- Company A 1-181 Infantry
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Company A, 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment (6th Massachusetts) Active 1639-Present Country United States Branch Massachusetts Army National Guard Size Infantry Rifle Company, Infantry Battalion Garrison/HQ Agawam, MA Nickname "Springfield Rifles" Motto "Keep Your Powder Dry” Engagements French and Indian Wars
American Revolution
War of 1812
American Civil War
Spanish American War
Mexican Expedition
World War I
World War II
Bosnia Campaign SFOR
Kosovo Force
Afghanistan War (2001-present)Battle honours French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star (1918)
French Croix de Guerre with Palm (1944)<=>French Fouragere<=>Army Superior Unit Award (2007)Commanders Current
commanderCaptain Insignia Identification
symbolTorch U.S. Infantry Regiments Previous Next 164th Infantry Regiment 184th Infantry Regiment Company 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, Company A 1-181 IN shares the long history of the 181st Infantry Regiment (United States). This site concentrates on the unique history of Company A as a militia / National Guard company in Springfield and Agawam, MA. The company traces its history to 14 November, 1639, when it was first mustered as the Springfield Train Band. It later 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 A has served in Bosnia, in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, in Kosovo and in Afghanistan.
==History==[1]
Contents
Formation and colonial operations
The Present Company A of the 181st Infantry was first mustered in December of 1639 in Springfield. The company served against the Dutch on Long Island in 1673-74, In King Philip’s War (1675-7), at Turner’s Falls in 1676, In King William’s War (1688-98), Queen Anne’s War (1703-13), King George’s War (1744-8) and in the French and Indian War (1754-63).
Massachusetts Army and the American Revolution
In the Revolutionary War, the company served as Burt’s Company at Boston in 1775, with detachments serving throughout the war.
During Shay’s Rebellion (1786-7) the company fought against the rebels to defend the Federal Arsenal in Springfield.
In 1798, the company became the Springfield Artillery, and served in the defenses of Boston during the War of 1812.
Civil War
In 1844, reorganized as Company E of the 10th Light Infantry Regiment. Mobilized on 21 June 1861 as Company E (Springfield Rifles) of the 10th Massachusetts 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 on 15 November 1907.
In June of 1916 the Company was sent to the Mexican border as Company B 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 Springfield Rifles was designated as Company B, 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 Springfield Rifles 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 B 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 Springfield Rifles were re-established and became Company B 1st Battalion 104th Infantry. The Company served through the Cold War.
Later service
In August 2001, the Springfield Rifles now designated as Company A 1-104 IN, headquartered in Agawam MA, mobilized for service in Bosnia-Herzegovina as an element of the NATO Stabilization Force. (SFOR 10)
In September 2005, Company A mobilized as an element of JTF Yankee for rescue and security operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
On 1 December 2005, the 1st Battalion 104th Infantry Regiment (United States) was deactivated and the remaining units were reconstituted and integrated into the 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment (United States).
In August 2006, the Springfield Rifles now designated as Company A 1-181 IN, mobilized for service in Kosovo as an element of the NATO Kosovo Force. (KFOR 8). Conducted Peace Enforcement Operations in southern Kosovo.
In August 2010, Company A 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 for Camp Julien in Kabul and conducted security operations in Kunar, Uruzgan and Kapisa Provinces in Afghanistan.
Battles
King Philip's War, Springfield Train Band
- Battle of Bloody Brook
- Battle of Turner's Falls
French and Indian wars, Springfield Foot
- Siege of Loiuisburg (1745)
- Battle of Lake George
- Ticonderoga
American Revolutionary War, Burt's Company
American Civil War, Company E, 10th Massachusetts Infantry
- Peninsula Campaign
- Battle of Antietam
- Battle of Fredricksburg
- Battle of Chancellorsville
- Battle of Gettysburg
- Battle of the Wilderness
- Battle of Spotsylvania
- Battle of Cold Harbor
- Battle of Petersburg
- Virginia 1863
Spanish American War, Springfield Rifles, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
- Santiago, Cuba (Battle of El Caney)
Mexican Border campaign, H Company, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
World War I, B Company, 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Champagne Marne
- Aisne Marne (Battle of Château-Thierry (1918))
- Battle of Saint-Mihiel
- Meuse-Argonne Offensive
- Isle De France 1918
- Lorraine 1918
World War II, B Company, 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes-Alsace(Battle of the Bulge)
- Central Europe
Global War on Terror, Company A 1-104 IN / Company A 1-181 Infantry
- Bosnia SFOR
- Kosovo Kosovo Force
- Afghanistan War (2001-Present)
Unit decorations
See also
- 181st Infantry Regiment (United States)
- 104th Infantry Regiment (United States)
- Headquarters Company 1-181 Infantry (Wellington Rifles)
- Company B 1-181 Infantry
- Company C 1-181 Infantry (Cambridge City Guard)
- Company D 1-181 Infantry (Hudson Light Guards)
- 1181 Forward Support Company
Notes
- ^ Historical & Pictoral Review National Guard of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1939. Baton Rouge: Army and Navy. 1939.
References
Categories:- Military units and formations in Massachusetts
- Regiments of the United States Army National Guard
- Infantry regiments of the United States Army
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