126sig - 126th Signal Battalion HistoryHome Page This Histoy Page is a work in progress there ere additions

List of Battalion Commanders Dates

LTC Francis C. Mischler 1959/1963

COL Angelo Mantenuto 1963/1966

COL Jerry F. Vitale 1966/1970

LTC Willaim Fuller 1970/1973

MG Arthur Thompson 1973/1975

BG Arthur McSweeny 1975/1982

BG Albert Mangone 1982/1984

Col Peter Skentzos 1984/1986

COL William Rabbe 1986/1989

LTC Roy Cavvichi 1989/1994

LTC Michael Short 1994/1996

The above list was put together with the help of SPC Kerri L. ManchesterJFHQ-Military Records, BG leonid E. Kondratiuk, of the MNG Museum in Worcester Ma., Col William Raabe, MSG Hermin ( Cliff) Killam and CW4 Alfonso (Al) Cacchiotti. The last two names on this list served from the very beginning.

List of CSM’s and SGM’s

Deterrio

Lamondi

Gordon

Donald Flaherty

Joseph (Chic) Lacey

Donald (Don) Horsman

Robert Perchard

Aurthur Silva

This list we believe is complete but are not positive the first three names are in the proper order.

Events Activated for or involved in

Chelsea Fire October 14, 1973

http://www.olgp.net/chs/photos/fire1973/chelseafire.htm

http://dspace.udel.edu:8080/dspace/bitstream/19716/1214/1/WP56.pdf

http://www.firenews.org/chelsea73.html

Blizzard of 1978 February 7, Thursday

http://www.massjury.net/czm/blizzard78.htm

http://www.geocities.com/frank754/bliz78.html

http://hullnantasket.homestead.com/Blizzardlinks.html

http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=45

http://www.boston.com/news/specials/blizzard_of_78/

http://services.bostonglobe.com/globestore/category.cgi?category=143&template=viewal

lhttp://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/NEWS/802030368

Popes Visit 1 October 1979: Mass at the Boston Common

http://www.boston.com/news/specials/pope/articles/remembrance/

http://www.boston.com/news/specials/pope/galleries/boston_trip/

Yankee Division History

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY LINEAGE AND HONORS

126th SIGNAL BATTALION

Organized in the Massachusetts National Guard and Federally recognized
23 October 1940 at Boston as Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 180th Field
Artillery, an element of the 26th Division.

Reorganized and redesignated 14 January 1941 as Service Battery,2nd
Battalion, 180th Field Artillery

Inducted into Federal service 16 January 1941 at Boston

Reorganized and redesignated 12 February 1942 as Service Battery, 180th
Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 26th Infantry Division

Inactivated 1 January 1946 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia

Consolidated with Service Battery, 221 Field Artillery Battalion
(Federally recognized 14 January 1941 at Boston as Service Battery, 1st Battalion,
180th Field Artillery), reorganized in the Massachusetts National Guard, and
Federally recognized 19 February 1947 at Boston as Service Battery, 180th
Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 26th Infantry Division

Converted, reorganized, and redesignated 1 May 1959 as Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 126th Signal Battalion, an element of the 26th Infantry
Division. Organic companies organized from existing companies as follows:

26th Signal Company (organized 26 May 1884 as Signal Corps. 1st and
2nd Brigades, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia) as Company A (Boston)

Battery B, 101st Field Artillery Battalion (organized 3 May 1917 as
Battery F, 2nd Field Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia) as
Company B (Salem)

126th SIGNAL BATTALION

CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
World War I Ile de France 1918 Lorraine 1918 Champagne-Marne
Aisne-Marne St. Mihiel Meuse-Argonne

World War II
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsac
Central Europe
Guadalcanal
Northern Solomons
Leyte
Southern Philippines (with arrowhead)

DECORATIONS

Philippine Presidential
l Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 To July 1945
Cited in the order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the
ARDENNES

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

J.C. LAMBERT
Major General, USA
The Adjutant General

This article was clipped from the Somerville newspaper a few years ago.

KILLAM organizes Signal Association

MSG Herman (cliff) Killam retired from the Massachusetts National Guard recently after service many years. He first enlisted with the 26th SIG CO of the 26th (Yankee) Inf. Div. Mass. National Guard, in 1950 which at that time was located at the Somerville Armory.
The 126th Sig Co. in 1958 then became A-Co., 126th Signal Battalion.
26th (Yankee) Inf. Div. and it moved to the Commonwealth Armory. He retired as the operations chief in the Assistant Division Signal Officer section in January 1992.
He and five other retirees have now formed the 126th Sig. Bn. Association and would like to hear from you Somerville Somebodies that served with the 126 Sig. Co. when it became the 126Sig Bn.
The Association is accepting membership from anyone who served with the 126th Sig. Bn. at anytime.
Killam received the Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon and other State Awards during his enlistment. Before his enlistment in the National Guard, He attended the Somerville schools and graduated from the Somerville Trade High School in 1950.

126th Signal Battalion HistoryHome Page This Histoy Page is a work in progress there ere additions that we are working on

KILLAM organizes Signal Association

126th Signal Battalion History
Home Page

This Histoy Page is a work in progress there ere additions that we are working on