Guide to the Office of the Adjutant General Rhode Island National Guard Unit History records and photographs , 1926-1993

(bulk 1960-1990)


Rhode Island State Archives
Rhode Island State Archives
337 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-222-2353
Fax: 401-222-3199
email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: Office of the Adjutant General Rhode Island National Guard Unit History records and photographs
Date range: 1926-1993, (bulk 1960-1990)
Creator: Rhode Island. National Guard
Extent: 2.4 cubic feet other
Abstract: The Office of the Adjutant General Rhode Island National Guard Unit History records and photographs include historical data and photographs of units of the Rhode Island National Guard. Units include the 280th Signal Battalion, Company D, the 118th Military Police Battalion and the HHD 243d Military Police Battalion.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Rhode Island State Archives
Collection number: 1999-104

Scope & content

The Office of the Adjutant General Rhode Island National Guard Unit History records and photographs include historical data and photographs of units of the Rhode Island National Guard. Units include the 280th Signal Battalion, Company D, the 118th Military Police Battalion and the HHD 243d Military Police Battalion. The records include Unit Historical Data (which includes Photographs, Clippings Files, General Orders and Lineage and History Certificates); Photographs; General Orders; Lineage and History Certificates; and Unit Awards and Commendations. The bulk of the records consist of the 280th Signal Battalion and its tour of duty in Vietnam as the 107th Signal Company.

Access Points

Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types

Arrangement

The Office of the Adjutant General Rhode Island National Guard Unit History records and photographs are arranged into the following series:

  • Series 1. Unit Historical Data, 1926-1990
  • Series 2. Lineage and Honors, 1970-1973
  • Series 3. General Orders, 1968-1979
  • Series 4. Awards, Certificates, Citations, Plaques and Commendations, 1962-1990
  • Series 5. Photographs, 1979-1993

Historical note

The Rhode Island National Guard (RING), like the National Guard of all 54 states and territories, has both a federal mission and a state mission. The RING‘s federal mission is to maintain manned, equipped and trained operational forces that are prepared to respond to any contingency in sup-port of the President‘s National Security Plan. The RING is an operational force provider for the full-spectrum of contingencies to include nation-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian, natural disaster, national emergency, limited conflicts and full-scale war. The state mission of the RING is to provide manned, equipped and trained units and personnel that are prepared to respond to state and local authorities as directed by the Governor to assist in maintaining peace, order and public safety during crisis situations to include natural or manmade disasters, high-profile events and state emergency defense operations.

The Adjutant General, in his dual capacity as the Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard and the Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island, has command and control of all assigned forces to include all units of the R.I. Army National Guard, the R.I. Air National Guard and the State Militia. The R.I. Adjutant General also serves as the Director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). The primary mission of the RIEMA is to protect life and property before, during and after a disaster or emergency situation. The RING is composed of a Joint Force Head-quarters and both a land component - the Army National Guard - and an air component – the Air National Guard.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: No special restrictions unless otherwise specified.
Use of the materials: Copyright is in the public domain unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to restrict reproduction of materials due to preservation concerns.
Preferred citation: Office of the Adjutant General Rhode Island National Guard Unit History records and photographs, 1999-104, Rhode Island State Archives.
Contact information: Rhode Island State Archives
Rhode Island State Archives
337 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-222-2353
Fax: 401-222-3199
email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: Transferred by Major Vachon of the Rhode Island National Guard on November 1, 1999.
Custodial history: Records created by the Office of the Adjutant General, Rhode Island National Guard units.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Kate Telford.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Kate Telford 2009 August 19
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material: Records of the General Assembly, Annual Militia Returns, 1788 – 1867. Accession #1143.Records of the Adjutant General – Annual Militia Returns, 1794 – 1858. Accession #1144.Rhode Island National Guard (RING) 110th Public Affairs Detachment photographs and negatives. Accession #1998-149.

