155th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 155th Infantry Regiment, known as the Mississippi Rifles, is Mississippi’s oldest National Guard unit, with roots tracing back to 1799. It is one of the oldest infantry regiments in the U.S. Army.
Origins and early battles
- The regiment patrolled the Mississippi Territory, helped capture Aaron Burr, defended Fort Mims, and fought under General Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.
- It earned War of 1812 campaign credits for Florida (1814) and the New Orleans Campaign.
Mexican-American War and the Mississippi Rifles nickname
- In the Mexican-American War, commanded by Jefferson Davis, the regiment earned the nickname “Mississippi Rifles” for using the official Mississippi rifle (M1841) and for their distinctive dress. At the Battle of Buena Vista, Davis ordered, “Stand fast, Mississippians!” a line that became the regiment’s motto.
- They fought in Monterrey and other actions, and wore red shirts, white duck trousers, and black slouch hats.
Other 19th-century actions and the Spanish-American War
- The unit mustered for the Spanish–American War.
- It also joined General Pershing’s Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in 1916.
World War I and interwar years
- In World War I, the unit was reorganized from Mississippi units as the 155th Infantry Regiment and served with the 39th Division in France. It did not see combat, acting as a depot unit to train and supply frontline regiments.
- It arrived at Newport News on December 31, 1918 and was demobilized January 23, 1919 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana.
- Under the National Defense Act of 1920, the 155th Infantry was reconstituted in the Mississippi National Guard in 1921, assigned to the 39th Division, and later to the 31st Division. Its headquarters were established at Vicksburg.
Between the wars and World War II
- The regiment carried out flood relief duties along the Mississippi River in 1927 and guard duties during race-riot incidents in 1931.
- It trained yearly at camps across Mississippi and nearby states, including Camp Williamson (Vicksburg), Camp Shelby (Hattiesburg), and Camp Beauregard.
- The 155th Infantry was activated in 1940, moved to Camp Blanding, Florida, and served in the Pacific Theater with the 31st Infantry Division during World War II.
Korean War to the present
- During the Korean War era, the regiment was ordered into federal service but largely stayed stateside, with many members serving abroad.
- In the 1950s, most of the regiment was deactivated except for the 1st Battalion (Combined Arms), 155th Infantry (Mechanized), which later became part of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) of the Mississippi Army National Guard.
- The battalion fought in Bosnia as Task Force Rifles and served in Iraq in 2005–06 and again in 2009–10.
Current organization
- The battalion is headquartered in McComb, Mississippi.
- Mechanized infantry companies are in Biloxi (Company A) and Poplarville (Company B).
- An armored company is in Kiln (Company C).
- A forward support company (Company I, 106th Brigade Support Battalion) is in Brookhaven.
Motto and insignia
- Known as the Mississippi Rifles, the unit’s traditional motto is Stand Fast, rooted in Jefferson Davis’s Buena Vista command.
- The regiment bears its distinctive insignia and coat of arms as part of its long, storied heritage.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:52 (CET).