172nd Infantry Brigade (United States)
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| 172nd Infantry Brigade | |
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 172nd Infantry Brigade Insignia |
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| Active | August 5, 1917 - April 15, 1986 April 17, 1998 - December 15, 2006 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Part of | 25th Infantry Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Wainwright, Alaska |
| Nickname | "Arctic Wolves" |
| Motto | Caveat {Let Him Beware} |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
The 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) (now designated the 1st brigade of the 25th Infantry Division) of the United States Army is a highly deployable unit capable of being sent to any destination worldwide in order to protect U.S. national interests and has proudly served the Army since its inception during World War I.
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[edit] History
[edit] World War I
What today is know as the 172d Infantry Brigade (Separate) was first constituted on August 5, 1917 in the National Army as the 172nd Infantry Brigade, organized on the 25th of that month at Camp Grant, in Rockford, Illinois and assigned to the 86th Division. As part of the 86th Division it arrived in Bordeaux, France, for combat duty in September 1918 and after serving in World War I it was demobilized in January 1919 at Camp Grant, and the camp itself was abandoned in 1921.
[edit] Interwar
Then on June 24, 1921 the unit was reconstituted in the Organized Reserves as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 172nd Infantry Brigade, and again assigned to the 86th Division. It was organized in January 1922 at Springfield, Illinois and went through several redesignations, including on March 23, 1925 (as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 172nd Brigade) and August 24, 1936 (as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 172nd Infantry Brigade).
[edit] World War II
The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 172nd Infantry Brigade was converted and redesignated the 3nd Platoon, 86th Reconnaissance Troop, 86th Division on March 31, 1942 , while her sister unit, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 171st Infantry Brigade, became the remainder of the 86th Reconnaissance Troop. On December 15, 1942 the troop was mobilized and reorganized at Camp Howze, in Gainesville, Texas, as the 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, only to be reorganized and redesignated again on August 5, 1943 as the 86th Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized. For the majority of the US involvement in World War II it remained stateside, participating in the Third Army #5 Louisiana Maneuvers in 1943, among other exercises until finally staging at Camp Miles Standish, at Boston, Massachusetts on February 5, 1945 and shipping out from the Boston on February 19, 1945. The 86th Reconnaissance Troop arrived in France on March 1, 1945, acclimated and trained, and then moved to Koln, Germany, and participated in the relief of the 8th Infantry Division in defensive positions near Weiden on March 28 -29, 1945 and found itself at Salzburg on May 7, 1945 (V-E Day). It was then sent back stateside to prepare for operation in the Pacific, arriving back in New York City on June 17, 1945, and proceeded to Fort Gruber in Braggs, Oklahoma before staging at Camp Stoneman at Pittsburg, California, on August 14, 1945. The unit shipped out from San Francisco on August 21, 1945 and arrived in the Philippines on September 7, 1945, five days after the Japanese surrender.
[edit] The Cold War
The 172nd Infantry Brigade was an active duty brigade during the Cold War between 1963 and 1986.
On October 10, 1945 the 86th Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized was again redesignated the 86th Mechanized Reconnaissance Troop before finally being inactivated on December 30, 1946 while still stationed in the Philippines. However the 86th Mechanized Reconnaissance Troop was reactivated again on July 9, 1952 as part of the Army Reserve. Finally on May 20, 1963 the 3rd Platoon, 86th Reconnaissance Troop was converted and redesignated as the 172nd Infantry Brigade, relieved from assignment to the 86th Infantry Division, and allotted to the Regular Army (remainder of troop hereafter has a separate lineage).
The 172nd Brigade was designated a Reorganization Objective Army Division (ROAD), and was activated on 1 July 1963 at Fort Richardson, Alaska with one Light Infantry Battalion; one Mechanized Infantry Battalion; and one Tank Company. Its shoulder sleeve insignia was authorized for use on August 28, 1963 and its distinctive unit insignia was authorized on June 8, 1966. The Brigade was reorganized from Mechanized Infantry to Light Infantry on June 30, 1969, with a reduction to 2 mechanized infantry battalions. In 1974 the 172nd Infantry Brigade was reorganized again to include three light infantry battalions, and once more in 1978 to a structure that included one infantry battalion, one mechanized infantry battalion, and one tank battalion before it was finally deactivated on April 15, 1986 at Fort Richardson, Alaska.
On April 17, 1998, the U.S. Army reactivated the "172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate)" and reflagged the 1st Brigade, 6th Infantry Division as that unit at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
[edit] Transformation
In July 2001 the US Army announced that the 172nd Infantry Brigade was to become one of the Army's new Interim Brigade Combat Teams, later to be known as Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs).
[edit] Operation Iraqi Freedom
In August 2005, the 172nd Infantry Brigade deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit deployed to Mosul Iraq. Its tour was to have ended on July 27, 2006, but the U.S. Army unexpectedly extended its deployment until the end of November 2006. The Brigade then deployed to Baghdad for four more months. As a result of the unit's action in Iraq, the brigade was awarded the Valorous Unit Award. The citation signed by Gen. George W. Casey reads as follows:
"The 172D STRYKER BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations between 16 August 2005 to 3 December 2006 during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM III in both the Ninewah Province and Baghdad Iraq. Beginning with deployment operations and continuing through an accelerated RIP/TOA process at a time when some of the heaviest fighting was taking place in Northern Iraq, the Brigade valiantly fought the enemy using lethal and non-lethal means which created a safe environment for the October 2005 constitutional referendum and 2005 National Elections. The security provided by the Brigade created a higher turnout by percentage between the three elections and culminating in the transition of battlespace to the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police. The 172D Stryker Brigade controlled almost 50,000 square kilometers, leveraging the full spectrum of assets from Brigade to National level in order to engage the populace and neutralize the enemy. The 172D Stryker Brigade Combat Team was chosen by the President of the United States to extend their year-long deployment for an additional 120 days to support operations in Baghdad. Their warrior spirit and professionalism quickly made an impact in the Baghdad area of operations. The men and women of the 172D STRYKER BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM displayed extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty which were in keeping witht he highest traditions of the military service and reflect distinct credit upon them and the Armed Forces of the United States."
Also, according to the award recommendation, soldiers in the unit received 2 Distinguished Service Crosses and 5 Silver Stars. During this action, the unit sustained 353 casualties, including 21 soldiers killed in action. Having returned from its extended tour in Baghdad, Iraq, the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team was reflagged as the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
[edit] Honors
[edit] World War I
- Streamer without inscription
[edit] World War II
- Central Europe
[edit] Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Iraq Campaign Streamer
- Valorous Unit Award
[edit] Bibliography
- Bender, John A. "Dynamic Training Arctic Style: A Report from Alaska." Infantry 62 (November-December 1972):36-37.
- Boatner, James G. "Rugged Training on the 'Last Frontier.' Supersoldiers of the North." Army 26 (November 1976):27-30.
- Dacus, David M. "The Last Frontier." Infantry 64 (July-August 1974):48-52.
- Kiernan, David R. "Winter Training in Alaska." Infantry 70 (November-December 1980):10-12.
- Little, John G., Jr. The Official History of the 86th Division. Chicago: States Publications Society, 1921.
- Meiners, Theodore J. "They Climb the Crags." Army Digest 22 (April 1967):36-38.
- Paternostro, Anthony. "The Alaska Brigade: Arctic Intelligence and Some Strategic Considerations." Military Intelligence 6 (October-December 1980):47-50.
- Simone, Michael R. "Where 'Teary Eyes Freeze Shut."' Army 31 (February 1981):32-33.