Inventory

Series 1. Unit Historical Data

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1-2 Organizational History Files- HHD (Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment) 243rd Military Police Battalion
Contents Note: Album includes Lineage and Honors data, photographs, clippings and general orders, 1975-1988. Includes General Assembly Resolution 78-H 7379 "Expressing Sincere Gratitude and Highest Praise to United States Army and Rhode Island National Guard Units for Their Assistance in the Blizzard of February 6-7, 1978". (1 color Polaroid, 18 B/W 8x10 photographs and 1 color 8x10 photograph)

1975-1988
Box 1, Folder 3-4 Organizational History File
Contents Note: 1. History of 118th Engineer Regiment 1926-1933 and Brief history of 43rd Infantry Division

2. General Order, Active Duty 5 September 1950

3. Reorganization of Rhode Island National Guard, 1959

4. Roster of Officers Reorganization of 1968 and 1963

5. Lineage, honors, brief history 118th Military Police Battalion

6. Distinctive Insignia 118th Military Police Battalion RI ARNG and General Orders * Reorganization, Redesignation 1952 through March 1973

7. State Active Duty, 1954-1960, Summary of Activities

(2- color 8x10 photograph, 12 - B/W 5x7 and 2 - B/W 8x10 photographs)

 1926-1980
Box 1, Folder 5 Unit History- 107th Signal Company (Support), Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Contents Note: 2 copies, 48 pp - includes photographs.

 1961-1962
Box 1, Folder 6 Photograph Album- 107th Signal Vietnam
Contents Note: Includes clippings and B/W photographs, 3 ½ x 5 color - 4, 3 ½ x 5 B/W - 1, 8x110 B/W - 34, 5x7 B/W - 2. (41 photographs)

 1969
Box 1, Folder 7 Album- 107th Signal Vitenam
Contents Note: Includes text, clippings and correspondence re: 107th Signal mission to restore communications to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade.

 1968-1969
Box 1, Folder 8 Photograph album of 107th Signal Company
Contents Note: Photographs and text by the 356th Public Information Detachment (FS),UASR Training Center, Fort George G. Mead, Maryland, 20755[1973?]. (45 B/W 8x10 photographs). Training exercises - LOGEX-RC-73 (Logistical Exercise - Reserve Components), a portrayal of a non-active, nuclear, general war in Central Western Europe with U.S. and Allied forces grouped under the NATO structure. It provides players with an interface between military services in a combat support area. The goal is the achievement of the best possible combat service support training in peacetime.

 1973
Box 1, Folder 9 Campaign Participation Credit and Decorations
Contents Note: 107th Signal Company

 1970 August 4
Box 1, Folder 10 Historical Data and General Orders
Contents Note: Company D, 280th Signal Battalion

 1962-1987
Box 1, Folder 11 Album- Company D, 280th Signal Battalion
Contents Note: Includes B/W photographs, clippings and newsletters (Rhody Guardsman).

 1981-1985
Box 1, Folder 12 Photographs (1 of 3)
Contents Note: B/W Contact Prints (2) and Negatives (28 strips, 5 envelopes) - 280th Signal Battalion FTX, September 1990 - training exercises.

 1990 September
Box 1, Folder 13 Photographs (2 of 3)
Contents Note: B/W Contact prints (10) and negatives (26 strips, 6 envelopes), September to October 1990 - 280th Signal Battalion Co. D. - Family day and Open House activities and training exercises.

 1990 September-1990 October
Box 1, Folder 14 Photographs (3 of 3)
Contents Note: 88 - B/W 8x10 photographs - 280th Signal Battalion. Co. D. - Images of activities and field exercises. The images are faded due to poor processing.[1980-1990?]

 1980-1990
Box 1, Folder 15 The National Guard in Vietnam. Part One. by Lt. Col. Bruce Jacons
Contents Note: The National Guard in Vietnam. Part One. by Lt. Col. Bruce Jacons - Special to the National Guardsman, 8 pp. (A reprint from the April, 1969 Issue of The National Guardsman)

 1969 April
Box 1, Folder 16 Creed
Contents Note: "I Am The Guard" - published, 1 leaf, no date.

 undated
Box 1, Folder 17 istory of the Military Police Corps
Contents Note: 1 leaf, no date.

 undated
Box 1, Folder 18 The Story of the 43d Infantry Division
Contents Note: 40 pages

 1946

Series 2. Lineage and Honors

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 19-23 Lineage and Honors
Contents Note: 119th Military Police Company, 1207th Transportation Company, 118th Military Police Battalion (4 August 1970), 111th Military Police Company (1973), Headquarters and Headquarters Detached 43rd Military Police Brigade (4 August 1970)

 1970-1973

Series 3. General Orders

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 24-25 General Orders
Contents Note: General Orders, Order to Active Duty (19 April 1968), Relocation and Reorganization and Redesignation of RIARNG Units (1969 and 1979).

