181st Infantry Brigade (United States)
181st Infantry Brigade | |
---|---|
Army Superior Unit Award | |
Battle honours | World War I World War II |
Commanders | |
Current Commander | Colonel Ronald Hughes |
Notable commanders | Major Oscar F. Miller Medal of Honor Colonel Jeffrey J. Kulp Colonel Shawn Klawunder |
Insignia | |
Distinctive unit insignia | |
Designated but not authorized shoulder sleeve insignia |
The 181st Infantry Brigade is an
The unit is responsible for training selected United States Army Reserve and Army National Guard units in the Central-Northern United States. The unit was formerly designated as 2nd Brigade, 63rd Infantry Division. The brigade was redesignated and re-missioned several times: such as in 1999, when the 181st was merged with the 2nd Brigade, 85th Division[3] and carried that name and lineage from October 1993 until December 2006. The 181st Infantry Brigade currently falls under the 1st Army's Division West, headquartered at Fort Cavazos, Texas.
Organization
World War I
During World War I, infantry brigades were purely tactical formations. Administrative and logistical functions were conducted by the division headquarters.[4] The brigade headquarters was composed of the commander (a brigadier general), his three aides, a brigade adjutant, and eighteen enlisted men who furnished mess, transportation, and communications services.[5][6]
World War II
With the demise of the
1963–1965
On 1 April 1963, the brigade was reactivated as a subordinate to the
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry
- 4th Battalion, 27th Infantry
2006–2016
The 181st Infantry Brigade was reactivated at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin in December 2006. The Brigade was constituted from the 12th Readiness Brigade and the 2nd Brigade, 85th Training Division.[10]
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- 3rd Battalion, 335th Regiment (Training Support Battalion)
- 1st Battalion, 338th Regiment (Training Support Battalion)
- 1st Battalion, 340th Regiment (Training Support Battalion)
- 3rd Battalion, 340th Regiment (Training Support Battalion)
- 2nd Battalion, 411th Regiment (Logistics Support Battalion)
2016–present
- 1st Battalion, 291st Regiment (Brigade Support Battalion), Fort McCoy
- 1st Battalion, 310th Regiment (Brigade Engineer Battalion), Fort McCoy
- 1st Battalion, 337th Regiment (Brigade Support Battalion), Fort McCoy
- 1st Battalion, 338th Regiment (Training Support Battalion), Fort McCoy
- Fort Snelling, Minnesota
- 3rd Battalion, 340th Regiment (Brigade Engineer Battalion), Fort McCoy
- 1st Battalion, 351st Regiment (Brigade Support Battalion), Fort McCoy
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Des Moines, Iowa
- 2nd Battalion, 411th Regiment (Logistics Support Battalion), Fort McCoy
History
World War I
- Equipment:
Inter War Period
World War II
The 91st Reconnaissance Troop participated in the Rome-Arno (22 Jan 44 – 9 Sep 44), North Apennines (10 Sep 44 – 4 April 45), and Po Valley (5 Apr 45 – 8 May 45) campaigns. In July 1944, during the Arno Campaign of the Second World War, the 91st Reconnaissance Troop spearheaded Task Force Williamson under the command of Brigadier General E.S. Williamson, Assistant Division Commander for the 91st Division. The 2nd Platoon of the 91st Reconnaissance Troop and the 1st Battalion, 363rd Infantry were the first to enter Leghorn (Livorno) on its way to liberating Pisa.
- The Troop was composed of:
- Officers: 6
- Enlisted Soldiers: 149
- Equipment:
- M8 Greyhound: 13
- M3 Half-track: 5
- 1/4 Ton Jeep: 24
- M3 submachine gun: 30
- M1 carbine: 99
- M1 Garand: 26
- M2 Browning: 3
- M1919 Browning machine gun: 13
- M9 Rocket Launcher: 5
- M2 mortar: 9
Post-War
Operations as a Training Brigade
-
Fort McCoy historic gate
-
1-338th training deploying soldiers from the 101st Engineer Battalion September 2009
-
3-340th training the 824th Quartermaster Company (Heavy Airdrop Supply) during CSTX August 2015
-
1-337th BSB Observer/Controller-Trainer conducts an After-action review at Camp Ripley during CSTX 86-17-03
Operation Allies Welcome
The 181st Infantry Brigade was ordered to support Operation Allies Refuge in August 2021. From August 2021 until February 2022, the Soldiers of the Brigade assisted in feeding, housing, clothing, and providing assistance to the more than 12,600 Afghans resettling in the United States.[26]
Campaign participation credit
Conflict | Streamer | Year(s) |
---|---|---|
World War I |
Ypres-Lys | 1918 |
Argonne
|
1918 | |
Lorraine
|
1918 | |
World War II |
Rome-Arno | 1944 |
North Apennines
|
1944 | |
Po Valley | 1945 |
Decorations
Ribbon | Award | Year | Orders |
---|---|---|---|
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
|
Afghanistan Retrograde 2021-2022 | ||
Army Superior Unit Award
|
2008–2011 |
Shoulder sleeve insignia
- Description: On a background equally divided horizontally white and red, 3+1⁄4 inches high and 2+1⁄2 inches wide at base and 2+1⁄8 inches wide at top, a black block letter "A", 2+3⁄4 inches high, 2 inches wide at base and 1+5⁄8 inches wide at top, all members 7/16 inch wide, all enclosed within a 1/8 inch Army Green border.
