168th Infantry Regiment ( United States ) The 168th Infantry Regiment ( " Third Iowa " ) is a regiment of the United States Army . The 1st Battalion of the 168th Infantry is part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team , 34th Infantry Division , Iowa National Guard . History . The 168th Infantry served during the ' Punitive Expedition ' pursuing Pancho Villa and the latter part of World War I . It became part of the 42nd Division , commonly referred to as the ' Rainbow ' Division . For four months , from July to November 1917 , the unit built and occupied Camp Dodge in Johnston , Iowa . Prior to be being sent to Europe , the 168th was stationed at Camp Mills , New York . First Battalion , 168th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan in 2004 where it provided provincial reconstruction team ( PRT ) security forces ( SECFOR ) . The Battalion was ordered again into active federal service on 31 July 2010 at home stations to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ( OEF ) . The Battalion conducted post mobilization training at Camp Shelby , MS from August to October 2010 , culminating with a mission rehearsal exercise ( MRX ) at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin , CA . Upon deployment into Afghanistan , 1st Battalion , 168th Infantry became Task Force 1 - 168 and assumed responsibility for the Afghan Province of Paktya . Task Force 1 - 168 ' s mission was conduct security force assistance through combined action with Afghan Security Forces that resided in Paktya . Task Force 1 - 168 conducted a transfer of authority with Task Force 1 - 279 ( Oklahoma Army National Guard ) on 10 July 2011 and redeployed to the Continental United States ( CONUS ) in July 2011 . Lineage . During the Civil War the Regiment was organized from independent companies in southwestern Iowa and mustered into federal service on 8 August 1861 as the 4th Regiment , Iowa Volunteer Infantry . It was reorganized on 1 January 1864 as the 4th Iowa Veteran Infantry Regiment , and mustered out of federal service 24 July 1865 at Louisville , Kentucky . It was reorganized from 1868 - 1876 in Iowa as independent companies of volunteer militia , and these companies were consolidated on 18 February 1876 and 15 January 1877 to form the 3rd and 5th Infantry Regiments , respectively . ( The Iowa State Militia was redesignated on 3 April 1878 as the Iowa National Guard . ) The 3rd and 5th Infantry Regiments were consolidated 30 April 1892 , and the consolidated unit was designated the 3rd Infantry Regiment . On 30 May 1898 , during the Spanish – American War , the Regiment was mustered into federal service at Des Moines as the 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry ; and mustered out of federal service on 2 November 1899 at San Francisco , California . It was reorganized on 26 March 1900 in the Iowa National Guard as the 51st Infantry Regiment with its Headquarters at Des Moines . On 26 November 1902 it was redesignated as the 55th Infantry Regiment , and on 4 July 1915 was redesignated as the 3rd Infantry Regiment . It was mustered into federal service on 26 June 1916 at Camp Dodge , Iowa ; and mustered out of federal service on 20 February 1917 at Des Moines . After the U . S . entered World War I it was drafted into federal service again on 5 August 1917 , reorganized and redesignated on 16 August 1917 as the 168th Infantry and assigned to the 42nd Division . Demobilized on 17 May 1919 at Camp Dodge , Iowa , it was reorganized in 1920 - 1921 in the Iowa National Guard as the 168th Infantry and assigned to the 34th Division ( later redesignated as the 34th Infantry Division ) . Federally recognized on 13 July 1921 , its headquarters were at Des Moines . ( Location of Headquarters changed on 27 January 1937 to Council Bluffs ) . Inducted into federal service 10 February 1941 at home stations , it was inactivated on 3 November 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry , Virginia . Reorganized and federally recognized on 23 January 1947 with Headquarters at Council Bluffs , it was reorganized on 1 May 1959 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System to consist of the 1st Battle Group , an element of the 34th Infantry Division . Reorganized on 1 March 1963 to consist of the 1st Battle Group , and relieved from assignment to the 34th Infantry Division . Reorganized on 1 March 1964 to consist of the 1st and 2nd Battalions . Reorganized on 1 January 1968 to consist of the 1st Battalion , an element of the 47th Infantry Division . It was withdrawn on 1 May 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the U . S . Army Regimental System . Reorganized 10 February 1991 to consist of the 1st Battalion , an element of the 34th Infantry Division . Ordered into active federal service on 5 March 2004 at home stations ; released from active federal service 1 September 2005 and reverted to state control . Company D , 1st Battalion , 168 Infantry ordered into active federal service 4 June 2007 at Denison Operation Raincoat - First Battle of Monte Cassino Presidential Unit Citation ( Army ) , Streamer embroidered MT PANTANO ITALY ( 1st Battalion , 168th Infantry cite : WD GO 86 1944 ) Decorations . Presidential Unit citation ( Army ) , Streamer Embroidered CERVARO ITALY ( 2nd Battalion , 168th Infantry cited WD GO 6 1945 ) http : / / militarytimes . com / citations - medals - awards / recipient . php ? recipientid = 10855