198th Signal Battalion (United States)
| 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms
|
|
| Active | 1775 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch | Delaware Army National Guard |
| Type | Expeditionary Signal Battalion |
| Role | Signal Corps |
| Size | Battalion |
| Garrison/HQ | Wilmington, DE |
| Nickname(s) | First Delaware |
| Motto(s) | "First Regiment of First State" |
| Engagements | 36 |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LTC Wiley O. Blevins |
| Notable commanders |
Colonel David Hall |
The 198th Signal Battalion is an Expeditionary Signal Battalion in the Delaware Army National Guard. Delaware is known as the "First State," as referenced in their motto "First Regiment of First State." The unit specializes in command post node communications, providing broadband satellite voice and data connections for brigade sized battlefield elements. The unit includes Headquarters, Headquarters Company located in Wilmington, DE; A Company in Georgetown, DE; B Company in Hodges, SC; and C Company in Wilmington, DE.
The 1st Delaware Regiment was raised on 9 December 1775 for service with the continental army under the command of Colonel John Haslet. Over the next 240 years, the regiment would see action during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Global War on Terrorism. Since its inception, the 198th has served as Infantry, Coast Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Artillery and Signal. The unit's lineage and honors include 36 battle streamers from nearly every major war in US history. Although many 198th Soldiers volunteered for service in Korea and Vietnam, the unit was activated IN AUGUST 1950 for service during the Korean War. THE UNIT WAS ASSIGNED IN 1951 THRU 1952 TO DEFEND THE WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE AIR DEFENSE SECTORS. DURING THIS ASSIGNMENT MANY OF THE AIR DEFENDERS WERE PIPELINED TO KOREA. The unit did, however, see extensive deployments during World War I and World War II, and again in support of the Global War on Terrorism, most recently in 2013-2014 to Kandahar, Afghanistan. This marked the first time since the Civil War that the 198th deployed as a full Battalion with its South Carolina based B Company. To honor this event, the 198th's Headquarters facility on Kandahar Air Field was named "Camp Cowpens," after the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War.
Authorized 9 September 1775 in the Continental Army as the Delaware Regiment (also known as Haslet’s Regiment)
Organized 13 January 1776 to consist of the following companies under the command of Colonel John Haslet:
Captain Joseph Stidham’s Company – New Castle County
Captain Jonathan Caldwell’s Company – Kent County
Captain David Hall’s Company– Sussex County
Captain Henry Darby’s Company – New Castle County
Captain Charles Pope’s Company – Kent County
Captain Nathan Adams’ Company – Kent County
Captain Samuel Smith’s Company – New Castle County
Captain Joseph Vaughan’s Company – Sussex County
Mustered into Continental Service 11 – 12 April 1776 at Dover and Lewistown
Reorganized 1 January 1777 as Colonel David Hall’s Regiment as follows:
Captain John Patten’s Company
Captain Robert Kirkwood’s Company
Captain James Moore’s Company
Captain Enoch Anderson’s Company
Captain Thomas Holland’s Company
Captain John Learmonth’s Company
Captain Gord Hazzard’s Company
Captain Peter Jaquett’s Company
...
Wikipedia