Company C 1-181 Infantry
Encyclopedia
Company 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 1-181 IN shares the long history of the 181st Infantry Regiment (United States)
. This site concentrates on the unique history of Company C as a militia / National Guard company in Cambridge, MA. The company traces its history to 1831, when it was first mustered as the Cambridge Light Infantry. It later served 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 C has served in Bosnia, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina
, in Iraq and in Afghanistan
.
(The Harvard Regiment). Among the officers of the company were Major Paul J. Revere, and Lieutenant Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. The 20th regiment lost 17 officers and 243 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded. One officer and 148 enlisted men by disease. Total casualties were 409. The regiment ranks first among Massachusetts regiments and fifth among Union regiments in total casualties. In 1866 the Cambridge City Guard became Company F of the 5th Mass.
The Land forces of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia were redesignated as the Massachusetts National Guard
on 15 November 1907.
In June of 1916 the Cambridge Guard was sent to the Mexican Border as Company A of the 8th Mass. Infantry. The 8th Mass. served on the Mexican Border at El Paso, Texas.
On 1 April 1923, the Cambridge City Guard was designated as Company H of the 101st Infantry Regiment.
In 1946, The Cambridge City Guard was re-established as Company H, 101st Infantry, and later was designated as Company C of the 1-182 IN. The Company served through the Cold War.
In August 2001, Company C 1-181 IN mobilized for service in Bosnia-Herzegovina as an element of the NATO Stabilization Force. (SFOR 10)
0n 08 September 2003, Company C, 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 C mobilized as an element of JTF Yankee for rescue and security operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
In July 2007, C Company mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit served as an Operational Support Team. The mission was to provide security for theater driven counterintelligence operations, for the Commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNFI).The Company was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
In August 2010, Company C 1-181 IN deployed for one year of service with the International Security Force in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The company provided command and control at Camp Alamo in Kabul and conducted security operations in Khost, Paktya and Paktika Provinces.
, Cambridge City Guard, 20th Massachusetts Infantry
Spanish American War, Cambridge City Guard, 5th Massachusetts Infantry
Mexican Border campaign, Cambridge City Guard, 8th Massachusetts Infantry
World War I
, 5th Pioneer Infantry Regiment
World War II
, H Company, 101st Infantry Regiment (United States)
Global War on Terror, Company C 1-181 IN
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 C as a militia / National Guard company in Cambridge, MA. The company traces its history to 1831, when it was first mustered as the Cambridge Light Infantry. It later served 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 C has served in Bosnia, at 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...
, in Iraq 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...
.
Formation
The Present Company C 1-181 IN was first mustered in 1831 as the Cambridge Light Infantry. The Company was formed as a "more professional" force because the other Cambridge companies were considered "mere gentlemens clubs." The Cambridge Light Infantry was soon considered the finest company in the milita service and a model for the new Light Companies that were formed throughout the Commonwealth.Civil War
In 1861 mobilized for the Civil War as the Cambridge City Guard with the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "Harvard Regiment", was a regiment of infantry in the American Civil War. The regiment was so nicknamed because the officers of the 20th were young Harvard graduates. In addition some, but not all, the private soldiers had attended...
(The Harvard Regiment). Among the officers of the company were Major Paul J. Revere, and Lieutenant Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. The 20th regiment lost 17 officers and 243 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded. One officer and 148 enlisted men by disease. Total casualties were 409. The regiment ranks first among Massachusetts regiments and fifth among Union regiments in total casualties. In 1866 the Cambridge City Guard became Company F of the 5th Mass.
National Guard and overseas service
In June of 1898 The Cambridge City Guard was mobilized for the war with Spain along with the 5th Mass. and served at Gunville, South Carolina.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 Cambridge Guard was sent to the Mexican Border as Company A of the 8th Mass. Infantry. The 8th Mass. served on the Mexican Border at El Paso, Texas.
World War I
In the First World War the company sent many of its soldiers to the 101st Infantry, the remainder of the company served in France as part of the 5th Pioneer Infantry Regiment. The pioneer regiments included such specialists as mechanics, carpenters, farriers and masons. They were supposed to work under the direction of the Engineers to build roads, bridges, gun emplacements and camps "within the sound of the guns." They received standard infantry training so that they could defend themselves, but there are very few documented instances of any pioneer troops unslinging their rifles. Demobilized in January 1919 at Camp Wadsworth.On 1 April 1923, the Cambridge City Guard was designated as Company H of the 101st Infantry Regiment.
World War II
Company H 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, 101st Infantry deployed to Europe with the Yankee Division and fought from Normandy across Germany to meet the Soviets in Czechoslovakia at wars end. The company served in the Army of Occupation in Austria until 1946.In 1946, The Cambridge City Guard was re-established as Company H, 101st Infantry, and later was designated as Company C of the 1-182 IN. The Company served through the Cold War.
Later service
In 1995, The Cambridge Guard became Company C, 1-181 IN (Light).In August 2001, Company C 1-181 IN mobilized for service in Bosnia-Herzegovina as an element of the NATO Stabilization Force. (SFOR 10)
0n 08 September 2003, Company C, 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 C mobilized as an element of JTF Yankee for rescue and security operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
In July 2007, C Company mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit served as an Operational Support Team. The mission was to provide security for theater driven counterintelligence operations, for the Commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNFI).The Company was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
In August 2010, Company C 1-181 IN deployed for one year of service with the International Security Force in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The company provided command and control at Camp Alamo in Kabul and conducted security operations in Khost, Paktya and Paktika Provinces.
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...
, Cambridge City Guard, 20th Massachusetts Infantry
- Battle of Balls Bluff
- The Peninsula Campaign
- Battle of AntietamBattle of AntietamThe Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
- Battle of Fredricksburg
- Battle of ChancellorsvilleBattle of ChancellorsvilleThe Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
- Battle of GettysburgBattle of GettysburgThe Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
Spanish American War, Cambridge City Guard, 5th Massachusetts Infantry
Mexican Border campaign, Cambridge City Guard, 8th 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...
, 5th Pioneer Infantry Regiment
- Champagne Marne
- Saint Mihiel
- Meuse Argonne Offensive
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, 101st Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes-Alsace
- Central Europe
Global War on Terror, Company C 1-181 IN
- Bosnia SFORSFORThe Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
- Guantanamo Bay
- Iraq
- Afghanistan War (2001-Present)
Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Joint Meritorious Unit Award The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982... , HQ Multi-National Force-Iraq, 2006-07 |
2008 | Joint Staff Perm. Order J ISO 0046 08 |
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...
- 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 B 1-181 InfantryCompany B 1-181 InfantryCompany 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 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...