579th Engineer Battalion

What is today the 182nd Infantry Battalion, Massachusetts Army National Guard, was organized on October 7th, 1636, as a militia unit of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The bands of "Minutemen" who fought at Lexington and Concord were part of this early organized militia -- later named "National Guard" in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette and his Garde Nationale of the French Revolution

In this manner, the Army National Guard grew from a community defense force into a state, national, and international defense force active during the Colonial Wars, the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, etc. The 579th Engineer Battalion is the direct descendent of Company K, 184th Infantry. Originally organized on May 6, 1929, in Santa Rosa, California, Company K was inducted into federal service on March 3, 1941. Serving in the Pacific Theater with the 40th and 7th Infantry Divisions, Company K saw combat in the Aleutian Islands, Easter Mandates, Leyte, and Ryukyu Campaigns. Their proud service was recognized with the awarding of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation- which the 579th continues to wear to this day. Completing postwar duty in Korea, the Company inactivated in January 1946. On August 6, 1946, the unit reorganized as the 579th Combat Engineer Battalion in Santa Rosa and was attached to the 49th Infantry Division. The Battalion was officially recognized on June 16, 1947, with its first commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon F. Over the years, the Battalion continued to grow in size, and it became known for its variety of accomplishments and achievements. The Battalion underwent several deployments and re-assignments, as well as training and mobilizations...