53rd Troop Command (United States)

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53rd Troop Command

53rd Troop Command Shoulder Sleeve insignia
Active
Country United States
Allegiance United States Army
Branch United States Army National Guard
Type Headquarters
Part of New York National Guard
Garrison/HQ New York

The 53rd Troop Command is an administrative headquarters of the New York Army National Guard that provides direction for units not under another brigade or other formation headquarters (HQ). It also provides administrative support to units from other formations in the New York area that are stationed a long way from their higher HQ.

Contents

[edit] Current mission

Command, control, and supervise Army National Guard units attached to the Troop Command so as to provide manned, trained and equipped units capable of immediate expansion to war strength and available for service in time of war or national emergency or when appropriate to augment the active army. [1]

[edit] Original organization

The 53rd Troop Command is a New York Army National Guard Headquarters Command established after the American Civil War. The 53rd Brigade was organized as the Headquarters Brigade of the U.S. 27th Division. The Brigade was established as a headquarters unit to link the various units of the New York Militia into an organized military force. The Brigade consisted of the following units

[edit] First World War

For operations during World War I, the 53rd was organized on 12 July 1917 and on 16 July mustered into Federal service. It arrived in Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, South Carolina in early fall and redesignated the 53rd Brigade of the U.S. 27th Division. It was now composed of the 105th U.S. Infantry Regiment, the 106th U.S. Infantry Regiment and the U.S. 105th Machine Gun Battalion. During May 1918, the 53rd Brigade sailed to France and assembled with the Division in the Rue area. The 53rd was involved in the following major operations.

These operations covered secondary battles, engagements and minor operations of the East Poperinghe Line, Vierstraat Ridge, the Hindenburg Line, LeSelle River Jonc DeMer Ridge and the St. Maurice River.

[edit] Demobilization and inter-war years

The 53rd Brigade returned to the US early in 1919 and was demobilized at Camp Upton Long Island on 30 March 1919. It evidently resumed the past designation of the 3rd Brigade.

In 1921, the 3rd Brigade, consisting of the 2nd regiment, 10th regiment and the 23rd regiments was redesignated as the 53rd Brigade. The Headquarters Company of the 53rd was organized on 13 July 1921 and was again assigned to the U.S. 27th Division and again assumed its old composition of the 105th Infantry Regiment, 106th Regiment and part takes from the 10th infantry.

[edit] World War Two service

In September 1940, the 106th Infantry was taken out of the Brigade (and redesignated a Coastal Artillery regiment), and replaced by all of the 10th Infantry. In December 1940 the 10th was redesignated the 106th Infantry Regiment.

On 15 October 1940 the 27th Division was activated for World War II. During December 1941 the Division deployed to from its training areas at Fort McClellan, Alabama, to California. From 27 February to 15 March the Division shipped to Hilo, Hawaii. The 27th Division was the first National Guard unit to go overseas, and this began the longest wartime overseas service of any National Guard Division in the US Army. The Division garrisoned the Hawaiian Islands and the 53rd Brigade was responsible for the "big" island of Hawaii. On 31 August 1942 the Division was "Triangulized" into three main Regimental Combat Teams. The Headquarters 53rd Brigade was redesignated the 27th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop.

The history of the 27th Division in the Pacific includes; 16 June 1944 to 9 July 1944 Saipan, 9 April 1945 to September 1945 Okinawa, September 1945 to 12 December 1945 occupation of Japan in the Sasebo area of Honshū and towards the end of September in Northern Japan. Specific parts of RCTs of the 27th participated in other campaigns but they did not include the 27th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop. The Division left Yokohama on 12 December 1945 and arrived in Seattle, Washington 26 December 1945. The Division was deactivated 31 December 1945 at Ft Lawton, Washington.

[edit] Creation of State Area Command (STARC) and current status

Creation of State Area Command (STARC), HeadquartersTroop Command (HTC) at Washington Avenue Armory, Albany, which replaced the CAC.

With completion of the new Headquarters and Armory in Latham the HTC was relocated to Latham in November 1986. With closure of Washington Avenue Armory in early 1991 and other force structure the HTC was relocated to Glenmore Road Armory in Troy, to replace units (205th Spt Grp & 27th RAOC) relocated to NYC. With designation of the 42nd Infantry Division to be Armor, and the Headquarters of a consolidated North East Division, the HTC and the 42nd in the 14th Street Armory in New York City exchanged locations. With the closure of the 14th Street Armory the HTC was subsequently relocated to Camp Smith, Peekskill. In 1998 space became available at the Valhalla Armory and the Headquarters was again relocated to this facility.

The National Guard Bureau advised on 26 March 1994 that Troop Commands have been authorized to be redesignated with a numerical designation. Effective 1 July 1994 the STARC-HTC was redesignated with its old 53rd designation as the 53rd Troop Command. [2]

[edit] Current Organization

HHD 53rd TROOP COMMANDValhalla

104th MILITARY POLICE BATTALION

153rd TROOP COMMAND (BDE)Buffalo Connecticut

204th ENGINEER BATTALION

501st EOD BATTALION

369th SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE

56th PERSONNEL SERVICES BN (PSB)

27th FINANCE BATTALION

29th PERSONNEL SERVICES DETACHMENT

101st SIGNAL BATTALION

[edit] Sources

[3] [4] [5]