148th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 148th Infantry Regiment, Ohio Army National Guard
, is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System
, with headquarters at Lima, Ohio
. It currently consists of the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, an Infantry Battalion of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat team
located throughout northwest Ohio.
The regiment was formed on September 15, 1917 with the redesignation of the 3rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as part of the 74th Brigade, 37th Infantry Division.
The shield is blue for Infantry divided by a wavy fess of red, bordered by two gold bands, representing the Escaut River in Belgium, which the Regiment, under heavy fire, was the first of the Allied Troops to cross during World War I, costing the lives of many men, but held in the face of concentrated artillery fire and in the face of counter attacks. Two gold fleurs-de-lis, taken from the ancient French Arms denote service in France, the holding of two sectors in that country, the gold lion rampant is taken from the arms of Belgium and denotes service in that country in the Ypres-Lys offensive. At the time of the crossing of the Escaut River, the units attempting the act were just a little doubtful as to how a swift river could be crossed without pontoons. Lieutenant Colonel Marlin, then Major Marlin, reminded them of a certain ceremony that was to be performed on reaching the Rhine, and with the catch phrase “We’ll Do It,” the soldiers fell to work, cut down a tree across the Escaut and crossed, Indian file, over the tree.
Ohio Army National Guard
The Ohio Army National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Army. It is also a component of the organized militia of the state of Ohio, which also includes the Ohio Naval Militia, the Ohio Military Reserve and the Ohio Air National Guard...
, is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System
U.S. Army Regimental System
The United States Army Regimental System was established in 1981 to replace the Combat Arms Regimental System, to provide each Soldier with continuous identification with a single regiment, and to support that concept with a personnel system that would increase a soldier’s probability of serving...
, with headquarters at Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
. It currently consists of the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, an Infantry Battalion of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat team
37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
The 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is a modular Infantry Brigade of the United States Army National Guard with the Brigade Headquarters and four Battalions stationed throughout Ohio and a Battalion and Cavalry Squadron stationed in Michigan...
located throughout northwest Ohio.
The regiment was formed on September 15, 1917 with the redesignation of the 3rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as part of the 74th Brigade, 37th Infantry Division.
Heraldic Description
- Shield: Azure, a fess wavy Gules fimbriated Or, between two fleurs-de-lis in chief and a rampant lion in base of the last.
- Crest: From a wreath Or and Azure, a sheaf of seventeen arrows Argent, bound by a sprig of buckeye (aesculus glabra) fructed Proper (two leaves bursting burr).
- Motto: WE'LL DO IT
Symbolism
The shield is blue for Infantry divided by a wavy fess of red, bordered by two gold bands, representing the Escaut River in Belgium, which the Regiment, under heavy fire, was the first of the Allied Troops to cross during World War I, costing the lives of many men, but held in the face of concentrated artillery fire and in the face of counter attacks. Two gold fleurs-de-lis, taken from the ancient French Arms denote service in France, the holding of two sectors in that country, the gold lion rampant is taken from the arms of Belgium and denotes service in that country in the Ypres-Lys offensive. At the time of the crossing of the Escaut River, the units attempting the act were just a little doubtful as to how a swift river could be crossed without pontoons. Lieutenant Colonel Marlin, then Major Marlin, reminded them of a certain ceremony that was to be performed on reaching the Rhine, and with the catch phrase “We’ll Do It,” the soldiers fell to work, cut down a tree across the Escaut and crossed, Indian file, over the tree.