198th Signal Battalion (United States)

198th Signal Battalion

Coat of arms
Active 1775
Country  United States
Branch Delaware Army National Guard
Size Regiment
Nickname First Delaware
Motto "First Regiment of First State"
Commanders
Current
commander		 LTC James A. Benson
Notable
commanders		 Colonel John Haslet

The 198th Signal Battalion is a battalion in the Delaware Army National Guard. It is also known as the First Delaware.

History

The 1st Delaware Regiment was raised on 9 December 1775 for service with the continental army under the command of Colonel John Haslet. The regiment would see action during the New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown and the Battle of Guilford Court House. The regiment was furloughed on 17 January 1783 at Christiana Bridge, Delaware and disbanded on 15 November 1783.

Lineage

Constituted 9 December 1775 in the Continental Army as the Delaware Regiment (also Known as Haslet's Regiment) Organised during January–March 1776 for one year's service to consist of the following companies under the command of Colonel John Haslet-

Mustered into Continental service 11–12 April 1776 at Dover and Lewiston. Reorganized 12 December 1776 - 1 March 1777 as Colonel David Hall's Regiment as Follows-

Reorganized September 1780 from new and existing companies as follows-

Mustered out of Continental service 3 November 1783 at Christiana Bridge. Reorganized in Delaware as follows-

Mustered into Federal service for the War of 1812 as follows-

(1st Company, Light Infantry, 8th Regiment, reorganized 6 March 1827 as the 1st Company of Light Infantry, 1st Battalion).

Reorganized in 1831 as the Light Infantry Battalion, attached to the 8th Regiment of Delaware Militia, with companies as follows-

Reorganized from 1849-1861 as independent companies as follows-

Reorganized 2–22 May 1861 as the 1st Delaware Volunteer Infantry Regiment and mustered into Federal service at Wilmington; mustered out of Federal service 2–26 August 1861. Reorganized 10 September -19 October 1861 and Mustered into Federal service for 3 Years at Wilmington; Mustered out of federal service 12 July 1865 near Munson's Hill, Virginia.

(Organized Militia of Delaware redesignated 17 April 1885 as the Delaware National Guard).

(Companies of the 1st and 2nd Battalions transferred in October 1917 to the 3rd Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment (United States), and other units of the 29th Infantry Division (United States).

Former elements of the 1st Infantry Regiment, Delaware National guard, reorganized as follows-

(1st Separate Battalion, Coast Artillery reorganized and Federally recognized 16 November 1920- Separate lineage)

Inducted into Federal service 16 September 1940 at Wilmington. (3rd Battalion organized 1 January 1943 while in Federal service).

after 1 March 1944 the above units underwent changes as follows-

after 10 October 1949 the above units underwent changes as follows-

Distinctive unit insignia

A gold color metal and enamel insignia 1 1/16 inches (2.70 cm) in height overall consisting of the shield and motto of the coat of arms.

The shield is white, the old color of Infantry. The eleven mullets represent the eleven battles and campaigns in which the organization served during the Civil War, and the red fleur-de-lis is for World War I service. The red is also the color of the Coast Artillery.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 198th Coast Artillery on 13 Jun 1934. It was redesignated for the 736th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion on 26 Jan 1951. On 6 Apr 1961, the insignia was redesignated for 198th Artillery. The distinctive unit insignia was redesignated for the 198th Signal Battalion on 19 Oct 1978.

Coat of arms

Blazon

Argent, a fleur-de-lis Gules; on a chief Azure eleven mullets, five and six, Or.

That for the regiments and separate battalion of the Delaware National Guard: On a wreath of the colors, Argent and Gules, a griffin's head erased Azure eared and beaked Or, langued Gules, collared Sable, fimbriated Argent and thereon three plates. Motto FIRST REGIMENT OF FIRST STATE

Symbolism

The shield is white, the old color of Infantry. The eleven mullets represent the eleven battles and campaigns in which the organization served during the Civil War, and the red fleur-de-lis is for World War I service. The red is also the color of the Coast Artillery.

Background

The coat of arms was originally approved for the 198th Coast Artillery on 19 Jun 1933. It was redesignated for the 736th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion on 26 Jan 1951. On 6 Apr 1961, the insignia was redesignated for 198th Artillery. The coat of arms was redesignated for the 198th Signal Battalion on 19 Oct 1978.

Campaign streamers

Revolutionary War

War of 1812

Civil War

World War I

World War II

Operation Enduring Freedom

Decorations

none

See also

References

    External links