The 21st Infantry “Gimlets” were first organized on 3 May 1861 as the 12th Infantry Regiment and received their baptism of fire at Cedar Mountain. The regiment fought in other Civil War battles such as Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg. In 1869, the “Gimlets” entered the Indian Wars. The regiment fought with distinction for 26 years, fighting the Apaches, the Bannocks, and most notably, the Nez Perce under Chief Joseph. The start of the Spanish-American War called the 21st Infantry to arms once again. The regiment landed near Santiago, Cuba, and earned the distinction of advancing further than any other unit throughout the war. The regiment sent three expeditions to the Philippines during the Insurrections: one in 1899, one in 1905, and one in 1909. The 21st Infantry participated in World War II from the opening battle, and was here at Schofield Barracks on 7 December 1941. The 21st Infantry spearheaded the assault on New Guinea, fought in the invasion of the Philippines, to include the Battle of Breakneck Ridge, and remained in continuous combat until the Japanese surrender in 1945. The 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry was the first unit deployed to Korea in 1950 as the famous “Task Force Smith”. The regiment fought from Suwon to the Yalu, and from Seoul to the Han. The “Gimlets” were called to action for Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti from January 1995 to June 1995. Recently the “Gimlets” deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2004 to February 2005. Most notably, the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry conducted combat, stability, and support operations during Iraq’s transfer of sovereignty on 28 June 2004 and provided security for the residents of Kirkuk during the first ever democratic elections which took place on 30 January 2005.