198th Signal Battalion (United States) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion |
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Coat of arms
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| Founded | 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 Michael J. Jochen |
| Notable commanders |
Colonel John Haslet Colonel David Hall |
The 198th Signal Battalion is a special military unit in the Delaware Army National Guard. They are known as an "Expeditionary Signal Battalion." This means they can travel to different places to help with communication. Delaware is called the "First State," and the unit's motto, "First Regiment of First State," shows this proud connection.
The 198th Signal Battalion's main job is to provide fast internet and phone connections for large groups of soldiers on the battlefield. They use satellites to make sure everyone can talk and share information. The unit has different parts:
- Headquarters, Headquarters Company in Wilmington, Delaware
- A Company in Georgetown, Delaware
- B Company in Hodges, South Carolina
- C Company in Wilmington, Delaware
This unit is special because it has deep roots in American history. It is one of several National Guard units that started a long time ago. It also has battle honors from the War of 1812.
Contents
A Look at Their History
The 198th Signal Battalion has a very long and interesting history. It started way back on December 9, 1775. Back then, it was called the 1st Delaware Regiment. It was part of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Colonel John Haslet was its first leader.
Over more than 240 years, this unit has been part of many important events. They fought in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Global War on Terrorism. The unit has changed its role over time. It started as Infantry (foot soldiers). Later, it became Coast Artillery (defending coastlines) and Anti-Aircraft Artillery (defending against air attacks). Now, they are a Signal unit, focusing on communications.
The 198th has earned 36 "battle streamers." These are special ribbons that show they fought in almost every major war in U.S. history. Even though many of their soldiers volunteered for the Korean War and Vietnam War, the whole unit was officially called to duty in August 1950 for the Korean War. They helped defend the skies over Washington and Baltimore. Many of their soldiers were then sent to fight in the Korean War.
The unit also had big deployments during World War I and World War II. More recently, they deployed in 2013–2014 to Kandahar, Afghanistan. This was a big deal because it was the first time since the Civil War that the entire Battalion, including its B Company from South Carolina, deployed together. To remember this, their base in Afghanistan was named "Camp Cowpens." This name honors the Battle of Cowpens, a famous Revolutionary War battle in South Carolina.
What Their Symbols Mean
The 198th Signal Battalion has special symbols that tell their story.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
This is a small metal badge. It shows a shield and the unit's motto.
- What it looks like: It's gold-colored and about 1 inch tall.
- What it means: The white color on the shield used to be the color for Infantry soldiers. The eleven stars (called "mullets") stand for the eleven battles and campaigns they fought in during the Civil War. The red flower shape (called a "fleur-de-lis") represents their service in World War I. Red is also the color for Coast Artillery.
- Its history: This badge was first approved in 1934 for the 198th Coast Artillery. It was later changed for other units and finally for the 198th Signal Battalion in 1978.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms is a bigger, more detailed symbol.
- The Shield: It's white with a red fleur-de-lis. At the top, there's a blue band with eleven stars, five on one row and six on another.
- The Crest: This is the part above the shield. It shows a griffin's head. A griffin is a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. This griffin's head is blue with gold ears and beak. It has a red tongue and a black collar with three silver circles on it.
- Motto: "FIRST REGIMENT OF FIRST STATE"
- What it means: Just like the distinctive unit insignia, the white shield and red fleur-de-lis represent their Infantry and World War I service. The eleven stars stand for their Civil War battles.
- Its history: The coat of arms was first approved in 1933 for the 198th Coast Artillery. It was later updated for different units, finally becoming the coat of arms for the 198th Signal Battalion in 1978.
Battles and Campaigns
The 198th Signal Battalion has earned many "campaign streamers" for the battles and campaigns they have been a part of. These streamers are like ribbons that show their history of service.
- Revolutionary War: They fought in many key battles like Long Island, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Yorktown. They also served in New York, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
- War of 1812: They were involved in defending Delaware in 1813, 1814, and 1815.
- Civil War: They participated in major battles such as Peninsula, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox. They also served in Virginia in 1863.
- World War I: They were part of the Meuse-Argonne campaign.
- World War II: They fought in the Northern Solomons, Leyte, and Luzon.
- Operation Enduring Freedom: They served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Special Awards
The 198th Signal Battalion has also received special awards for their excellent service:
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation: This award is from the Philippines for their service from October 17, 1944, to July 4, 1945.
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army): They received this award for their service in Iraq from 2006-2007.
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army): They received another one for their service in Afghanistan from 2013-2014.
Images for kids
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Iraq Campaign Ribbon
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Afghanistan Campaign Streamer
