106th CAVALRY REGIMENT
Constituted 1 July 1897 in the Illinois National Guard as a Squadron of Cavalry, and organized from existing troops.
Expanded, reorganized, redesignated, and mustered into Federal service 21 May 1898 at Springfield as the 1st Illinois Volunteer Cavalry; mustered out of Federal service 11 October 1898 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Reorganized in 1899 in the illinois National Guard as a Squadron of Cavalry.
Expanded, reorganized, and redesignated 22 June 1899 as the 1st Cavalry. Mustered into Federal Service 27 June 1916 for service on the Mexican border; mustered out of Federal service 17 May 1916 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. (Chicago elements converted and redesignated 9 June 1917 as 2d Field Artillery - hereafter separate lineage). Non Chicago elements of the regiment converted and redesignated 24 June 1917 as the 3d Field Artillery. Called into Federal service 15 July 1917; drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917.
Redesignated 21 September 1917 as the 124th Field Artillery and assinged to the 33d Division. Demobilized 8 June 1919 at Camp Grant, Illinois.
Reorganized 20 October 1922 in the Illinois National Guard as the 2d Squadron, 106th Cavalry, an element of the 22d Cavalry Division (the remainder of this regiment was allotted to the Michigan National Guard).
Reorganized wholly 1 September 1940 in the Illinois National Guard as the 106th Cavalry and relieved from assignment to the 22d Cavalry Division (2d Squadron concurrently redesignated as the lst Squadron and the 23d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron) ;constituted 1 January 1940 and organized in part by transfer of personnel from Troop F and Machine Gun Troop, 106th Cavalry; redesignated as the 2d Squadron).
Inducted into Federal service 25 November 1940 at home stations. Regiment broken up 15 March 1944 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Troop as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 106th Cavalry Group, Mechanized. 2d Squadron as the 121st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized (lst Squadron as the 106th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron - hereafter separate lineage).
Inactivated as follows:
Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 106th Cavalry Group, Mechanized on 22 October 1945 at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts. 121st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized on 23 October 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York.
Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 106th Cavalry Group, Mechanized, and the 121st Cavarly Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized consolidated, reorganized, and Federally recognized 6 January 1947 in the Illinois National Guard as the 106th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnissance Squadron with Headquarters at Urbana.
Converted and redesignated 1 February 1949 as the 106th Heavy Tank Battalion and assinged to the 44th Infantry Division. Redesignated 1 September 1950 as the 106th Tank Battalion. Ordered into active Federal service 15 February 1952 at home stations. (121st Tank Battalion organized and Federally recognized 15 March 1954 in the home area of the 106th Tank Battalion). 106th Tank Battalion released from active Federal service 10 October 1954 and reverted to State control; concurrently, relieved from the 44th Infantry Division.
Consolidated 1 December 1954 with the 121st Tank Battalion; consolidated unit designated 106th Tank Battalion and assigned to the 33d Infantry Division.
Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1959 as the 106th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the lst Reconnaissance Squadron and the 2d Medium Tank Battalion, elements of the 33d Infantry Division.
Expanded, reorganized, and redesignated 1 April 1963 as the 106th Cavalry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 33d Infantry Division, and the 126th Armor (126th Armor withdrawn 1 February 1968 from allotment ot the Illinois National Guard).
Reorganzied 1 February 1968 to consist of Troop E, an element of the 33d Infantry Brigade.
COMBAT PARTICIPATION CREDIT
(World War I):
St. Mihiel;
Meuse-Argonne;
Lorranie 1918.
(World War II):
Normandy;
Northern France;
Ardennes-Alsace;
Rhineland;
Central Europe.
Troop E (Chicago) additionally entittled to:
(World War II-Asiatic Pacific Theater):
New Guinea;
Luzon.
DECORATIONS
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered MOSELLE (121st Cav Recon Sqn cited for period 20 Aug 1944-10 Feb 1945; DA GO 43, 1950)
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered CAEN-FALAISE (121st Cav Recon Sqd cited for period 5-20 August 1944; DA GO 43-1950)
French Croix de Guerre, World War II Fourragere (121st Cav Recon Sqd cited, DA GO 43, 1950).
Troop E (Chicago) addditionally entitled to:
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945.
Veterans additionally entitled to the Philippine Liberation and Independence Medals for service in the Philippine Islands.
COAT OF ARMS
SHIELD: Per fess dovetailed or and gules, in base four fleurs-de-lis, three and one, of the first.
CREST: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Illinois Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors or and gules, upon a grassy field the blockhouse of old Fort Dearborn, proper.
MOTTO: Utcumque Ubique (Anywhere at any Time)
SYMBOLISM
The shield is divided per fess dovetailed or and gules (yellow and red), denoting that the organizatioin has served as Artillery as well as Cavalry. Red and yellow, being the Spanish colors, also indicae Spanish-American War service with the continental limits of the United States. The fleurs-de-lis on the red portion symbolize the combat operations of the organization in Europe during World War I and World War II.
Seeking photos of the unit in service in World Wars I and II for addition to the web site. Please contact:
1SG Charles W. Aresta, US Army (RET), the Hawaiian Military Insignia Collectors and Study Group, 1813 Sereno Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-2318 (Ph or fax: 1-808-537-2753) or e-mail: ra1sgt@hawaii.rr.com
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