Company C, 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment is a rifle company in the 181st Infantry Regiment. In the National Guard, companies often have two histories. They share the history of the regiment to which they are assigned, but also may have a unique company history and lineage. Therefore, Company C 1-181 IN shares the long history of the 181st Infantry Regiment. This site concentrates on the unique history of Company C as a militia / National Guard company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 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 the Spanish–American War, Mexican Border Campaign, World War I and World War II. Most recently Company C has served in Bosnia, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, Iraq and Afghanistan.
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 gentlemen's clubs". The Cambridge Light Infantry was soon considered the finest company in the military service and a model for the new light companies that were formed throughout the Commonwealth.
Daguerreotype showing Lieutenant Oliver Wendell Holmes in his uniform, 1861
Civil War
In 1861 mobilized for the Civil War as the Cambridge City Guard with the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (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. 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 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 on 15 November 1907.
In June 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, carriers, 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. They were 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 1941 for one year of training with the Yankee Division. The year of training ended in December 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 war's 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)
On 8 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 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.
The Massachusetts National Guard is the National Guard component for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, it contains the oldest units in the United States Army. What is today's Massachusetts National Guard evolved through many different forms. Originally founded as a defensive militia for Puritan colonists in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the militia evolved into a highly organized and armed fighting force. The Massachusetts militia served as a central organ of the New England revolutionary fighting force during the early American Revolution and a major component in the Continental Army under George Washington.
The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) ("The Vermont Brigade") is an Army National Guard light infantry brigade headquartered in Vermont. It was reorganized from an armored brigade into an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) as part of the United States Army's transformation for the 21st century. The 86th IBCT utilizes the Army Mountain Warfare School, co-located at Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont, to train in individual military mountaineering skills so the entire brigade can be skilled in such warfare. This large conventional unit level mountain warfare capability had been lost when the 10th Mountain Division deactivated after World War II. This left the 86th IBCT as the only mountain warfare unit in the U.S. military whose soldiers were trained in mountain warfare, with individual soldiers being graduates of Ranger School, the Special Forces Advanced Mountain Operations School, and the Army Mountain Warfare School instead of entire units that specialized in such tactics. "The Vermont Brigade" configured itself to be such a unit.
The Maryland Army National Guard is the United States Army component of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is headquartered at the old Fifth Regiment Armory at the intersection of North Howard Street, 29th Division Street, near Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Baltimore and has additional units assigned and quartered at several regional armories, bases/camps and other facilities across the state.
The 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is a modular infantry brigade of the United States Army National Guard of Indiana. It is headquartered in Lawrence Readiness Training Center, on the grounds of Fort Benjamin Harrison.
The 101st Field Artillery regiment is the oldest field artillery regiment in the United States Army with a lineage dating to 13 December 1636 when it was organized as the South Regiment. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and campaign credit for the War of 1812. For the first 250 years of the unit's existence it served in infantry formations.
The 26th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. A major formation of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, it was based in Boston, Massachusetts for most of its history. Today, the division's heritage is carried on by the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
The 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was an infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army National Guard of New Jersey. It was headquartered at the Lawrenceville Armory.
The 182nd Infantry Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army, forming part of the Massachusetts National Guard. It is among the oldest regiments in the U.S. Army, tracing its organizational roots back to 1636, and is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and a campaign credit for the War of 1812.
The Rhode Island Army National Guard (RIARNG) is the land force militia for the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It operates under Title 10 and Title 32 of the United States Code and operates under the command of the state governor while not in federal service. National Guard units may function under arms in a state status, therefore they may be called up for active duty by the governor to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters, such as those caused by hurricanes, floods, or civil unrest.
The 211th Military Police Battalion is a unit of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Its Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment is descended from the First Corps of Cadets, initially formed in 1741. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots. Its motto is Monstrat Viam – "It Points the Way." While it has served in five wars, the sub-unit's primary contribution to Massachusetts and to the United States was as an officer-producing institution for new regiments from the Revolutionary War through World War II.
The 101st Engineer Battalion is a unit of the Massachusetts Army National Guard and one of the oldest serving units of the United States Army. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and campaign credit for the War of 1812. The 101st Engineer Battalion was originally established as the East Regiment. As the first muster was held on the green in Salem, Massachusetts, Salem is seen as the birthplace of the National Guard.
