134th Cavalry Regiment (United States)

The 134th Infantry Regiment returned to the United States aboard the USS General G. W. Goethals, arriving at the port of New York on 24 January 1919. The regiment proceeded to Camp Grant, Illinois, where it was mustered out of federal service, demobilized, and personnel discharged on 18 February 1919.[1] Like many other states, Nebraska did not immediately reorganize its National Guard after World War I, instead choosing to wait for the War Department to present it an allotment of troops authorized per the amendments to the National Defense Act of 1916.[2] This proved problematic. The Omaha race riot of 1919 forced the state to call upon federal troops at Fort Crook and Fort Omaha, and when a response was not received in a timely manner, the remaining Home Guard troops nearest the riot and a volunteer force of 300 World War I veterans were mobilized. The riot concluded by the time these troops were ready to move.[3]

In late July 1920, after receiving its initial allotment which included one regiment of infantry, provisional companies were gradually organized and federally recognized as provisional companies in towns across the state: the 1st Separate Company at Scottsbluff on 29 July 1920; the 2nd Separate Company at Omaha on 17 August 1920; the 3rd Separate Company at Hartington on 29 October 1920; the 4th Separate Company at Beatrice on 26 January 1921; the 5th Separate Company at Mitchell on 29 December 1920; the 6th Separate Company at Auburn on 15 December 1920; the 7th Separate Company at Falls City on 28 January 1921; the 8th Separate Company at Omaha on 25 January 1921; the 9th Separate Company at Hastings on 9 February 1921; the 10th Separate Company at Grand Island on 25 March 1921; the 11th Separate Company at Fairmont on 28 March 1921; the 12th Separate Company at Lincoln on 26 April 1921; the 13th Separate Company at York on 14 April 1921; the 14th Separate Company at Seward on 7 June 1921. The regimental headquarters company was organized at Omaha on 30 June 1921, while the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalion Headquarters Companies were respectively organized at Nebraska City, Gering, and Lincoln, on 5, 7, and 6 July 1921. The Medical Detachment was organized at Omaha on 5 July 1921.

On 1 July 1921, the provisional companies of the Nebraska National Guard were reorganized as the 1st Infantry Regiment, Nebraska National Guard. The 6th Separate Company became Company A, the 7th Separate Company became Company B, the 4th Separate Company became Company D, the 1st Separate Company became Company E, the 3rd Separate Company became Company F, the 9th Separate Company became Company G, the 10th Seprate Company became Company H, the 12th Separate Company became Company I, the 14th Separate Company became Company M, and the 13th Separate Company became the Service Company. The 134th Infantry Regiment was reconstituted in the National Guard in 1921 and assigned to the state of Nebraska. It was concurrently relieved from the 34th Division and assigned to the 35th Division.[1] A provision of the 1920 amendments to the National Defense Act of 1916 allowed for units of the National Guard and Organized Reserve that had served in World War I to retain their "names, numbers and other designations, flags, and records." On 25 October 1921, the 134th Infantry Regiment was reorganized by a redesignation of the 1st Infantry Regiment, Nebraska National Guard.

Troop B, 1st Squadron, 134th Cavalry relocated from the closed Fremont Armory to the new Titan Readiness Center near Mead in 2014.[4][5] On 1 September 2017, the squadron became the cavalry squadron of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Arkansas Army National Guard as the 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade converted to a maneuver enhancement brigade.[6] Company D, 39th Brigade Support Battalion at Lincoln was activated in 2016 as the squadron forward support company under the same reorganization.[7]

The 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) was activated in the Nebraska National Guard in November 2019, but under United States Army Center of Military History regulations, is a new unit and does not perpetuate the lineage of the previous iteration of the 134th Infantry Regiment, only sharing its name.

• Organized and mustered into Federal service 23 October 1862 – 24 March 1863 at Omaha as the 2d Nebraska Cavalry
• Mustered out of Federal service 4 September-23 December 1863 at Omaha
• Reorganized and mustered into Federal service 14 January 31 – August 1864 as the 1st Battalion, Nebraska Veteran Cavalry

• Organized 13 August 1887 in the Nebraska National Guard as the 2d Infantry Regiment
• Mustered into Federal service 9–14 May 1898 at Lincoln as the 2d Nebraska Volunteer Infantry; mustered out of Federal service 24 October 1898 at Omaha
• Reorganized 6 June 1899 in the Nebraska National Guard as the 2d Infantry Regiment

• Constituted 12 February 1964 in the Nebraska Army National Guard as the 167th Cavalry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
• Reorganized 26 September 1985 to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 35th Infantry Division
• Withdrawn 14 December 1987 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System as the 167th Cavalry, to consist of the 1st Squadron
• Ordered into Federal service 30 December 2002 at home stations; released from active Federal service 31 October 2003 and reverted to state control

Source:[8][9]

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 134th Infantry Regiment on 1 December 1932. On 22 August 2006, it was redesignated for the 134th Cavalry Regiment, with the description and symbolism updated.

A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Per chevron Azure and Argent, in chief the Katipunan sun in splendor and an olla Or charged with a bull skull Gules, in base a mound Vert a palm tree Proper entwined with a snake of the fifth. Attached below a Gold scroll inscribed "LAH WE LAH HIS" in Blue letters.

The shield is Argent (white) and Azure (blue), the colors of the Infantry and the original designation of the unit. The Katipunan sun represents the Philippine Insurrection, and the palm tree Spanish–American War service. The olla is made gold to comply with heraldic rules, and denotes the World War I service of the organization in the 34th Division. The snake symbolizes Mexican Border service.

The coat of arms was originally approved for the 134th Infantry Regiment on 11 July 1938. On 22 August 2006, it was redesignated for the 134th Cavalry Regiment with the symbolism of the shield updated.

• Shield: Per chevron Azure and Argent, in chief the Katipunan sun in splendor and an olla Or charged with a bull skull Gules, in base a mound Vert a palm tree Proper entwined with a snake of the fifth.
• Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Nebraska Army National Guard: From a wreath Argent and Azure an ear of corn in full ear partially husked Proper.
• Motto: LAH WE LAH HIS (The Strong, The Brave).

• Shield: The shield is Argent (white) and Azure (blue), the colors of the Infantry and the original designation of the unit. The Katipunan sun represents the Philippine Insurrection, and the palm tree Spanish–American War service. The olla is made gold to comply with heraldic rules, and denotes the World War I service of the organization in the 34th Division. The snake symbolizes the Mexican Border service.
• Crest: The crest is that of the Nebraska Army National Guard.

• Army Presidential Unit Citation with streamer embroidered BASTOGNE
• French Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 with Palm, streamer embroidered ST. LO
• Army Superior Unit Award with streamer embroidered BOSNIA 2003
• Army Meritorious Unit Commendation with streamer embroidered IRAQ 2006–2007
• Army Meritorious Unit Commendation with streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2010–2011

• Headquarters Troop (Lincoln), 1st Squadron: Meritorious Unit Commendation with streamer embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER 1944–1945
• Troop A (Hastings), 1st Squadron
• Troop B (York), 1st Squadron
• Troop C (Beatrice), 1st Squadron: Presidential Unit Citation with streamer embroidered HABKIRCHEN