39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Image:USArmy 39th Inf Brig Patch.jpg
39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shoulder sleeve insignia
Active 1967-present (as a separate brigade)
Country United States of America
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Army National Guard
Garrison/HQ Little Rock, Arkansas (headquarters)
Nickname Arkansas Brigade
Bowie Brigade
Engagements Iraq War
*Operation Iraqi Freedom
Insignia
39th Brigade Combat Team Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, formerly called the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) —nicknamed the Arkansas Brigade— is a combat brigade of the United States Army made up of soldiers from the Arkansas National Guard.

The brigade is as of July 2006 stateside, however, are training at Camp Shelby for their next deployment to Iraq in May.

Contents

[edit] Background

The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) was formerly called The 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) and is one of 15 National Guard brigades designated as a "BCT". Brigades with this designation receive higher levels of training, more advanced equipment, and higher troop levels than normal National Guard brigades. It also makes these brigades a self-contained combat unit capable of intelligence, reconnaissance, maneuver, fire support, combat service support, and command and control without having to require attachments or detachments during deployments.

The 39th BCT is the largest National Guard command in Arkansas. It is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was placed in federal service on October 12, 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The 39th was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division and served in and around Baghdad for a year, returning to the United States in March of 2005. In late August of 2005, after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States, elements of the 39th, then commanded by Colonel Mike Ross, were among the first military units to provide recovery and relief efforts to citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana. The 39th lead the effort to evacuate an estimated 16,000 people from the New Orleans Convention Center.

[edit] History

[edit] Up to 1990

The history of the unit goes back to 1917 with the creation of the 39th Infantry Division which consisted of troops from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The unit served as a training division for troops that would be reassigned to other units for duty overseas during World War I and was demobilized after the war.

In World War II the unit was never activated and its troops were instead parceled out to other fighting units. Many soldiers from the 39th volunteered to fight with the US 3rd Armored Division. In 1947 the 39th was transferred to Arkansas and the Louisiana troops were assigned their own command. The unit was briefly federalized in 1957 during the Little Rock Integration Crisis.

In 1967 the division was redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) and in 1973 was paired with the US 101st Airborne Division as a training partner and became an air-assault brigade.

[edit] Post Cold War and Iraq

In 1994 the 39th was again reorganized and gained its designation as an "Enhanced" brigade under the Army Integrated Division concept which pairs National Guard and Reserve brigades with active duty headquarters and support units. At this time the 39th became part of the 7th Infantry Division.

In the spring of 1999, B Co, 2nd battalion of the 39th was activated for Operation Southern Watch in Kuwait. The mission lasted a total of seven months, and was the first "pure" national guard effort in the region. C Co of the Brigade's 1st Battalion carried on the 39th's role in Operation Southern Watch when they replaced B Co. in September of 1999. On October 10, 2001, Second Battalion of the brigade was activated in support of the Global War on Terror. Second Battalion was sent to Egypt in order to take over the Multinational Force and Observers mission, freeing up regular army infantry units to deploy to Afghanistan. This was the first "pure" national guard takeover of the MFO mission. Second battalion deactivated on October 11, 2002.

On October 12, 2003, the brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Ronald Chastain (now Major General), was ordered to federal service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II for a period of up to 18 months. Second battalion, now non-deployable under current NGB rules, was merged with the brigade's third battalion. Fillers were attached from Connecticut, New York and Oregon. While in Iraq, the brigade was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, commanded by Major General Peter W. Chiarelli (now a Lieutenant General) as the 39th Brigade Combat Team. The 39th spent 6 months conducting training in the United States before serving one year on the ground in Iraq.

Prior to departing the United States for the mission in Iraq, the 39th trained at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana. While there, on February 17, 2004, President George W. Bush visited the 39th and had an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) lunch in a field mess tent with soldiers. After lunch, President Bush made brief remarks to the soldiers.

Elements of the brigade were headquartered in the Green Zone in Baghdad with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division while others were stationed at Camp Cooke in Taji, Iraq. During this time, the members of the brigade's 239th Engineer Company stationed in Camp Cooke and their families back in Arkansas were the subject of a TV documentary series that aired on the Discovery Times channel called Off To War. The 39th was also covered by embedded reporter Amy Schlesing of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette for the entire time in Iraq.

In April 2004 the 39th came under rocket attack at Camp Cooke in Taji, resulting in 4 killed in action, all members of the 39th Support Battalion, headquartered in Hazen, Arkansas. April 24 was the highest single day casualty total for Arkansas soldiers since the Korean War. The most coordinated enemy attack the Brigade had seen occurred on November 20, 2004 when twenty-six 39th soldiers were ambushed near Ft. Apache in North Baghdad. They fended off over 100 insurgents for several hours without ammo resupply or support. The officer in charge, despite being wounded, endured intense enemy direct fire and personally neutralized an enemy machine gun emplacement without support. The officer received the Silver Star for going above and beyond the call of duty.

In the spring of 2005, units of the 39th BCT started their rotation back to Fort Carson, Colorado, Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma for demobilization.

After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August of 2005, elements of the 39th deployed to New Orleans by C-130s from the Little Rock Air Force Base to support the relief and recovery efforts there. Under tactical control of the Louisiana National Guard, 39th soldiers were given the mission of providing security and food and water to an estimated 20,000 people at the New Orleans Convention Center on September 2nd. By the afternoon of September 3rd, all individuals staying in and around the Convention Center had been evacuated. The mission of the 39th in Louisiana grew to the point that at one time the brigade was responsible for working with local officials in 14 parishes. Elements of the 39th and the Arkansas National Guard stayed deployed in Louisiana until February of 2006.

