101st Engineer Battalion (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 101st Engineer Battalion was originally established as the East Regiment. The first muster was held on the green in Salem, Massachusetts
(the town is officially hailed as the birth place of the National Guard).On 13 December 1636, that Massachusetts General Court
ordered the organization of three militia regiments designated as the North, South and East regiments.
) provided protection and support to the Settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
for 139 years prior to the "shot heard round the world" and fought in the Pequot Indian Wars, The King Philips War, and the French and Indian War
.
The 101st played a key role in the Revolutionary War
. Elements fought the Loyalists on 19 April 1775 that started the battle for independence; an active duty regiment saved General George Washington
’s Army after the Battle of Long Island
in August 1776. The same element helped the American cause to remain alive in December 1776 during the Battle of Trenton
. They manned the boats for General Washington to cross the Delaware.
During the Civil War
, three separate Regiments were established out of Essex County
. The 8th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia sailed to Annapolis, Maryland
in April 1861, boarded the USS Constitution
and sailed her to New York Harbor
so she would not fall into the hands of the Confederates. The 19th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia fought with the Army of the Potomac
and had seven Medal of Honor
Recipients. The 50th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia who had port duty in Louisiana
, and had 1 Medal of Honor recipient.
Although the Battalion did not fight in the War with Spain, The Headquarters Company did. The Battalion was mobilized for World War I
, however the Second and Eight Massachusetts Militia were consolidated to form the 104th Infantry Regiment under the 26th Infantry Division. The remaining cadre were reorganized as the Fifth Pioneer Infantry, but was not deployed overseas.
In 1920, 5th Pioneer Infantry (Engineers) was redesignated the 101st Engineers and realigned under the 26th Yankee Division, where it would remain until the Division was deactivated in 1993.
The 101st Engineer Battalion fought with the 26th ID under Patton's Third Army, and provided the maps to the Third Army for the relief of the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge.
From 1993–2006 the 101st Engineer Battalion was aligned under the 42nd Infantry Division.
In 2006, HHC deployed to Kosovo
as part of Task Force Falcon.
In October 2008, the Battalion was placed under the new 26th Maneuver Enhanced Brigade, and placed the "YD" patch back on its left shoulder.
In June 2009 the Battalion mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom provided Construction and Combat Engineer support to the MND-B/ USD-C area, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Civil War
World War II
Global War on Terror
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
(the town is officially hailed as the birth place of the National Guard).On 13 December 1636, that Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
ordered the organization of three militia regiments designated as the North, South and East regiments.
History
The East Regiment (later the Essex RegimentEssex Regiment
The Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...
) provided protection and support to the Settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
for 139 years prior to the "shot heard round the world" and fought in the Pequot Indian Wars, The King Philips War, and the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
.
The 101st played a key role in the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Elements fought the Loyalists on 19 April 1775 that started the battle for independence; an active duty regiment saved General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
’s Army after the Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776, was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the United States Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire conflict, and the...
in August 1776. The same element helped the American cause to remain alive in December 1776 during the Battle of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
. They manned the boats for General Washington to cross the Delaware.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, three separate Regiments were established out of Essex County
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
. The 8th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia sailed to Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
in April 1861, boarded the USS Constitution
USS Constitution
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel...
and sailed her to New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
so she would not fall into the hands of the Confederates. The 19th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia fought with the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
and had seven Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
Recipients. The 50th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia who had port duty in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and had 1 Medal of Honor recipient.
Although the Battalion did not fight in the War with Spain, The Headquarters Company did. The Battalion was mobilized for World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, however the Second and Eight Massachusetts Militia were consolidated to form the 104th Infantry Regiment under the 26th Infantry Division. The remaining cadre were reorganized as the Fifth Pioneer Infantry, but was not deployed overseas.
In 1920, 5th Pioneer Infantry (Engineers) was redesignated the 101st Engineers and realigned under the 26th Yankee Division, where it would remain until the Division was deactivated in 1993.
The 101st Engineer Battalion fought with the 26th ID under Patton's Third Army, and provided the maps to the Third Army for the relief of the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge.
From 1993–2006 the 101st Engineer Battalion was aligned under the 42nd Infantry Division.
In 2006, HHC deployed to Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
as part of Task Force Falcon.
In October 2008, the Battalion was placed under the new 26th Maneuver Enhanced Brigade, and placed the "YD" patch back on its left shoulder.
In June 2009 the Battalion mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom provided Construction and Combat Engineer support to the MND-B/ USD-C area, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... |
2009-2010 | for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Campaign participation credit
Revolutionary War- Lexington, Boston, Long Island, Princeton, Saratoga, Monmouth, Trenton, New York 1776, New York 1777, Rhode Island 1777, Rhode Island 1778, Rhode Island, 1779, New Jersey 1780
Civil War
- Peninsula, Manassas, Antietam, Mississippi River, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appomattox, Virginia 1861, North Carolina 1863, Virginia 1863, Virginia 1864
World War II
- Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe / Operation Joint Guardian (Kosovo)
Global War on Terror
- Operation Iraqi Freedom