The 181st Infantry Regiment shares the distinction of being the oldest combat regiment currently organized in the United States Army. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and campaign credit for the War of 1812. The regiment traces its history to 13 December 1636, when it was one of four colonial regiments of foot of the British Crown in Massachusetts. 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. In 2006 Company A (Agawam) of the battalion deployed as a member of KFOR8 to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Enterprise. Most recently the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry has served in Iraq, in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, and in Afghanistan. The only active element of the regiment is the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, which returned from a year of service in Afghanistan in July 2011. The 1st Battalion was mobilized in March 2017 for one year of service with the Multinational Force & Observers in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Currently, the 1st Battalion is a part of the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a major formation of the New Jersey National Guard. It was reflagged from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2017.
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry is the command element for the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, stationed in Worcester, Massachusetts. The company perpetuates the Wellington Rifles, the historic volunteer militia company of Worcester. In the National Guard, companies sometimes have two histories. They share the history of the regiment to which they are assigned, but also may have a unique company history and lineage. Therefore, HHC 1-181 IN shares the long history of the 181st Infantry Regiment. While the 181st Infantry Regiment shares the distinction of being the oldest combat regiment in the United States Army, Headquarters Company was formed more recently during the volunteer militia craze of the 1890s. During this time young men began to flock to the independent militia companies forming in each town and city. These companies were both military units and social clubs. Headquarters Company has gone on to serve in the following conflicts: Spanish–American War, Mexican Border Campaign, World War I and World War II. Most recently the company served in Iraq, in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, and in Afghanistan.
Company A 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment is the oldest active company in the 181st Infantry Regiment. In the National Guard, companies can share the history of the regiment to which they are assigned, but also may have additional unique company history and lineage. Company A traces its history to 1639, but also shares the history of the 104th Infantry Regiment and the 181st Infantry Regiment.
Company B 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment is a rifle company in the 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment. In the National Guard, companies sometimes have two histories. They share the history of the regiment to which they are assigned, but also may have a unique company history and lineage. Therefore, Company B 1-181 IN shares the long history of the 181st Infantry Regiment. This site concentrates on the unique history of Company B as a militia / National Guard company in Gardner and Greenfield, Massachusetts. 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 the Spanish–American War, 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.
Company 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 sometimes have two histories. They share the history of the regiment to which they are assigned, but also may have a unique company history and lineage. Therefore, Company D 1-181 IN shares the long history of the 181st Infantry Regiment. This site concentrates on the unique history of Company D as a militia / National Guard company in Whitinsville, MA. The company traces its history to 1864 during the Civil War, when it was first mustered as the Company I, 5th Massachusetts Militia. It later served as a federalized Massachusetts National Guard regiment with the U.S. Army during the Spanish–American War, Mexican Border Campaign, World War I and World War II. Most recently the Company D has served in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
"Fenway Company" the 1181st Forward Support Company is the forward support company (FSC) for the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment. It provides transportation, maintenance and logistical support to the battalion operations. In the National Guard, companies sometimes have two histories. They share the history of the regiment to which they are assigned, but also have a unique company history and lineage. The 1181st FSC, for example, shares the history of the 181st Infantry Regiment. The company traces its history to the end of the Revolutionary War when it was first mustered as the 5th company of the 8th Regiment of Massachusetts Militia. It saw action in the Civil War as part of the 15th Massachusetts Infantry. It later served during the Spanish–American War, Mexican Border Campaign, World War I and World War II.
The 103rd Field Artillery Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army. The only currently existing component is the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment, a unit of the Rhode Island National Guard. The regiment was originally constituted in 1917, but it descends from predecessor units dating back to 1801.
The 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an infantry brigade combat team of the New Jersey National Guard. It is headquartered at the Lawrenceville Armory in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, United States. The 44th Brigade Combat Team is the major unit of the New Jersey Army National Guard. The 44th Brigade Combat Team has three light infantry battalions, one field artillery battalion, one cavalry squadron, an engineer battalion, and a support battalion.
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