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Crossing Historical Paths
Task Force 134, Multi National Force-Iraq, controls detention operations
By 177th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs Office
Not often do two units with such illustrious
pasts cross each other on the timeline of military
history. But, such an encounter took place
when the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment
replaced the 198th Signal Battalion as the
garrison command element at Camp Cropper,
Iraq, during a transfer of authority ceremony
held on Sept. 10, 2007.
The 198th, led by Lt. Col. James Begley, is the
parent organization for all of Delaware’s National
Guard units and traces its history back to 1776
when it was organized as Col. John Haslet’s
Delaware Regiment of the Continental Army,
thus earning the regiment its title as, “The First
Regiment of the First State.” Begley said that the
regiment is credited with saving the Army when
they covered George Washington’s 1776 retreat
from Long Island. Many historians believe that
without them, Washington’s troops would have
been routed, and the Revolution would have
ended that very day, said Begley.
Over the next 200 years, the regiment saw action
in every major conflict except the Spanish-
American War and Vietnam. Notably, it earned
11 battle streamers during the Civil War and,
during Word War II, was the first U.S. unit to
leave for overseas after the attack on Pearl
Harbor. In 1970, the regiment was reorganized
into the organization that carries the lineage and
honors today, the 198th Signal Battalion. During
its more than 200 year history, the Citizen-
Soldiers of the First Delaware Regiment have
spent a cumulative total of 23 years on active
duty, ending with their year spent here in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In view of the 198th’s remarkable place in
America’s history, Begley said he was surprised
and pleased to learn of the 1-181st’s equally
impressive lineage. He said he felt it was
especially appropriate for the 1-181st to replace
the 198th.
The 1-181st Infantry Regiment, based out of
Worcester, and commanded by Lt. Col. Michael
Finer, is credited as being one of the five oldest
units in the U.S. military and is considered
America’s oldest infantry outfit. Formed in 1636
as part of the Massachusetts Militia, the
regiment fought during the King Phillips War
against raids by Native Americans. In 1775,
members of the regiment stood up against
British forces on Lexington Green and at
Concord, taking part in, “The Shot Heard Round
the World.”
The 1-181st fought valiantly and with honors in
all major U.S. conflicts up to the Korean War. In
the last several years, many of the regiment’s
warriors served on active duty missions including
Bosnia, Guantanamo Bay, Hurricane Katrina,
and now in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Finer said their unit’s history is a great source of
pride amongst themselves. “We are carrying on
a tradition established more than 370 years
ago when militiamen of Massachusetts came
together to defend their homes and villages,”
he said.
Carrying on that tradition here at Camp Cropper
is important to Finer and he credits the skill
and professionalism of the 198th before them to
help him succeed, he said. “They have helped
set us up for success in many ways, and we
have an opportunity to do well during our time
in Iraq,” he said. “We intend to do the same
for our replacements when the mission comes
to an end.”
The 1-181st not only oversees base defense but
supervises engineering projects, repairs and
improvements, badging procedures, and
morale, welfare and recreation activities. While
these are not traditional infantry missions, that
fact doesn’t seem to bother Finer. “Taking care of
people has always been a traditional role for the
infantry, regardless of the specific task at hand.”
He said they are willing and able to learn new
tactics, techniques and procedures to adjust to
accomplish the mission. “We are an agile unit,”
said Finer. “Our shaping and sustaining
operations are critical to victory and accomplishing
Task Force 134’s end-state.”
Finer said that he feels that their efforts here in
Iraq are just as important as the militiamen’s
were over 300 years ago, and while they hope to
earn their place in history too, it’s not what
drives them to serve. “It has always been about
our families, fellow Soldiers and service
members and a sense of duty. We’re proud to
have joined the long line of patriots who gave
their time and occasionally their lives,” he said.
“Only time will tell if our sacrifices will be as
historic as those from the past.” ✯
The Force of Freedom 9