 1968-1979

Series 4. Awards, Certificates, Citations, Plaques and Commendations

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 26-35 Certificates, Commendations, Citations and Awards
Contents Note: Includes Certificate of Distinction - 107th Signal Company (SPT)[Support] RIANG, 26 June 1962. Commendation from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce to the 107th Signal Company Support, August 14, 1962. Citation for Meritorious Service - 107th Signal Co. 31 May 1965. Superior Unit Award - 118th Engineer Battalion (C)(A), 1966. Certificate of Appreciation - 107th Signal Company (Support), 17 October 1969. Certificate of Achievement - 759th Military Police Battalion, 4 May 1978. Commendation Letter from Rear Admiral R.K. Fontaine to the 280th Signal Battalion RIARNG, Company D, 27 May 1982. State of Delaware Resolution No. 23 - 280th Signal Battalion, 20 March 1985. Citation to accompanying Army National Guard Meritorious Service Award. 280th Signal Battalion, 20th Anniversary, 2 September 1988 - includes photograph. Certification of Appreciation, State of New Jersey, Army National Guard - Co. D 280th Signal Battalion, 17 June 1990.

 1962-1990
Box 2, Folder 1 Trophy/Plaque
Contents Note: From the Association of the United State Army "In recognition of the 107th Signal Company’s Call to Active Duty During the Vietnam Era"

 1968 May 16
Box 2, Folder 2 Plaque (1 of 4)
Contents Note: Army National Guard - Meritorious Service Award, 107th Sig Co (RI) - Co D. 280th Signal Battalion.

 undated
Box 2, Folder 3 Plaque (2 of 4)
Contents Note: Rhode Island Army National Guard Awarded to Company D Corps Area SIG Company 280th Signal Battalion For Significant Achievement in Preventing Accidents During Training.

 1981
Box 2, Folder 4 Clippping/Plaque
Contents Note: When Lindbergh was here - recollection of Ralph Bright, Sgt of the 43rd Signal Co. on the arrival of Charles Lindbergh at Quonset Point.

 1977
Box 2, Folder 5 Plaque (3 of 4)
Contents Note: To the Men of the Wire and Cable Platoon Co. D for Outstanding Work at Summer Camp.

 1982
Box 2, Folder 6 Plaque (4 of 4)
Contents Note: Army National Guard, 118th Military Police Battalion 94 per cent.

 1978 March 30
Box 2, Folder 7 Meritorious Unit Commendation
Contents Note: Department of the Army - Meritorious Unit Commendation, 107th Signal Company (43d Signal Company, Cited), 13 February 1967. (oversized)- mounted on cardboard.

 1967 February 13
Box 2, Folder 8 Certificate of Achievement
Contents Note: 107th Signal Company (Support).

 1962 August 1
Box 2, Folder 9 Lineage and History
Contents Note: 107th Signal Company and Company D 280th Signal Battalion (oversize).

 undated

Series 5. Photographs

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 10 Color Photographs
Contents Note: Color photographs showing various training exercises and activities of the Rhode Island National Guard [1990-1993?]. Contains 180 Photographs (99 - 3 ½ x 5; 44 - 4x6; 4 - 3 ½ x 5) with no order or description. Some photographs are faded or overexposed.

 1990-1993
Box 2, Folder 11 Black-and-White Photographs (1 of 2)
Contents Note: 14x11 B/W interior view of garaged transport vehicles (mounted on cardboard).

 undated
Box 2, Folder 12 Black-and-White Photographs (2 of 2)
Contents Note: 10x14 B/W exterior view of soldier climbing tree.

 undated
Box 2, Folder 12 Commanders of the 280th Signal Battalion, Co. D Photographs
Contents Note: Includes 8x10 B/W - Cpt Dean H. Holt, Commander [280th Signal Battalion], July 1979-October 1980. 8x10 B/W - Cpt Peter Charlonne, Commander [107th Signal Company], 1975 - July 1979 - no date. 8x10 B/W - Lt. Holt and Lt. Bob Champagne, no date.

 1979 July-1980 October