Company B 1-181 Infantry
Encyclopedia
Company B 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment is a rifle company in the 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment. In the National Guard, companies have two histories. They share the history of the Regiment to which they are assigned, but also have a unique company history and lineage. Therefore, Company B 1-181 IN shares the long history of the 181st Infantry Regiment (United States)
. This site concentrates on the unique history of Company B as a militia / National Guard company in Gardner and Greenfield (Detachment 1), MA. Company B served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution
, with Union forces in the American Civil War
, and as a federalized Massachusetts National Guard regiment with the U.S. Army during War with Spain, Mexican Border Campaign, World War I
and World War II
. Most recently the Company B has served in Guantanamo Bay Cuba, in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina
, and in Afghanistan
. (See below for the separate history of Detachment I in Greenfield.
The Land forces of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia were redesignated as the Massachusetts National Guard
on 15 November 1907.
In June of 1916 the company was sent to the Mexican Border as part of the 5th Mass. Infantry. The 5th Mass. served on the Mexican Border at El Paso, Texas.
On 1 April 1923, was designated as Company H of the 181st Infantry Regiment.
Company H was relieved from duty with the 26th (Yankee) Infantry Division and served with the 181st Infantry Regiment on coastal defense duty until February of 1944, when the 181st Infantry was broken up with the soldiers going to be infantry replacements in the Italian Campaign.
In 1946, the company was re-established and became Company B 1-181 Infantry. The WWII battle honors and service in the Army of Occupation in Austria of the 328th Infantry were credited to the 181st Infantry. The Company served through the Cold War.
In September 2005, Company B mobilized as an element of JTF Yankee for rescue and security operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
In 2006, Co B 1-104 IN was amalgamated as Detachment 1, of Company B, 1-181 IN.
In August 2010, Company B 1-181 IN deployed for one year of service with the International Security Force in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The company conducted security in Laghman, Nangahar, Nuristan and Khandahar Provinces in Afghanistan.
, Company, 5th Massachusetts Infantry
Spanish American War, 5th Massachusetts Infantry
Mexican Border campaign, 5th Massachusetts Infantry
World War I
, H Company, 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
World War II
, H Company, 328th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Global War on Terror, Company A 1-104 IN / Company A 1-181 Infantry
In 1787 the company was reorganized as an artillery battery. During Shay’s Rebellion (1786-7) the battery fought against the rebels to defend the Federal Arsenal in Springfield. A cannoneer from Greenfield was the sole federal casualty of that conflict.
The Land forces of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia were redesignated as the Massachusetts National Guard
on 15 November 1907.
In June of 1916 the Company was sent to the Mexican border as part of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. The 2nd Mass. was based at Columbus New Mexico, and was the only National Guard Regiment to cross the border into Mexico with General Pershing’s Punitive Expedition.
In 1946, The company was re-established and became Company B 2nd Battalion 104th Infantry. The Company served through the Cold War.
In 2006, Co B 1-104 IN was amalgamated as Detachment 1, of Company B, 1-181 IN.
In August 2010, Company B 1-181 IN deployed for one year of service with the International Security Force in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The company conducted security in Laghman, Nangahar, Nuristan and Khandahar Provinces.
, Hampshire Regiment
French and Indian wars
, Hampshire Regiment
American Revolutionary War
, Hampshire Regiment
American Civil War
, Company G, 10th Massachusetts Infantry
Spanish American War, Company L, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
Mexican Border campaign, L Company, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
World War I
, L Company, 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
World War II
, L Company, 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Global War on Terror, Company B 1-181 Infantry
181st Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 181st Infantry Regiment shares the distinction of being the oldest combat regiment in the United States Army. The regiment traces its history to 13 December, 1636, when it was one of four colonial regiment of foot of the British Crown in Massachusetts...
. This site concentrates on the unique history of Company B as a militia / National Guard company in Gardner and Greenfield (Detachment 1), MA. Company B served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, with Union forces in the American 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...
, and as a federalized Massachusetts National Guard regiment with the U.S. Army during War with Spain, Mexican Border Campaign, 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...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Most recently the Company B has served in Guantanamo Bay Cuba, in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, and in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. (See below for the separate history of Detachment I in Greenfield.
Massachusetts Army and the American Revolution
The company was first formed during the late Revolutionary War as the 5th Company, 8th Regiment of Mass. Militia.Civil War
The company served in the Civil War with the 15th Mass. Infantry. On July 12, the regiment was mustered into the United States service with under Major Charles Devens, Jr. It was mustered out on 21 July 1864 in Worcester, MA.National Guard and overseas service
Mobilized for service in the War with Spain on 13 May 1898. The company served with in the United States and was mustered out of service on 21 January, 1899.The Land forces of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia were redesignated as the Massachusetts National Guard
Massachusetts National Guard
The Massachusetts National Guard was founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, and contains the oldest units in the United States Army. It is currently headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts and commanded by Major General Joseph C...
on 15 November 1907.
