The 120th Infantry Regiment, commonly called "Third North Carolina," is an infantry formation of the United States Army National Guard with deep ties to the state of North Carolina. Today the regiment exists primarily through its active 1st Battalion and functions within the structure of the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team. As a National Guard unit it performs both federal missions overseas and state missions at home, training to operate alongside regular Army formations while maintaining strong community connections.
Organization and role
The regiment is organized into battalion-level elements with one active battalion in current service. The regiment provides trained infantry forces for combined-arms operations, operating with the brigade's armor and support units. The active element, the United States Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, is the principal operational unit. The 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry, is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, and its soldiers prepare for both overseas deployments and domestic emergency response.
- Type: Infantry regiment (National Guard)
- Primary function: Close combat and holding operations
- Higher formation: 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team
World War II — Mortain and Normandy
One of the regiment's most widely remembered actions took place during World War II. The 2nd Battalion of the 120th Infantry is particularly noted for its defense against a German counterattack near Mortain in August 1944. For several days, elements of the battalion held critical terrain and blunted a concentrated German armored thrust, which helped secure a corridor that allowed American formations to continue their breakout operations. That stand contributed directly to the momentum of the Allied forces as they pushed through Northern France in the weeks following the Normandy invasion.
The action at Mortain is often cited in regimental histories because it demonstrated disciplined defensive tactics under pressure and the ability of National Guard units to perform in large-scale conventional operations alongside Regular Army units. The battalion's conduct in August 1944 remains a focal point of the regiment's wartime legacy.
Since World War II the regiment has been maintained within the National Guard framework, adapting to changes in Army doctrine and structure. As part of a heavy brigade combat team, its current training emphasizes dismounted infantry skills integrated with armored and mechanized support. At the state level, members of the regiment routinely assist with disaster relief, security, and other emergency missions, reinforcing the dual federal-state character of the Guard.
Notable aspects of the 120th Infantry Regiment include its historical nickname "Third North Carolina," the continuity of its community ties in eastern North Carolina, and its reputation for resilience in defensive combat. Unit histories, veteran accounts, and official lineage records preserve the regiment's contributions to both state missions and major campaigns overseas. For readers seeking additional details about lineage, deployments, and honors, official National Guard publications and unit histories are primary sources of verified information.