The regiment traced its lineage to the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the California National Guard, organized on 12 December 1879 from existing companies.

[1] The 159th Infantry arrived at the port of New York on 5 April 1919 on the troopship USS Edgar F. Luckenbach and was emobilized on 1 May 1919 at the Presidio of San Francisco, California.

The entire regiment was called up to perform riot control during the San Francisco street car workers’ strike, 5–21 July 1934.

On 1 July 1940, the 7th Infantry Division had been reactivated at Camp Ord, California,[2] under the command of Major General Joseph W.

[3] The 7th Infantry Division was assigned to III Corps of the Fourth United States Army,[3] and it was sent to Oregon for tactical maneuvers.

Division units also practiced boat loading at the Monterey Wharf and amphibious assault techniques at the Salinas River in California.

Elements landed on 11 May 1943,[6] spearheaded by the 17th Infantry Regiment, and fought an intense battle over the tundra against strong Japanese resistance.

[11] A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+3⁄32 inches (2.8 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, three piles issuant Or, in chief a prickly pear cactus Vert, a sheathed Roman sword paleways, point to base, Gules, and a fleur-de-lis of the first.