LINEAGE OF THE 196TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

Parent unit organized 1884-1885 as 2d Regiment, Dakota Territory. (Territory of Dakota divided into States of North Dakota and South Dakota by enabling Act of Congress 22 February 1889; organized militia of South Dakota redesignated South Dakota National Guard 6 March 1893.) Redesignated 9 September 1893 as the 1st Regiment, South Dakota National Guard. Mustered into Federal service 12-19 May 1898 at Sioux Falls as the 1st South Dakota Volunteer Infantry and served in the Philippines; mustered out 5 October 1899 at the Presidio, San Francisco, California. Reorganize and redesignated 11 April 1901 as the 1st Regiment, South Dakota State Guard. 2d Regiment, South Dakota State Guard, organized August 1901- August 1902. 1st and 2d Regiments redesignated 17 March 1903 as 2d and 3d Regiments, South Dakota National Guard, respectively. Consolidated and redesignated 16 May l905 as the 4th Infantry, South Dakota National Guard.

Mustered into Federal service 30 June 1916 for Mexican Border and stationed at San Besnito, Texas; mustered out 3 March 1917 at Fort Crook, Nebraska. Mustered into Federal service 15 July 1917 at Aberdeen, drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917. Converted and redesignated as the 147th Field Artillery and assigned to the 41st Division 3 October 1917. Relieved from the 41st Division and demobilized 23 May 1919 at Camp Dodge, Iowa.

Reorganized in part and Federally recognized 10 November 1922 as 2d Battalion, 136th Engineers with Headquarters at Brookings (remainder of regiment reorganized as the 147th Field Artillery.) Expanded and redesignated as the 109th Engineers, assigned to the 34th Division and Federally recognized 1 May 1924 with Headquarters at Rapid City. Inducted into Federal service 10 February 1941 at Rapid City.

1st Battalion relieved from the 34th Division and redesignated as 1st Battalion, 132d Engineers (Combat) 1 February 1942. Redesignated 1st Battalion, 132d Engineer Combat Regiment 1 August 1942. Reorganized and redesignated 5 April 1943 as the 132d Engineer Combat Battalion. Inactivated 31 January 1946 at Matsayama, Japan. Redesignated as the 196th Infantry, allotted to the South Dakota National Guard and assigned to the 196th Regimental Combat Team 24 June 1946.

Organized and Federally recognized 1September 1947 with Headquarters at Aberdeen. Ordered to active Federal service 1 September 1950 at Aberdeen. Released from active Federal service and to State control 10 October 1954.

Campaign Streamers

Decorations

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 Oct 1944 to 4 Jul 1945. (132d Engineer Combat Battalion cited; DA GO 47,1950).

Coat of Arms

Shield. Gules, in chief a fleur-de-is, in base an eagle's head erased argent, two flaunches of the last, the dexter charged with a castle, the sinister with a prickly pear cactus of the first.

Crest. That approved for the regiments and battalions of the South Dakota National Guard: On a wreath of the colors (argent and gules) a coyote statant proper.

Motto. Nunc et Semper [Now and Always).

The shield is red and white, the color of the Corps of Engineers and represents World War II service as the 132d Engineer Combat Battalion. The cactus represents service on the Mexican Border and the flelur-de-lis is for service in France during World War II. The castle alludes to service in the Philippines during the Philippine Insurrection while the eagle's head, from the coat of arms of the Corps of Engineers, represents service as part of the 132d Engineers, an organization composed of National Guardsmen from the 109th Engineers, South Dakota, and 110th Engineers, Missouri.

Distinctive Insignia

The insignia is the shield and motto of the coat of arms of the regiment.