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2nd Brigade (US 1st Infantry Division)
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, also known as the Dagger Brigade, is a maneuver brigade combat team
in the U.S. 1st Infantry Division
. The brigade is stationed in Fort Riley
, Kansas.
(DUI). It is described as "a silver device 1 1/4 inches in height overall consisting of a blue arrowhead on which is superimposed a silver lion."
The 2nd Brigade deployed to France in December 1917 with the rest of the 1st Infantry Division as part of the American Expeditionary Force
(AEF), as the American military was known in World War I
. The brigade participated in many campaigns, including the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
and the Battle of Saint-Mihiel
.
The brigade redeployed at the end of World War I in August, 1918.
----
In 1942 units that had previously been under 2nd Brigade participated in Operation Torch
, the landings on North Africa. The 1st Infantry Division at that time was composed of only three infantry
regiments, the 16th Infantry
, 18th Infantry, and 26th Infantry, all of which distinguished themselves in the push across North Africa from the Kasserine Pass
to Rommel
's eventual defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein
. These units were then moved to Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire, England in anticipation of a cross-channel invasion late in 1942, but the next amphibious operation the unit would undertake next was to be in Sicily
, not France.
The brigade participated in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, by storming ashore at Gela
, 10 July 1943, and quickly overpowering the Italian defenses. Soon after, the German Herman Goering Tank Division counter-attacked with 100 tanks. With the help of naval gunfire, divisional artillery and Canadian allies, the counter-attack was repulsed. Brigade units then advanced and captured Nicosia
on 28 July. During the Battle of Troina
, from 31 July 1943 to 6 August 1943, brigade units, including the 26th Infantry Regiment were instrumental in capturing and then defending Troina from German counterattack. Even though the 26th was decimated due to intense counterattacks—one company reported only 17 men fit for duty by 5 August—the brigade held Troina. The brigade unit's refusal to give up Troina forced the German 15th Panzer Grenadier Division to retreat toward Randazzo
, opening the Allied road to the Straits of Messina.
After Operation Husky, the brigade units returned to England, this time in Dorset
to prepare for D-Day
at Normandy
. Brigade units, led by the 16th Infantry Regiment and closely followed by the 18th, led the way across Omaha Beach
at Normandy
. It was on Omaha Beach that Col. George Taylor, commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment, famously told his men, "Two kinds of people are staying on this beach! The dead and those who are going to die! Now, let's get the hell out of here!"
The units participated in the Battle of Normandy
throughout the summer of 1944 and subsequent operations across France, reaching the German border at Aachen
in September. Along with the rest of the 1st Infantry Division, brigade units laid siege to Aachen, taking the city after a direct assault on 21 October 1944. They then attacked east of Aachen in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest
, driving to the Roer River. Brigade units moved to a rest area on 7 December for its first real rest in 6 months of combat, and were resting when the von Rundstedt offensive (aka Battle of the Bulge
) suddenly broke loose 16 December 1944. Dagger Brigade units raced to the Ardennes
, and fighting continuously from 17 December 1944 to 14 January 1945, helped blunt and turn back the German offensive. While the brigade itself was disbanded on 15 January 1945, brigade units kept fighting as part of the 1st Infantry Division until the end of the war in May 1945.
as it was still inactivated. On 15 February 1958 the 2nd Brigade was re-activated at Fort Devens
as the 2nd Infantry Brigade with its own shoulder sleeve insignia. It spent the next five years training in northern Massachusetts
and Cape Cod
. It was inactivated on 19 February 1963 at Fort Devens, only to be reactivated on 23 October 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and moved (with the rest of the Division) to Fort Riley
, Kansas
in January, 1964.
and Vung Tau
, making it the first element of an Infantry Division to arrive in Vietnam
. On 30 July 1969, the unit was visited by President
Richard Nixon
on his visit to South Vietnam. He met with the troops in Di An
. The brigade returned to Fort Riley
, Kansas
in April 1970.
