THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 28, 2023 Page 9 “The Old Sachem” 182nd Infantry Regiment T By Bill Stewart he 182nd Infantry Regiment is a unit of the Massachusetts National Guard that has a long history in Massachusetts, America and the world. I joined while still in high school in 1950. I served in the medical unit in Charlestown and summer sessions in upstate New York. It was a Regimental Combat Unit when I served. I later went on to serve in the US Army, and my National Guard service made my life in the service much easier to adjust to. The unit is traced back to the Pilgrims and is the oldest military unit in the United States. It was organized on October 7, 1636, from what England labeled training bands, at Charlestown, New Town (later named Cambridge), Watertown, Concord and Dedham. A reorganization was completed on March 10, 1643, as the ASKS | FROM PAGE 8 A: Yeah. Several people have photographed it – Jim Harrington also… Q: Anything else that you would like to share? A: It’s not really on Precinct 5. But I’m also on the Cemetery Commission and I’m very concerned about the Cemetery being almost full. We’re down to the last of 40 graves, I believe. The town needs to take that very seriRegiment of Middlesex, a colonial regiment operating in the American wilderness. Early on, they were developed to guard against the native Indians and fought in King Philip’s War and many other confl icts. Each militiaman was required to own a modern fl intlock musket. The unit was divided into two units on October 13, 1680, and was designated as the Lower Regiment of Middlesex, including the towns Charlestown, Cambridge, Watertown, Woburn, Malden and Reading. The other regiment of the unit was labeled the 181st Middlesex Regiment – now the 181st Infantry Regiment. At the beginning of the American Revolution, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ordered the activation of the Middlesex County Regiment on April 19, 1775. Then it was reorganized as the Massachusetts Army’s Gardner’s ously. Though it’s not in my precinct, that’s a very top priority issue for me. Q: Do you think there will be a big turnout for next Tuesday [“Saugus Over Coffee” forum at 6:30 p.m. on May 2]? A: I hope so. I can tell you that during my four terms on Town Meeting I don’t think that we’ve ever had a night with perfect attendance, which is really sad. I have never missed a Town Meeting, J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. for duty during the Spanish-American War but were not involved in battle. The unit then became the Massachusetts National Guard. The unit served in World Regiment on April 23, 1775. The unit was redesignated as the 25th Continental Regiment of the Continental Army on July 1, 1775, and on January 1, 1777, as the 7th Massachusetts Regiment Continental Line, and it was mustered out of Continental service on June 12, 1783. The unit next fought in the War of 1812; the unit was one of only 19 selected throughout America of that time as the US Army. The next duty came in the Civil War; the unit was activated on April 19, 1861, with companies of the First and Seventh Regiments, of the Infantry, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia and Major Conk’s Light Artillery Company. It fought in the First Battle of Bull Run. It served in many places during the war and was mustered out on November 16, 1864, becoming the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. They were recalled including a Special. I’ve had perfect attendance – I have never missed one. And I think when people vote, they need to pay attention to that stuff , because these are the people you voted in to vote on important things. I think Town Meeting has a really good mix right now. I really kind of like the mix in it. And I think the moderator [Steve Doherty] is actually doing a really good job. He’s excellent at what he does. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 WE'RE OPEN! 8 Norwood Street, Everett (617) 387-9810 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping www.eight10barandgrille.com OPEN DAILY FOR DINNER AT 4 PM. CATCH THE CELTICS, BRUINS & NCAA SPORTS ON OUR 6 LARGE SCREEN TV'S! om War I in the US First Army sector in France. The 182 Second was called up for the Second World War, was sent to Melbourne, Australia, and joined a task force sent to fi ght in New Caledonia in the Pacific; they later fought in Bougainville, the Northern Solomons and the Battle of Leyte. They fought on many small islands and as the war ended were assigned to occupation duty in Japan. My son-in-law, Frank McKinnon, served with the unit, the One Eighty Second, in Kosovo in 2007. The unit later served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Massachusetts National Guard has been very well equipped and has served the nation very well from colonial “The Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) times up to the present battles for democracy. (Editor’s Note: Bill Stewart – better known to Saugus Advocate readers as “The Old Sachem,” writes a weekly column about sports – and sometimes he opines on current or historical events or famous people.
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