In June of 1916 the company was sent to the Mexican Border as part of the 5th Mass. Infantry. The 5th Mass. served on the Mexican Border at El Paso, Texas.
World War I
In March of 1917 the company was designated as Company H, 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th Yankee Division for service in the First World War. In France the Company served in all of campaigns of the Yankee Division and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star for the heroic fight at Apremont on 10-13 April 1918. This was the first time in U.S. history that an American unit was decorated for bravery by a foreign power.On 1 April 1923, was designated as Company H of the 181st Infantry Regiment.
World War II
The company was mobilized in January of 1941 for one year of training with the Yankee Division. The year of training ended in December of 1941 but the company’s service continued after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into the Second World War.Company H was relieved from duty with the 26th (Yankee) Infantry Division and served with the 181st Infantry Regiment on coastal defense duty until February of 1944, when the 181st Infantry was broken up with the soldiers going to be infantry replacements in the Italian Campaign.
In 1946, the company was re-established and became Company B 1-181 Infantry. The WWII battle honors and service in the Army of Occupation in Austria of the 328th Infantry were credited to the 181st Infantry. The Company served through the Cold War.
Later service
0n 08 September 2003, Company B, 1-181 Infantry was mobilized for one year duty at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba providing security for the detention facilities at Camp America and Camp Delta in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.In September 2005, Company B mobilized as an element of JTF Yankee for rescue and security operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
In 2006, Co B 1-104 IN was amalgamated as Detachment 1, of Company B, 1-181 IN.
In August 2010, Company B 1-181 IN deployed for one year of service with the International Security Force in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The company conducted security in Laghman, Nangahar, Nuristan and Khandahar Provinces in Afghanistan.
Battles
American Civil WarAmerican 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...
, Company, 5th Massachusetts Infantry
- Balls Bluff
- Peninsula
- Antietam
- Fredricksburg
- Wilderness
- Spotsylvania
- Cold Harbor
- Petersburg.
Spanish American War, 5th Massachusetts Infantry
Mexican Border campaign, 5th Massachusetts Infantry
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...
, H Company, 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Champagne Marne
- Aisne Marne
- Saint Mihiel
- Meuse Argonne
- Isle De France 1918
- Lorraine 1918
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, H Company, 328th Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes-Alsace
- Central Europe
Global War on Terror, Company A 1-104 IN / Company A 1-181 Infantry
- Guantanamo Bay
- Afghanistan War (2001-Present)
Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
French Croix de Guerre, World War I (With Gilt Star) | 1918 | Embroidered "LORRAINE" | |
 |
Presidential Unit Citation, World War II | 1944 | Embroidered "LUXEMBOURG" |
Colonial Campaigns
The Present Detachment 1 of Company B of the 181st Infantry was first mustered in 1753 in Greenfield. The company served the French and Indian War (1754-63) in the Abercrombie expedition against Fort Ticonderoga (1758) and the Amherst expedition. (1759-60)Massachusetts Army and the American Revolution
In the Revolutionary War, the company saw active service at Ticonderoga and at Hubbardston during the Saratoga Campaign.In 1787 the company was reorganized as an artillery battery. During Shay’s Rebellion (1786-7) the battery fought against the rebels to defend the Federal Arsenal in Springfield. A cannoneer from Greenfield was the sole federal casualty of that conflict.
Civil War
In 1859 Reorganized as Company G of the 10th Light Infantry Regiment. Mobilized on 21 June 1861 as Company G of the 10th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Served throughout the Civil War with the Army of the Potomac.National Guard and overseas service
Mobilized for service in the War with Spain on 9 May 1898. The company served with the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry in the Santiago (Cuba) Campaign fighting at El Caney and was mustered out of service on 3 November, 1898.The Land forces of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia were redesignated as the Massachusetts National Guard
Massachusetts National Guard
The Massachusetts National Guard was founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, and contains the oldest units in the United States Army. It is currently headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts and commanded by Major General Joseph C...
on 15 November 1907.
In June of 1916 the Company was sent to the Mexican border as part of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. The 2nd Mass. was based at Columbus New Mexico, and was the only National Guard Regiment to cross the border into Mexico with General Pershing’s Punitive Expedition.
World War I
In March of 1917 the company was designated as Company L, 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th Yankee Division for service in the First World War. In France the Company served in all of campaigns of the Yankee Division and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star for the heroic fight at Apremont on 10-13 April 1918. This was the first time in U.S. history that an American unit was decorated for bravery by a foreign power.World War II
The Company L was mobilized in January of 1941 for one year of training with the Yankee Division. The year of training ended in December of 1941 but the company’s service continued after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into the Second World War. Company L, 104th Infantry deployed to Europe with the 104th Infantry Regiment and fought from Normandy across Germany to meet the Soviets in Czechoslovakia at wars end. The 104th awarded the Croix de Guerre and Fourragere by France for actions in breaching the Siegfried Line. The company served in the Army of Occupation in Czechoslovakia and Austria until 1946.In 1946, The company was re-established and became Company B 2nd Battalion 104th Infantry. The Company served through the Cold War.
