At the beginning of the 20th century, the United States Army was sorely pressed to meet its overseas commitments in Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.

The 26th Infantry began its life overseas in the Philippines and spent its first 20 years of service on deployments to the Southwest Pacific, the Mexican and Indian frontier and in Europe.

After returning to the same location for another tour of duty (a habit the Blue Spaders would keep for the entire century), the regiment fought off Mexican bandits and settled disputes in the Indian Territory, until it was selected as one of only four Regular Army infantry regiments deemed fit for immediate combat to form the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated the 1st Division) in June 1917, shortly after the American entry into World War I.

In World War II, the 26th Infantry led America's first-ever amphibious assault in North Africa, fought at the Kasserine Pass, assaulted Sicily at the Amphibious Battle of Gela, invaded Normandy at Omaha Beach, conquered the first German city of the war at Aachen, held the line against heavy German attacks at Elsenborn Ridge during The Battle of the Bulge, vaulted the Rhine and attacked all the way to Czechoslovakia by war's end.

The regiment, commanded by Colonel John F. R. Seitz, conducted three amphibious assaults, and earned seven battle streamers, a Presidential Unit Citation, and five foreign awards.

Beginning another occupation of Germany, the Blue Spaders bore the United States national colors at the Allied Victory in Europe parade and served as guards at Nuremberg War Crimes Trials.

2nd Battle Group, 26th Infantry participated in Operation Long Thrust VII, reinforcing U.S. Berlin Brigade summer & autumn 1963 before redeploying to Ft. Riley where it was inactivated in January 1964.

After serving as a battle group in Europe in the early 1960s, the battalion rejoined the 1st Infantry Division shortly before receiving orders to deploy as a part of the Army's first divisional-sized unit in Vietnam in 1965.

At the conclusion of Vietnam, the battalion returned to Germany as part of a forward-deployed brigade of the Big Red One.

In 1996, the battalion rejoined the Big Red One in Germany only to send Delta company to Bosnia as part of the first American forces to enter the Balkans from February to September 1996.

The unit primarily bore responsibility for Sammara, the capital of Salahuddin Province, a major part of the so-called Sunni Triangle.

Task Force 1-26 Infantry operated as the primary maneuver element in the Eastern Baghdad area.

When the Taliban column entered the kill zone, the Americans sprang their ambush and detonated their claymore mines.

The rest of the U.S. soldiers confiscated 10 AK47 assault rifles, a RPG launcher, 30 AK magazines, and 2 grenades from the dead fighters.

Then the Americans withdrew safely back to base with Apache gunships providing air cover.

[11] 1-26 IN is depicted in the critically acclaimed documentary Restrepo as the unit that replaces The 173rd Airborne Brigade in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.