they would move to Griffin Armory and the Valdosta Armory would be the new home for Delta (Dakota) Company 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment. Other websites include:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Battalion,_121st_Infantry_Regiment
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-121in.htm