96th Sustainment Brigade (United States)

96th Infantry Division

Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active 1918-19
1921-46
1946-present
Country  United States
Allegiance  United States Army
Branch U.S. Army (Reserve)
Type Sustainment brigade
Nickname(s) "Deadeye Division"
Engagements World War II
*Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Leyte
NATO intervention in Bosnia
*SFOR
*KFOR
GWOT
*Operation Enduring Freedom
*Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Commander COL Robert Moriarty
Notable
commanders		 James L. Bradley
Claudius M. Easley
Ray D. Free
Paul V. Kane

The 96th Sustainment Brigade, is a unit of the United States Army that inherited the lineage of the 96th Infantry Division that served in World War II. Effective 17 September 2008, the unit became the 96th Sustainment Brigade, with its headquarters located at Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah.

World War I

The division was first organized on 20 October 1918, during the U.S. mobilization for World War I.[1] Based at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina, the 96th was commanded by Guy Carleton; it was one of the last divisions activated, and the war ended before it could be sent overseas, so it was demobilized on 7 January 1919.

Interwar period

The 96th Division was reconstituted in the United States Army Reserve, then called the Organized Reserves, on 24 June 1921. The 96th was located in Portland, Oregon.

World War II

The 96th Division was put back into the active US Army on 15 August 1942, just eight months after the Attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II.

Medal of Honor recipients

Composition

World War II combat chronicle

On the Ginowan road, men and armor of the 382d Infantry, 96th Division, move through a wooded area, alert for concealed enemy positions.
On top of Yaeju-Dake 18 June, 96th Division infantrymen probe hidden enemy pockets. Yellow cloth (right) marks the front lines for American bombers and fighters.

As part of the reorganization of the U.S. Army divisions from "square" to "triangular," the two infantry brigade headquarters were converted to provide personnel for other units and the 380th Infantry Regiment was disbanded. The 192nd Infantry Brigade headquarters company was converted into the division's 96th Reconnaissance Troop, while the 191st Infantry Brigade headquarters formed the core of the division's headquarters company. After initial training at Camp White in southern Oregon, the 96th Infantry Division participation in the Oregon Maneuver combat exercise in the fall of 1943.[2][3]

Postwar

The division commenced its Army Reserve role in December 1946, commanded by Colonel Ross J. Wilson of Kalispell, Montana.[4] The division headquarters was Fort Missoula, Montana. Major units were located at Great Falls, Montana, Phoenix, Arizona, and Salt Lake City. The division appears to have kept the 381st, 382nd, and 383rd Infantry Regiments. In August 1948, Colonel LeRoy H. Anderson of Conrad, Montana was appointed as the Commander. The headquarters moved to Helena, Montana, and then transferred to Fort Douglas, Utah in 1962. Major General Michael B. Kauffman was named commander, followed by Brigadier General Ray D. Free. The division was inactivated in December 1965.

On 22 December 1967, the Department of the Army announced that Salt Lake City, Utah had been chosen as the site for one of the eighteen new nationwide Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) headquarters. The ARCOM would command all Army Reserve units in Utah, Idaho and Montana. In March 1968, the numericals "96" were assigned to the command. Also in March the 259th Quartermaster Battalion, an ARCOM unit in Pleasant Grove, Utah was ordered to active duty. In September, the 259th transferred overseas for duty in Vietnam and served with distinction, being awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. It was released from active duty on 18 September 1969. Sterling R. Ryser succeeded Major General Free as ARCOM commander in early 1969. In 1971 with the consolidation of Fourth and Fifth Army areas, the 96th ARCOM's span of command was increased to include North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. In 1973 the command was again reorganized, gaining the state of New Mexico and losing North and South Dakota.

Since 1974, 96th ARCOM units have trained with their regular Army counterparts throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Franklin McKean was appointed Commanding General in 1975, followed by Larry Morris in 1979. In 1984, the ARCOM was again reorganized, losing New Mexico and regaining North and South Dakota. Richard O. Christiansen was appointed as Commanding General. In 1985, the 96th ARCOM was geographically the largest Army Reserve Command in the United States. The ARCOM consists of 94 units and 9,320 reservists, augmented by 243 full-time soldiers and 288 civilian employees. On 9 April 1989 Donald M. Bagley was appointed Commanding General.

In 1991, 3rd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, located in Colorado, was mobilized for security duties in Germany during the Gulf War.[5] In 1993 MG Richard F. Reeder assumed command of the 96th ARCOM. In 1996, as part of the US Army Reserve Command restructuring, the 96th ARCOM became the 96th Regional Support Command. After the end of the Cold War, the command was finally redesignated the 96th Regional Readiness Command.[1] Subordinate units of the 96th RRC have been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Djibouti in support of the Global War on Terror from 2001. Units have also been deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of peacekeeping operations in the Balkans.

The 96th Sustainment Brigade deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. The brigade returned to the United States in May, 2010.

In 2015, members of the headquarters element mobilized in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, providing support to Special Operations Command Central, and returned to the U.S. in April, 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 Global Security.org, U.S. Army 96th Regional Readiness Command
  2. ↑ Kramer, George, "Camp White", The Oregon Encyclopedia, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 23 October 2010.
  3. ↑ Brogan, Phil F., East of the Cascades (Third Edition), Binford & Mort, Portland, Oregon, 1965, pp. 272–275.
  4. ↑ History of the 96th Infantry Division and 96th Army Reserve Command
  5. ↑ Thomas D. Dinackus, 2000, 10-2.

Further reading

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