The brigade, and its subordinate units, have been deployed more the last 5 years than the previous 50 years.

[edit] Honoring the Fallen

On 24 April 2005, thousands gathered at the front steps of the Arkansas State Capitol to honor the 33 men who died while serving with the 39th Infantry Brigade in Iraq.

The 39th Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas Army National Guard was part of the 1st Cavalry Division during the yearlong deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Mobilized for a total of 18 months, the 39th was the largest and longest serving Arkansas Army National Guard unit to be deployed since World War II.

The day’s events started with the “39th Brigade Combat Team Fallen Heroes Memorial Ride” where over two thousand motorcyclists rode from the Clear Channel Metroplex in Little Rock to the front of the State Capitol. Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3) Dennis Bradley of Benton, Arkansas, had the concept for the memorial while the 39th Infantry Brigade was still in Iraq and opened the memorial event. SGT Tammy Holman of Little Rock sang the National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance lead by SPC James Carter. Chaplain (COL) David McLemore of Russellville, who served with the 39th in Iraq, offered the opening prayer.

The honored guests for the memorial program were the family members of those who died. Over 100 relatives of the honored soldiers were present. Brigadier General Ron Chastain, who commanded the 39th while in Iraq, Major General Don C. Morrow, the Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, and Secretary of State Charlie Daniels were the featured speakers for the memorial program. Colonel Mike Ross of North Little Rock served as the master of ceremonies for the memorial event.

Lieutenant Colonel John Edwards of Little Rock, the Staff Judge Advocate of the 39th in Iraq, read a proclamation by Governor Mike Huckabee naming April 24, 2005, “39th Infantry Brigade Fallen Heroes Day.” Edwards also read the 33 names of those who died in Iraq while Command Sergeant Major Larry Isbell, the highest ranking enlisted member of the 39th Infantry Brigade, assisted family members in ringing the bell from the USS Arkansas in a memorial tribute. Jaelun Felder, the eight year old son of the late Captain Arthur “Bo” Felder of Lewisville, Arkansas, read a poem entitled “My Father the Hero.”

Prior to the event, Secretary of State Daniels hosted a reception in the old Supreme Court Chamber in the State Capitol for the family members of the lost soldiers of the 39th.
In May of 2007, the service of several of the Brigade's units was recognized:

  • 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation (MUC) for the period of 17 March 2004 through 23 March 2005.
  • Company C, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry was awarded a Valorous Unit Award (VUA) for the period of 24 March 2004 through 20 January 2005.

[edit] Command

The 39th is currently commanded by Colonel Kendall Penn, Colonel Penn served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II as the commander of 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry. The current Command Sergeant Major is Command Sergeant Major Steven C. Veazey, who also served with Colonel Penn during OIF II as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, 153d Infantry.

[edit] Current Units

153rd Infantry Regiment

153rd Infantry Regiment, Distinctive Unit Insignia
Active
Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 39th BCT "Bladerunners": Little Rock, Arkansas
1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment: Malvern, Arkansas
2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry "Gunslingers": Searcy, Arkansas
1st Battalion, 151st Cavalry Regiment (RSTA): Warren, Arkansas
1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment: Russellville, Arkansas
39th Brigade Support Battalion: Hazen, Arkansas
39th Brigade Special Troops Battalion: Conway, Arkansas
206th Field Artillery Regiment

206th Field Artillery Regiment, Distinctive Unit Insignia
Active
39th Special Troops Battalion

39th Special Troops Battalion, Distinctive Unit Insignia
Active

[edit] 39th Brigade Combat Team deaths during Operation Iraqi Freedom

  • Captain Arthur L. Felder of Lewisville, Age 36. Killed in Action, 4/24/04
  • Staff Sergeant Billy J. Orton of Carlisle, Age 41. Killed in Action, 4/24/04
  • Staff Sergeant Stacey C. Brandon of Hazen, Age 35. Killed in Action, 4/24/04
  • Specialist Kenneth Melton of Batesville, Age 30. Killed in Action, 4/25/04
  • Staff Sergeant Hesley Box of Nashville, Age 24. Killed in Action, 5/6/04
  • Sergeant First Class Troy Leon Miranda of Wickes, Age 44. Killed in Action, 5/20/04
  • Sergeant Russell L. Collier of Harrison, Age 48. Killed in Action, 10/3/04
  • Sergeant Ronald Wayne Baker of Cabot, Age 34. Killed in Action, 10/13/04
  • Sergeant Michael Smith of Camden, Age 24. Killed in Action, 11/26/04
  • Corporal Jimmy Buie of Floral, Age 43. Killed in Action, 1/04/05
  • Specialist Joshua Marcum of Evening Shade , Age 33. Killed in Action, 1/04/05
  • Specialist Jeremy McHalffey of Mabelvale, Age 28. Killed in Action, 1/04/05
  • Specialist Lyle Rymer II of Fort Smith, Age 24. Killed in Action, 1/28/05
  • Staff Sergeant William Robbins of North Little Rock, Age 31. Killed in Line of Duty, 2/10/05

[edit] Insignia

The unit's shoulder sleeve insignia consists of a Bowie knife over a diamond. The Bowie knife symbolizes the state of Arkansas, where the Bowie knife originated, and close hand-to-hand fighting which is the specialty of the light infantry. The diamond is a reference to a unique aspect of the state of Arkansas which has the only diamond field in North America in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The red and blue colors are the colors of the Arkansas flag and represent both their loyalty (blue) and the blood (red) that its soldiers have shed for both the state of Arkansas, and the United States in its operations. The brigade motto is "Courage".

[edit] References