| Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. News: 06/26/2013 02:15 PM CDT Contact: Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office Office: 608-242-3050 or Cell: 608-516-1777 NEWS: State highway renamed to honor Wisconsin Guard unit June 26, 2013
"Now," said Walker after signing the legislation during the 69th annual Wisconsin State AMVETS Convention June 21, "everyone driving on State Highway 128 will remember the sacrifices of the 128th Infantry." That was Mike Hanke's goal when he began this project. A retired sergeant first class from Chippewa Falls, Hanke enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Brigade in 1983, serving four years before transferring to active duty from 1987-1990. Ten years later he rejoined the Wisconsin Army National Guard, deploying twice to Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry. "Shortly after I returned from my second deployment, I was driving on I-94 [west of Menomonie] and passed the Highway 128 exit," Hanke said. "That highway passes through the heart of where units of the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry are located. I knew that the 32nd Division was honored with a highway in eastern Wisconsin and felt that the 128th deserved similar recognition." Hanke - who retired from the Wisconsin National Guard this year - joined AMVETS Red Arrow Post 32 in Chippewa Falls after his first deployment and has served terms as the post finance officer, vice commander and commander. He has also been elected twice as District 8 commander and was appointed by AMVETS as its liaison to the Wisconsin National Guard. It was during his time as liaison that Hanke got the idea of designating the highway. He first contacted his state legislators about potential designation. They like the idea and put him in touch with the legislators who have that highway in their districts. He remained active throughout the two-year process. "I traveled to Madison to testify before two legislative committees," Hanke said. "I explained the history of the regiment and where its units were located in relation to the highway." The origins of that history date to when various state militia companies were consolidated in 1861 into the 1st and 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry regiments for service in the Civil War. The two regiments fought in many of the war's most important battles including Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg. These regiments mustered out of service in 1864 and 1865 and reorganized as independent companies of the Wisconsin State Militia between 1866 and 1870. These companies were formed into four battalions headquartered in Janesville, La Crosse, Oshkosh and Madison when the Wisconsin National Guard was organized in 1879. The battalion at La Crosse controlled units in western Wisconsin and it eventually expanded into the 3rd Infantry Regiment, which was called to service in 1898 for the Spanish-American War. The 3rd Regiment served from June 1916 to Jan. 1917 as part of the U.S. response to the Mexican Border Crisis. A few months later, the regiment was called to federal service for World War I. As part of a national reorganization of all National Guard units, the 3rd Regiment was designated the 128th Infantry Regiment. The 128th fought as part of the 32nd Division and earned five campaign streamers and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm. The 128th reorganized in Wisconsin in 1921 and was next activated in 1940 for a year of training. It remained on active duty after the attack on Pearl Harbor and served in the Pacific Theater, earning four campaign streamers, a Presidential Unit Citation and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The unit's next period of federal service occurred in 1961 and 1962 in Fort Lewis, Wash., as part of the nation's response to the Berlin Crisis. The Eau Claire-based 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry served in 2004 and 2005 in Iraq and the Madison-based 2nd Battalion, 128th Infantry deployed to Kuwait in 2005 and 2006. 1st Battalion participated in a second deployment to Iraq in 2009 and 2010, where it earned a Meritorious Unit Citation. Today, the proud history of the 128th Infantry Regiment is carried by units stationed in Eau Claire, Abbotsford, Menomonie, New Richmond, Rice Lake, Arcadia, Onalaska and River Falls. Now retired from his civilian job, Hanke devotes his time to serving as a Chippewa Falls alderman and as an active AMVETS member. He has added fundraising to that list of activities. "The legislation says that the signs commemorating the highway are to be paid for with private donations," Hanke said. - 30 -
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State highway renamed to honor Wisconsin Guard unit
APPLETON, Wis. - A retired Wisconsin National Guard Soldier's two-year drive to honor his infantry regiment resulted in the designation of a 38-mile state highway in northwestern Wisconsin as the 128th Infantry Memorial Highway.
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