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.[1] It is currently headquartered at Hanscom Air Force Base and commanded by Major General L. Scott Rice.
The Massachusetts Army National Guard reorganized in 1946 after five years of active duty.[2] The 26th Infantry Division was the largest unit; however, there were now two major non-divisional units in the state: the 182d Infantry Regimental Combat Team and the 104th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade. The Guard was still in the process of rebuilding when the Korean War broke out in June 1950. The 26th Division was considered for active duty, but eight non-divisional units were ordered into active duty as part of the Army’s expansion instead.
Massachusetts Army National Guard[]
Major units of the Massachusetts Army National Guard include the following:
26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade- 101st Field Artillery Regiment
- 101st Engineer Battalion
- 101st Infantry Regiment
- 181st Infantry Regiment
- 182nd Infantry Regiment
- 211th Military Police Battalion
- 164th Transportation Battalion
- 126th Aviation Regiment
- 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment
- D Company, 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion
Camp Edwards in the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Massachusetts is the major training site for Army National Guard units. Armories for the MA ARNG include Hudson Armory.
- Former Units
Historical Notes:
The 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is descended from the 26th Infantry Division.
The 104th Infantry Regiment was raised in 1639 as the Hampshire Regiment in Springfield, MA.
The 101st Engineer Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, 181st Infantry Regiment and 182nd Infantry Regiment are the oldest combat regiments in the United States Army.
The 181st Infantry Regiment, 182nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Field Artillery Regiment and the 772nd Military Police Company are four of only twenty Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812.
Coats of arms of the Massachusetts Army National Guard[]
Founded 1741 {Formerly 211th Artillery and 220th Infantry}-
"Sempter Paratus"(Always Prepared)
"Yankee eyes"
Massachusetts Air National Guard[]
Otis Air National Guard Base and Barnes Municipal Airport, Massachusetts are the major Massachusetts Air National Guard bases.
See also[]
- Coats of arms of U.S. Armor and Cavalry Regiments
- Coats of arms of U.S. Artillery Regiments
- Coats of arms of U.S. Infantry Regiments
- Coats of arms of U.S. Air Defense Artillery Regiments
References[]
Further reading[]
- Captain Robert K. Wright, Jr.. Massachusetts Militia Roots: A Bibliographic Study. (1986) 116th Military History Detachment Virginia Army National Guard. Available at the United States Army Center of Military History
External links[]
- Bibliography of Massachusetts Army National Guard History compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History
- Massachusetts National Guard Official Site
- Massachusetts National Guard Magazine - Minuteman printed by AQP Publishing, Inc
- The Nation's First Public Web site
The original article can be found at Massachusetts National Guard and the edit history here.