Organized and Federally recognized 30 April 1923 in the Tennessee National Guard at Athens as Company E, 117th Infantry, an element of the 30th Division (later redesignated as the 30th Infantry Division)

Redesignated 30 April 1938 as Company B, 117th Infantry

Inducted into Federal service 16 September 1940 at Athens

Inactivated 18 November 1945 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and relieved from assignment to the 30th Infantry Division

Reorganized and Federally recognized 1 September 1947 in the Tennessee National Guard at Athens as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 278th Infantry

Ordered into active Federal service 1 September 1950 at Athens

(Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 278th Infantry [NGUS], organized and Federally recognized 4 September 1952 at Athens)

Released from active Federal service 8 October 1954 and reverted to state control as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 278th Infantry; concurrently, Federal recognition withdrawn from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 278th Infantry (NGUS)

Reorganized and redesignated 11 October 1954 as Headquarters and Service Company, 278th Armored Infantry Battalion

Assigned 27 October 1954 to the 30th Armored Division

Consolidated 1 March 1959 with the Medical Detachment, 278th Armored Infantry Battalion (organized and Federally recognized 2 August 1955 at Athens) and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Armored Rifle Battalion, 117th Infantry, an element of the 30th Armored Division  

Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 117th Infantry

Relieved 1 November 1973 from assignment to the 30th Armored Division

Consolidated 1 May 1977 with Detachment 1, Support Company, 2d Battalion, 117th Infantry (see ANNEX), and consolidated unit converted, reorganized, and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment

Ordered into active Federal service 22 June 2004 at Athens; released from active Federal Service 4 January 2006 and reverted to state control

Converted, reorganized, and redesignated 1 September 2006 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 117th Military Police Battalion

ANNEX

Organized and Federally recognized 1 April 1947 in the Tennessee National Guard at Etowah as Company A, 278th Infantry

Ordered into active Federal service 1 September 1950 at Etowah

(Company A, 278th Infantry [NGUS], organized and Federally recognized 5 September 1952 at Etowah)

Released from active Federal service 8 October 1954 and reverted to state control; concurrently, Federal recognition withdrawn from Company A, 278th Infantry (NGUS)

Reorganized and redesignated 11 October 1954 as Company A, 278th Armored Infantry Battalion, an element of the 44th Armored Division

Reorganized 1 March 1959 as Company A, 2d Armored Rifle Battalion, 117th Infantry

Redesignated 1 April 1963 as Company A, 2d Battalion, 117th Infantry

Reorganized and redesignated 1 February 1968 as the Ground Surveillance Section, Battalion Scout Platoon, Battalion Heavy Mortar Platoon, and Battalion Anti-Tank Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 117th Infantry

Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1970 as Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 117th Infantry

Reorganized and redesignated 1 February 1972 as Support Company, 2d Battalion, 117th Infantry

Reorganized and redesignated 1 October 1975 as Detachment 1, Support Company, 2d Battalion, 117th Infantry

Location changed 1 January 1977 to Athens

HOME STATION: Athens

 

CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT

                                                            World War II
                                                            Normandy
                                                            Northern France
                                                            Rhineland
                                                            Ardennes-Alsace
                                                            Central Europe

                                                            War on Terrorism
                                                            Iraqi Governance

 

DECORATIONS

Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ST. BARTHELMY

Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SCHERPENSEEL

French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered FRANCE

French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered MORTAIN

French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, World War II, Streamer embroidered SCHERPENSEEL

Belgian Fourragere 1940

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes

 

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY: