Company A 1-181 Infantry
Company A 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment is a Massachusetts Army National Guard infantry company with lineage extending to a Springfield colonial militia unit formed in 1639.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Company A 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment is a unit of the Massachusetts Army National Guard and the oldest active company in the 181st Infantry Regiment. It is not a commercial brand, but a military organization whose identity is rooted in a long institutional lineage. The unit traces its history to the Springfield Trained Band, first mustered in December 1639 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Over nearly four centuries, its predecessors served under changing designations and formations while retaining an association with Springfield and the surrounding region. The company’s early history includes colonial military operations in conflicts involving New England settlements. It served against the Dutch on Long Island in 1673–1674 and participated in campaigns associated with King Philip’s War, including action at Turners Falls in 1676. Its lineage also includes service during King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, King George’s War, and the French and Indian War. During the American Revolution, the unit served as Burt’s Company at Boston in 1775, with detachments operating elsewhere during the conflict. It later participated in the suppression of Shays’ Rebellion in 1786–1787, defending the federal arsenal at Springfield. In 1798 it was reorganized as the Springfield Artillery and served in the defenses of Boston during the War of 1812. The organization underwent further changes in the nineteenth century. In 1844 it became Company E of the 10th Light Infantry Regiment. During the American Civil War it was mobilized on 21 June 1861 as Company E, known as the Springfield Rifles, in the 10th Massachusetts Infantry. The regiment served with the Army of the Potomac in major campaigns and battles including the Peninsula Campaign, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the Petersburg operations. The company was mobilized for the Spanish–American War in 1898 as part of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry. It participated in the Santiago campaign, including the fighting at El Caney, and was mustered out on 3 November 1898. In 1916 it served on the Mexican border during the Mexican Border Campaign. In March 1917 it became part of the 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th, or Yankee, Division. During the First World War it fought in France in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Saint-Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. Its predecessor unit received the French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star for actions at Apremont from 10 to 13 April 1918. During the Second World War, the unit mobilized in January 1941 and subsequently deployed to Europe with the 104th Infantry Regiment. It fought from Normandy through Germany and into Czechoslovakia, later serving in the occupation of Czechoslovakia and Austria until 1946. After the war, the Springfield Rifles were re-established as Company B, 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry, and continued National Guard service through the Cold War. The modern Company A designation emerged through a series of reorganizations. In 2001 the company, then designated Company A, 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry, deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of NATO’s Stabilization Force. It supported rescue and security operations in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. On 1 December 2005, the 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry Regiment was deactivated, and its remaining units were reconstituted and integrated into the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment. Company A subsequently served in Kosovo in 2006, Afghanistan in 2010, and the Sinai Peninsula in 2017 as part of the Multinational Force and Observers. Its present identity therefore combines colonial, militia, National Guard, expeditionary, peacekeeping, and domestic emergency-response traditions.
History
Company A’s lineage begins with the Springfield Trained Band, mustered in December 1639 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Colonial service included operations against the Dutch on Long Island in 1673–1674, participation in King Philip’s War, including the action at Turners Falls in 1676, and service in King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, King George’s War, and the French and Indian War. These early formations were local militia organizations whose descendants were repeatedly reorganized as Massachusetts military institutions changed. During the American Revolution, the company served as Burt’s Company at Boston in 1775, while detachments performed duties elsewhere during the war. In 1786–1787 it took part in the response to Shays’ Rebellion and helped defend the federal arsenal at Springfield. The unit became the Springfield Artillery in 1798 and served in the defenses of Boston during the War of 1812. In 1844 the organization was redesignated Company E of the 10th Light Infantry Regiment. It entered federal service on 21 June 1861 as Company E, 10th Massachusetts Infantry, commonly associated with the Springfield Rifles. During the Civil War it served with the Army of the Potomac through the Peninsula Campaign, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the Second Battle of Petersburg. The unit served in the Spanish–American War after mobilization on 9 May 1898. As part of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, it fought in the Santiago campaign, including El Caney, before mustering out on 3 November 1898. It served on the Mexican border in 1916 and crossed into Mexico during General Pershing’s punitive expedition. In March 1917 it became part of the 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th Yankee Division. Its First World War service included the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Saint-Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. For its fighting at Apremont from 10 to 13 April 1918, the predecessor formation received the French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star. The company mobilized in January 1941 for training with the Yankee Division. After the United States entered the Second World War, it deployed to Europe with the 104th Infantry Regiment and fought from Normandy through northern France and Germany, ending the war in Czechoslovakia. It then served in the occupation of Czechoslovakia and Austria until 1946. The Springfield Rifles were re-established after the war as Company B, 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry, and continued in the National Guard during the Cold War. In August 2001, the unit, then Company A, 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry, deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina with NATO’s Stabilization Force. In September 2005 it supported domestic emergency operations in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. A major structural change followed on 1 December 2005, when the 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry was deactivated and its remaining units were reconstituted and integrated into the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment. Under its current designation, Company A deployed to Kosovo in August 2006 with the NATO Kosovo Force. In August 2010 it deployed for a year to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, performing command, control, and security missions. In March 2017 it deployed to Sinai with the Multinational Force and Observers, monitoring the Egypt–Israel peace treaty and conducting observation and security duties at Forward Operating Base North. The unit’s identity today is therefore based on inherited lineage and continuing military service rather than commercial activity.
- 2017
Multinational Force and Observers deployment
[1]Company A deployed to Sinai to support monitoring of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty.
- 2005
Integration into the 181st Infantry lineage
[1]Following the deactivation of the 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry, remaining units were reconstituted and integrated into the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment.
- 1941
World War II mobilization
[1]The company mobilized for training and later deployed to Europe during the Second World War.
- 1917
Assignment to the 104th Infantry Regiment
[1]In March 1917 the Springfield Rifles became part of the 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th Yankee Division.
- 1898
Spanish–American War mobilization
[1]The company mobilized with the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry and fought in the Santiago campaign, including El Caney.
- 1861
Civil War federal service
The unit entered federal service as Company E, 10th Massachusetts Infantry, and served with the Army of the Potomac.
- 1775
Revolutionary War service
[1]The company served as Burt’s Company at Boston, with detachments serving elsewhere during the American Revolution.
- 1639
Springfield Trained Band mustered
[1]The lineage associated with present-day Company A began with the formation of the Springfield Trained Band in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Products and positioning
A historic Massachusetts Army National Guard infantry company distinguished by continuous lineage, regional identity, and service in domestic emergencies, conventional wars, peacekeeping missions, and overseas security operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Multinational Force and Observers, Sinai
Egypt · Israel
The company conducted observation and security operations at Forward Operating Base North in northern Sinai as part of the MFO mission.
Outcome. Supported treaty-monitoring duties during the deployment.
- 2010Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan
The company deployed for one year, providing command and control at Camp Julien in Kabul and security operations in several Afghan provinces.
Outcome. Completed the deployment; detailed unit-level outcome information is not provided in the reference.
- 2006NATO Kosovo Force
Kosovo
Company A served with U.S. Rotation 8 of KFOR and operated in southern Kosovo.
Outcome. Completed the deployment; detailed unit-level outcome information is not provided in the reference.
- 2001NATO Stabilization Force, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The company mobilized as part of SFOR 10 and supported NATO stabilization duties in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Outcome. Completed the stated deployment; detailed unit-level outcome information is not provided in the reference.
Brand decisions
2005
Reconstitution under the 181st Infantry RegimentStrategyBackground
The 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry Regiment was deactivated during a Massachusetts National Guard reorganization.
Action taken
Remaining units were reconstituted and integrated into the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, creating the current organizational context for Company A.
Aftermath
The Springfield Rifles continued under the Company A, 1-181 Infantry designation.
Recent events
- 2017
Company A deployed to the Sinai Peninsula[1]
Other
The company served with the Multinational Force and Observers, conducting observation and security operations at Forward Operating Base North near el Gorah in northern Sinai.
- 2010
Company A deployed to Afghanistan[1]
Other
The company served for approximately one year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, providing command and control at Camp Julien in Kabul and security operations in Kunar, Uruzgan, and Kapisa provinces.
- 2006
Company A deployed to Kosovo[1]
Other
The unit served as part of U.S. Rotation 8 of the NATO Kosovo Force and was assigned an area of responsibility in southern Kosovo.
- 2005
Company A supported Hurricane Katrina response[1]
Other
The company mobilized as part of Joint Task Force Yankee for rescue and security operations in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
- 2001
Company A deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina[1]
Other
Then designated Company A, 1st Battalion, 104th Infantry, the unit mobilized as part of NATO Stabilization Force rotation SFOR 10.
- 1916
Company A predecessor mobilized for the Mexican Border Campaign[1]
Other
The unit served as Company B of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment at Columbus, New Mexico, and was the only National Guard regiment to cross into Mexico with General Pershing’s punitive expedition.
Sources1 sources
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