[3] It is known as "The Cottonbalers"[1][3] for its actions during the Battle of New Orleans, while under the command of Andrew Jackson, when soldiers of the 7th Infantry Regiment held positions behind a breastwork of cotton bales during the British attack.

Since that time it has remained on duty in one form or another, making it one of the five oldest continuously-serving regiments in the United States Army.

[6] After the Creek War, the regiment helped build and was stationed at Fort Crawford in the newly-formed Alabama Territory.

[8] During World War II, the regiment fought German forces on three fronts, North Africa, Italy, and Northwest Europe.

On 10 July 1943, the regiment made an amphibious assault at Licata, Operation Husky Mollarella, Poliscia, Torre di Gaffe e Rocca San Nicola beaches[9] starting the Allied invasion of Sicily.

In August 1944, the regiment landed again, this time in Southern France as part of Operation Dragoon, advancing up the Rhone River to the German frontier.

Taking part in the seizure of Munich it headed for Austria, reaching the Salzburg area in the waning days of the war.

When the Korean War began in June 1950, the Seventh (7th) Infantry Regiment was located at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

It joined with the 15th and 65th Infantry Regiments and moved to the northwest of the Hungnam area where it covered vis-à-vis Task Force Dog[12] from Chinhung-ni, the Army's X Corps forward elements (1st Marine Division and 7th Infantry Division Regimental Combat Team RCT 31 (AKA Task Force Faith)) withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir and, joining the perimeter defense for the Hungnam Evacuation during the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) Second Phase Campaign.

The 7th Regiment was the last unit off of Pink Beach at Hungnam and withdrew by sea on 24 December 1950; they moved into position north of Seoul as part of the Eighth U.S. Army's defensive line participating in the PVA April 1951 spring offensive.

Several regiment personnel received Silver and Bronze Stars with "V" devices for their actions during the ground war phase.

The 1st Armored Division, commanded by Major General Ron Griffith, consisted of some 3,000 vehicles including 348 M1A1 Abrams tanks.

[citation needed] Medina Ridge was one of the few battles during Desert Storm in which American forces encountered significant Iraqi resistance and found it extremely difficult to advance.

Upon returning from Iraq in May 1991, both battalions of the 7th Infantry Regiment and the rest of Phantom Brigade received orders to deactivate and draw down from Aschaffenburg, Germany.

2/7 and 3/7 served with the 24th Infantry Division during the first gulf war, deploying from Fort Stewart Georgia, as part of the XVIII Airborne Corps.

SFC Paul Ray Smith, assigned to Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, which directly supported 7th Infantry Regiment and was the first soldier awarded the Medal of Honor in the Global War on Terror for his actions in Iraq.

The 7th Infantry Regiment's most notable achievement was ensuring the security of over 100 polling sites during two Iraqi national elections.

The unit served in Al Anbar Governorate, the largest province in Iraq, under the command and control of Multi-National Forces West.

Cold Steel was instrumental, with its Iraqi Army and Police partners in bringing peace and stability to Ramadi during the Anbar Awakening.

After the new year, the Cottonbalers moved to al Asad Airbase where they provided training to the Iraqi Army before redeploying to a brand new Light Infantry Brigade facility at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

From September 2012 to May 2013, 2/7 Infantry deployed to numerous locations in some of the most rugged and hostile areas throughout Afghanistan as part of a Combined Joint Special Operations task force.

In March 2013, 3/7 Infantry deployed to Logar Province, Afghanistan as division reserve force at Forward Operating Base Shank.