On 13 December 1636, the
Massachusetts General Court ordered the organization of three militia regiments designated as the North, South, and East regiments. The East Regiment (later the Essex Regiment) provided protection and support to the Settlers of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony for 139 years. It also fought in the Pequot Indian Wars,
King Philip's War, and the
French and Indian War. The 101st played a key role in the
Revolutionary War. Elements fought the British Army on 19 April 1775, the engagement that started the battle for independence and an active duty regiment saved General
George Washington's Army after the
Battle of Long Island in August 1776. The same element helped the American cause to remain alive in December 1776 during the
Battle of Trenton. They manned the boats for General Washington to cross the Delaware. During the
Civil War, three separate regiments were established in
Essex County. The
8th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia sailed to
Annapolis, Maryland, in April 1861; boarded the ; and sailed her to
New York Harbor so she would not fall into the hands of the Confederates. The
19th Massachusetts Infantry fought with the
Army of the Potomac and had seven
Medal of Honor Recipients. The
50th Massachusetts Infantry had port duty in
Louisiana and had one Medal of Honor recipient. Although the battalion did not fight in the War with Spain, the headquarters company did. The battalion was mobilized for
World War I. However, the Second and Eighth Massachusetts Militia were consolidated to form the
104th Infantry Regiment under the
26th Infantry Division. The remaining cadres were reorganized as the Fifth Pioneer Infantry, but was not deployed overseas. In 1920, the 5th Pioneer Infantry (Engineers) was re-designated the 101st Engineer Battalion and realigned under the 26th Yankee Division, where it would remain until the division was deactivated in 1993. The 101st Engineer Battalion fought with the
26th Infantry Division under Patton's Third Army, and provided the maps to the Third Army for the relief of the 101st Airborne Division during the
Battle of the Bulge. From 1993 to 2006 the 101st Engineer Battalion was aligned under the
42nd Infantry Division. In 2006, HHC deployed to
Kosovo as part of Task Force Semper Lex or "Task Force MP (Military Police)". In October 2008, the battalion was placed under the new
26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and placed the "YD" patch back on its left shoulder. In June 2009 the battalion mobilized for
Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing construction and combat engineer support to the Multi-National Division Baghdad/United States Division-Central area. For this, the battalion earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon. In 2012, the 181 Engineer Company, 101st Engineer Battalion, was mobilized to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Engineers moved from Kandahar Air Field to forward operating bases in western Afghanistan. Missions included route clearance, battlefield circulation team (resupply) and air operations out of KAF. The unit was attached to the 20th Engineer Battalion, US Army. The unit returned to Ft. Bliss, Texas in 2013, and to the 101st Engineer Battalion, Massachusetts Army National Guard state area command in 2014. ==Active units within the battalion==