• 1st Battalion
  Company A, B, C and D (Weapons Company)
• 2nd Battalion
  Company E, F, G and H (Weapons Company)
• 3rd Battalion
  Company I, K, L and M (Weapons Company)

The original provincial militia of Illinois was formed at Kaskaskia and Vincennes 282 years ago. Thus, was the beginning of the 130th Infantry. Its organization was the single unifying bond between the sparse settlements of the province and stood as a barrier to Indian attacks.

In 1728, our Regimental forefathers received their first call in the defense of the colonies during the French and Indian war.

In 1754, the battle-tested militia met and forced surrender of the Virginia Volunteers at Fort Necessity. The Virginians were under the leadership of George Washington, a great military strategist as well as later first president of the United States.

The Revolutionary War found the colonists under the command of George Rogers Clark. For the first time, the Illinois troops, together with Clark's own Virginia militia, were under control of the United States Army. March 1, 1809, the unit was re-designated the Volunteer Militia of Illinois Territory.

By 1813, as they were fighting against the combined attacks of British and Indian units in the War of 1812, Major Bailey's Old Battalion and Major Buckmaster's Battalion of Spies had been added to their ranks. Victory and the first campaign streamer won by the Regiment was finally achieved in 1814.

Times were turbulent and rest was short lived for the troops. In 1831, the grand chieftain of the Sac and Fox Indian tribes, Black Hawk, attacked the settlers. Once again Federal Service called and the Illinois Militia reported for duty as Duncan's Brigade. The pioneers, adapting quickly to Indian tactics, captured Black Hawk and ended the war in 1832. One of the ends attained by the War was the migration of Indian tribes to regions further west. Serving in the ranks of the Brigade was Captain Abraham Lincoln, eventually to become commander in chief of all forces in the United States.

Mustered into service in 1846 as the Fourth Illinois, the troops fought in the Mexican War under Generals Scott and Taylor. They met a force of 20,000 Mexicans under General Santa Ana on 22 February 1847 and were victorious. General Scott proceeded against Vera Cruz. After capturing the city they continued marching toward Mexico City. While sixty miles out they encountered the 12,000 remnant of Santa Ana's troops. The ensuing battle resulted in 1,000 Mexicans dead and 3,000 taken prisoner.

The truly outstanding military achievement of the unit began in 1861 under the banners of the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Regiments. As they served in the Civil War Illinois troops, over 260,000 strong protected Illinois from invasion; helped hold Missouri for the Union; assisted in breaking the Confederate hold on Mississippi; participated in Sherman's campaign in Tennessee; and were involved in the capture of Atlanta.

Vicksburg, Chattanooga and Shiloh were but three of the campaigns in which they distinguished themselves and further enriched their proud heritage.

Reorganization and re-designation took place after the Civil War and finally, on 10 October 1917, the 4th Infantry Regiment assumed the title: "the 130th Infantry Regiment."

World War I saw the newly formed 130th Infantry participate as part of the American Expeditionary Forces in the Somme Offensive. The unit further enhanced its fighting reputation in the Meuse-Argonne, Picardy and Lorraine sectors. These were the first engagements for the 130th on overseas soil.

After the end of World War I, the Regiment returned to Illinois and, until the outbreak of World War II, was called upon in times of calamity and disaster, as well as to support civil authorities in times of disorder.

On 5 March 1941, the 130th Infantry once again was inducted into federal service. Camp Forrest and Fort Lewis were stops along the way to 1943 when the Regiment found itself at the Desert Training Center, Camp Young, CA.

The Regiment, later the same year boarded the ship "Republic" for Hawaii. New Guinea, Morotai, Luzon, were areas where the Regiment later saw action.

The Regiment came home "on paper" in early 1946. For details of action and commendations see The Golden Cross.

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