The Third Tennessee Volunteers began federal service on October 8, 1847, with the advent of the Mexican-American War and later served in the Spanish-American War. The Third Tennessee Infantry became the 117th Infantry on September 12, 1917, and served in France and Belgium at the Battle of Ypres-Lys and in the Somme Offensive during World War I. At the end of the war, the 117th Infantry became part of Tennessee's National Guard.

The unit's headquarters were located in Knoxville, Tennessee, until October 1, when they moved to Jackson, Tennessee. The regiment moved again, this time to to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, when it entered World War II on September 16, 1940. The regiment fought in the Battle of Normandy in 1944, landing on D-Day (June 6, 1944) at Omaha Beach. On September 4, the 30th Infantry Division became the first American Infantry Division to enter Belgium. Eight days later, the 117th Infantry became the first Allied Unit to enter Holland. They fought in the campaign at the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, which along with their help in the liberation of Belgium, earned the 30th Infantry Division the Belgian Fourragere. The 117th Infantry remained active in federal service until November 24, 1945.