▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁the ▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁was ▁react iv ated ▁as ▁a ▁component ▁of ▁the ▁Illinois ▁Army ▁National ▁Guard ▁and ▁fought ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁where ▁it ▁received ▁acc laim ▁for ▁its ▁j ung le ▁fighting ▁against ▁the ▁Japanese ▁in ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Theater . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁During ▁the ▁First ▁World ▁War , ▁the ▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁was ▁organized ▁from ▁previous ▁Alabama ▁milit ia ▁units , ▁and ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁ 3 1 st ▁Infantry ▁Division . ▁ ▁Upon ▁arrival ▁in ▁France , ▁the ▁ 3 1 st ▁became ▁a ▁dep ot ▁division , ▁and ▁all ▁the ▁rec ruits ▁from ▁its ▁reg iments ▁were ▁sent ▁out ▁to ▁replace ▁combat ▁cas ual ties ▁in ▁de ple ted ▁units ▁on ▁the ▁front . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 6 , ▁this ▁unit ▁was ▁reconst it uted ▁and ▁re organ ized ▁as ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 th ▁Infantry . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁The ▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁was ▁activ ated ▁for ▁service ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁and ▁joined ▁the ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁at ▁Fort ▁Lewis , ▁Washington . ▁ ▁The ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Division ▁had ▁released ▁reg iments ▁to ▁other ▁commands , ▁and ▁now ▁needed ▁another ▁inf antry ▁regiment ▁to ▁tri angular ize ▁it . ▁ ▁Thus , ▁the ▁ 1 2 3 rd ▁regiment ▁was ▁attached ▁to ▁the ▁division . ▁