Later service
In September 2005, Company B mobilized as an element of JTF Yankee for rescue and security operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.In 2006, Co B 1-104 IN was amalgamated as Detachment 1, of Company B, 1-181 IN.
In August 2010, Company B 1-181 IN deployed for one year of service with the International Security Force in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The company conducted security in Laghman, Nangahar, Nuristan and Khandahar Provinces.
Battles
King Philip's WarKing Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
, Hampshire Regiment
- Battle of Bloody BrookBattle of Bloody BrookThe Battle of Bloody Brook was fought on September 12, 1675 between English colonial militia from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and a band of Indians led by the Nipmuc sachem Muttawmp...
- Battle of Turner's FallsBattle of Turner's FallsThe Battle of Turner's Falls, also known as the Peskeompscut massacre, was fought on May 19, 1676, during King Philip's War, in present-day Gill, Massachusetts, near a falls on the Connecticut River. The site is across the river from the village of Turners Falls...
French and Indian wars
French and Indian Wars
The French and Indian Wars is a name used in the United States for a series of conflicts lasting 74 years in North America that represented colonial events related to the European dynastic wars...
, Hampshire Regiment
- Siege of Loiuisburg (1745)
- Battle of Lake GeorgeBattle of Lake GeorgeThe Battle of Lake George was fought on 8 September 1755, in the north of the Province of New York. The battle was part of a campaign by the British to expel the French from North America in the French and Indian War....
- TiconderogaTiconderogaTiconderoga may refer to :*Ticonderoga, New York, a town in New York, United States*Ticonderoga , New York, a hamlet in New York, United States*Fort Ticonderoga, a fortification in New YorkIn ships:*Ticonderoga...
American 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...
, Hampshire Regiment
- TiconderogaTiconderogaTiconderoga may refer to :*Ticonderoga, New York, a town in New York, United States*Ticonderoga , New York, a hamlet in New York, United States*Fort Ticonderoga, a fortification in New YorkIn ships:*Ticonderoga...
- Saratoga
American 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...
, Company G, 10th Massachusetts Infantry
- Peninsula
- Antietam
- Fredricksburg
- Chancellorsville
- Gettysburg
- Wilderness
- Spotsylvania
- Cold Harbor
- Petersburg
- Virginia 1863
Spanish American War, Company L, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
- Santiago, Cuba
Mexican Border campaign, L Company, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
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...
, L Company, 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Champagne Marne
- Aisne Marne
- Saint Mihiel
- Meuse Argonne
- Isle De France 1918
- Lorraine 1918
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, L Company, 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes-Alsace
- Central Europe
Global War on Terror, Company B 1-181 Infantry
- Afghanistan War (2001-Present)
Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
French Croix de Guerre, World War I (With Gilt Star) | 1918 | Embroidered "LORRAINE" |
 |
French Croix de Guerre, World War II (With Palm) | 1944 | Embroidered "LORRAINE" |
 |
French Fourragere of the Croix de Guerre, World War II | 1944 |
See also
- 181st Infantry Regiment (United States)181st Infantry Regiment (United States)The 181st Infantry Regiment shares the distinction of being the oldest combat regiment in the United States Army. The regiment traces its history to 13 December, 1636, when it was one of four colonial regiment of foot of the British Crown in Massachusetts...
- 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Headquarters Company 1-181 InfantryHeadquarters Company 1-181 InfantryHeadquarters Company 1-181 Infantry, Worcester, MA, is the command element for the 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. In the National Guard, companies have two histories. They share the history of the Regiment to which they are assaigned, but also have...
(Wellington Rifles) - Company A 1-181 InfantryCompany A 1-181 InfantryCompany A 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment is the oldest active company in the 181st Infantry Regiment. In the National Guard, companies have two histories. They share the history of the Regiment to which they are assigned, but also have a unique company history and lineage. Therefore,...
(Springfield Rifles) - Company C 1-181 InfantryCompany C 1-181 InfantryCompany C 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment is a rifle company in the 181st Infantry Regiment. In the National Guard, companies have two histories. They share the history of the Regiment to which they are assigned, but also have a unique company history and lineage. Therefore, Company C...
(Cambridge City Guard) - Company D 1-181 InfantryCompany D 1-181 InfantryCompany D 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment is a heavy weapons company in the 181st Infantry Regiment. It provides anti-armor and heavy machine gun support to the battalion operations. In the National Guard, companies have two histories. They share the history of the Regiment to which they...
(Hudson Light Guards) - 1181 Forward Support Company1181 Forward Support Company1181st Forward Support Company is the Forward Support Company for the 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment. It provides transportation, maintenance and logistical support to the battalion operations. In the National Guard, companies have two histories. They share the history of the Regiment to...