The history of the 120th Infantry Regiment began with the formation of the 1st Regiment, North Carolina Volunteers, 19 April 1861. The Companies of this Regiment had roots back to the militia companies of the American Revolutionary War. During the Civil War, these units saw action at Bethel, Va, North Carolina-1862, Petersburg, Spotsylvania, Wilderness Campaign, Gettysburg and Appomattox. The Mili
tia Companies of this Regiment were re-organized as the 1st and 2nd Battalions, North Carolina State Guard on 10 April 1877, as part of the 3rd Regiment of Infantry. The 3rd North Carolina was mustered into Federal service 19 June 1916 for service on the Mexican Border under General “Black Jack” Pershing. At the conclusion of operations against the notorious Poncho Villa, the Regiment was mustered out on 27 March 1917, only to be recalled to federal service on 25 July 1917. On 12 September 1917, the 3rd North Carolina was re-designated the 120th Infantry Regiment and assigned to the newly formed 30th Infantry Division, which immediately adopted the nickname “Old Hickory” in honor of President Andrew Jackson (seventh President of the United States). The 120th Infantry, as a part of the 30th Infantry Division, saw service in France during World War I under the command of the British Army. During World War I, the Regiment participated in combat actions at Flanders and the Somme Offensive. The Regiment distinguished itself on many occasions, including the capture of Bellicourt and the St. Quentin Canal on 29 September 1918. This operation was largely responsible for cracking the Hindenburg Line and leading to the final defeat of the German Army. On 16 September 1940, the regiment, as a part of the 30th Infantry Division, was again called into Federal service as one of the first four National Guard Divisions to be activated in preparation for World War II. The main body of the 30th Infantry Division went ashore at Omaha Beach on the night of 13 June 1944. The 120th Regiment led the way with the Division’s first combat assault against German forces. On 26 July 1944, the 120th, along with its sister units the 117th Infantry Regiment and 119th Infantry Regiment, punched a hole in the German line and allowed the 2nd Armored Division to break through the German defenses and begin the move across France. To counter the Allied movements, the German High Command executed its first major counter attack, led by elite SS Panzer Divisions. The key to the German advance was the seizure of Hill 314 near Mortain, France. The battle of Mortain became one of the most important battles of the Normandy Invasion. For this and other actions the 1st Battalion was awarded a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. During the Battle of the Bulge, the 120th Infantry was again hit head on by Panzer and Airborne units, and again held it’s ground and delivered a crushing blow to the German attacks. For it’s role in the liberation of Belgium the Belgian Government awarded the 30th Infantry Division the Belgian Forragere. During World War II, three men of the Regiment were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1974 The 1st Brigade, including the 1st Battalion 119th Infantry and 1st Battalion 120th Infantry, was re-designated the 30th Separate Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) and retained the “Old Hickory” unit patch and colors. In June 2000, Company A/1-120th Infantry was called to Active Federal service and deployed to Bosnia as part of the United Nations Security Force (SFOR 8 Rotation) attached to the 3rd Infantry Division. Throughout their train up and six month deployment, the men of Company A received high praise from their 3rd Infantry Division counterparts and once again displayed the Old Hickory honor and “esprit de corps on foreign soil. For its service in Bosnia (SFOR 8) A Company was awarded the North Carolina Meritorious Unit Citation. On 1 October 2003, the 30th Old Hickory Brigade, including the 1st Battalion 120th Infantry, was again called to Active Federal Service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit reported for duty at Fort Stewart Georgia and deployed in January 2004, assumed responsibility for AO Tuskhog in the Eastern Diyala Province, and was later moved to Forward Operations Base Bernstein, near Tuzkourmatu. During the battalion’s 10 months in Iraq, the combined elements of the 120th conducted over 4900 combat patrols, dozens of mortar fire missions, destroyed over 100 IEDs, captured over 100 enemy combatants, hundreds of weapons and ammunition caches which consisted of thousands of artillery rounds, trained the Iraqi National Guard and assisted the Iraqi police with maintaining security, and spent almost 2 million dollars to improve the lives of the people of Iraq by building or repairing schools, hospitals, clinics, wells, roads, bridges and many other civil military projects. The battalion redeployed to the United States during December 2004 and January 2005 and was released from active duty on 28 March 2005. The 30th HBCT along with the 1-120th deployed to Iraq a second time in April of 2009. The 30th was assigned to the Multi National Division-Baghdad, and conducted thousands of Combat Patrols in and around Baghdad. The Battalion continued to improve upon the excellence from the deployment. The Battalion was successful in contributing to the safety and security of Iraq. The 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry has companies located throughout southeastern North Carolina with the Battalion Headquarters in Wilmington, NC. The 1st Battalion’s adopted the nickname “Tusk Hogs.” The Tusk Hog is a wild Boar indigenous to South Eastern North Carolina. It is highly respected for its willingness to defend its turf with ferocity, skill and cunning. The fighting spirit of the Tusk Hog is indicative of the men of the 1st Battalion 120th Infantry. The Officers and Men of the 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry will honor their tradition and perform their duties with the same spirit as their forefather “Citizen Soldiers.” Their deeds reflect the Regimental Motto “Virtue Kindles Strength.”