- Symbolism:
- The red and white of the background are the colors used in flags for Armies.
- The letter "A" represents "Army" and is also the first letter of the alphabet suggesting "First Army."
- Background:
- A black letter "A" was approved as the authorized insignia by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Force, on 16 November 1918 and approved by the War Department on 5 May 1922.
- The background was added on 17 November 1950.
Distinctive unit insignia
* Description/Blazon: A Silver color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall blazoned as follows: Per bend Argent and Azure, in chief a clevis (key) bendwise Or, wards upward and inward and on a base of the first, a rifle, muzzle upward and a saber, grip to base in saltire of the third. Attached below the device a red scroll inscribed "DOCERE BELLUM ET PAX PACIS" in Silver.
- Symbolism: The diagonal separation of colors denotes a line not crossed. The clevis (key) symbolizes the unit's long history and knowledge as being a key to winning the battle. The crossed rifle and saber allude to the Brigade's mission during World War II as the 91st Reconnaissance Cavalry Company. The motto translates to "To Win War and Peace."
- Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 14 August 2007.
References
- ^ The Institute of Heraldry: 181st Infantry Brigade Archived 20 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
- ^ a b c Army, Division West Organization[permanent dead link], United States Army. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ Lineage and Honors 2d Brigade, 85th Division
- ^ https://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/Brigade-AHistory.pdf Archived 12 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine The Brigade A History p33
- ^ https://history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-14-1/cmhPub_60-14-1.pdf Maneuver and Firepower p55
- ^ World War I organization of the 91st Division
- ^ File:600 days' service; a history of the 361st infantry regiment of the United States Army (IA 600daysservicehi00burt).pdf
- OCLC 5426921. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ https://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/Brigade-AHistory.pdf Archived 12 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine The Brigade A History p47
- ^ a b https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/181infbde.htm Lineage and Honors Certificate
- ^ "1st Army Division West page for the 181st infantry brigade as of 10 JUL 15". Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ^ 181st Infantry Brigade Homepage[permanent dead link], 181st Infantry Brigade Staff 7 January 2008.
- ^ Maneuver and Firepower p55
- ^ Bill, Thayer (2016). "John B. McDonald". penelope.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/181infbde.htm Lineage & Honors Certificate
- ^ The US Army Order of Battle from 1919–1941 p340
- ^ World War II Order of Battle, Shelby Stanton, Galahad Books 1984
- ^ https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/SR-1984-Regiments-of-the-US-Army.pdf Regiments of the US Army p10
- ^ https://history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-14-1/index.html Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades p309
- ^ https://history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-14-1/index.html Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades p329
- ^ https://www.army.mil/standto/2018-03-19 Combat Support Training Exercise
- ^ http://www.usar.army.mil/News/Tag/95141/combat-support-training-exercise/ Army Reserve News Articles for Combat Support Training Exercises
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK5Jgk80894 Fort McCoy: Combat Support Training Exercise
- ^ http://www.usar.army.mil/Featured/Training-Exercises/Cold-Steel/ Operation Cold Steel home page
- ^ http://www.usar.army.mil/News/Display/Article/1443400/staged-equipment-for-operation-cold-steel-ii-at-fort-mccoy/ Staged equipment for Operation Cold Steel II at Fort McCoy
- ^ https://www.army.mil/article/254323/operation_allies_welcome_concludes_at_fort_mccoy_last_afghans_depart_post#:~:text=As%20of%208%20a.m.%20Feb.%2015%2C%20the%20last,who%20assisted%20the%20United%20States%E2%80%99%20interests%20in%20Afghanistan./ Operation Allies Welcome concludes at Fort McCoy
- ^ U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH). "Listing of the Campaigns of the U.S. Army Displayed on the Army Flag | U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH)". history.army.mil. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "War Department General Order #24 Listing Campaigns". Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ Permanent Order 332-07
- ^ "First Army insignia page at the Institute of Heraldry". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ "Brigade DUI". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- The Brigade, A History by John J. McGrath from the Combat Studies Institute Press, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.