101st Engineer Battalion

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101st Engineer Battalion
Coat of Arms
Active	1636-
Country	United States
Allegiance	Massachusetts
Branch	Massachusetts National Guard
Type	Combat Engineer
Motto	TENAX PROPOSITI (Tenacious of Purpose)
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

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.

History

The East Regiment (later the Essex Regiment) 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.

In November 2011 the 182nd Sapper CO deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom under Task Force Knight. Their mission is was to provide route clearance support in Kandahar Province.

Unit decorations

Ribbon	Award	Year	Notes
	Meritorious Unit Commendation	2009-2010	for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Active units within the battalion

HHC FSC SAPPER VERTICAL HORIZONTAL

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

Operation Enduring Freedom

See also

• Coats of arms of U.S. Engineer Battalions

References

• http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/ohpam.html
• http://www.ng.mil/features/birthday/index.html

External links