, Kansas
to Saudi Arabia
in December, 1990 as part of the United States' offensive buildup. The brigade was commanded by Colonel
Anthony Moreno. The brigade was composed of 2–16 Infantry Battalion
, 3–37 Armor Battalion, and 4–37 Armor Battalion, plus supporting units. The brigade redeployed to Fort Riley in May, 1991.
, Germany.
Also in February 1996 the Dagger Brigade deployed units to Bosnia and Herzegovina
to participate in Operation Joint Endeavor with the US 1st Armored Division.
On 7 October 1996, the Brigade Combat Team
deployed to Bosnia
to cover the US 1st Armored Division's redeployment to Germany. The brigade participated in Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard, and served as a stabilization force. The brigade redeployed to Schweinfurt in May 1997, except for the 1–77 Armor Battalion
task force, which stayed in Bosnia until November 1997.
The Dagger Brigade served in Kosovo
in 1999–2000 and again in 2002–2003.
The Dagger Brigade deployed to the Balkans twice in 1999, first as part of Task Force Sabre in Macedonia
, then in Kosovo as part of Task Force Falcon
. Task Force Falcon served as the U.S. component of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) with the mission of conducting peackeeping operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia'a Serbian Kosovo province.
TF Falcon was under the command of the 1st Infantry Division and included elements from the 1st Armored Division. The Dagger Brigade enetered the war-torn province of Kosovo on 12 June 1999. TF Falcon headquartered at Camp Bondsteel, and grew into a Multi-National Brigade, including units from Greece, Russia, Poland, Ukraine
, Lithuania, and the UK.
Initial efforts focused on monitoring and verifying the withdrawal of former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro) forces and later the demilitarization and transformation of the Kosovo Liberation Army
.
The Dagger Brigade rotated to Kosovo again in 2002, this time focused on maintaining the secure environment established by coalition forces.
In January 2003, elements of the Dagger Brigade deployed to Turkey
to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Initial efforts were to prepare the way for the U.S. 4th Infantry Division
to invade Iraq
from the north. When the Turkish government denied access through their border, the 2nd brigade returned to Germany.
In February 2004, the Dagger Brigade deployed to northern Iraq to serve as part of the occupation force. The Brigade Combat Team
included of 9th Engineer Battalion, 1–18 Infantry Battalion, 1–26 Infantry Battalion, 1–77 Armor Battalion
, 2–108 Infantry Battalion
, 1–7 Field Artillery Battalion
, 299th Forward Support Battalion
, 2nd Brigade Recon Team, and supporting elements.
, in the Rashid District of Baghdad, Iraq. The BCT Headquarters along with the 9th Engineers (GILAS), 1–7 FA(FIRST LIGHTNING), the 299th Forward Support Battalion (LIFELINE) and the BCT's four separate companies, were deployed to Camp Liberty, Baghdad.
The DAGGER BCT assumed responsibility for Coalition Force activities in Northwest Baghdad in late October, 2006 following Operation Together Forward II. The BCT assumed Command of 3 Task Forces already in Sector; TF 1–22 (REGULARS) in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad, TF 8–10 CAV in the Ameriyah district and TF 1-23IN (TOMAHAWK), a STRYKER Infantry Task Force which operated mainly in the Ghazaliyah and Shulla districts of Baghdad.
Throughout the BCT's tour of duty, they effectively integrated and employed a total of nine attached Task Forces including TF 1-22IN, TF 8-10CAV, TF 1-23IN, TF 2-8CAV, TF 2–12 CAV, TF 1-325AIR, TF 1-5CAV, TF 2-32FA and TF 1–64 AR.
TF 1-22IN (1st BCT, 4th ID) transitioned the Abu Ghraib district to TF 2-8CAV (1st BCT, 1st CAV). TF 8–10 CAV (4th BCT, 4th ID) transitioned Ameriyah and Khadra to TF 1–5 CAV (2nd BCT, 1st CAV). TF 1-23IN (3/2 STRYKER) transitioned Ghazaliyah to TF 2-12CAV (4th BCT, 1st CAV) and the Tomahawks assumed responsibilities in Hurriyah and Khadamiyah. TF 1-325AIR (2nd BCT, 82nd) arrived as part of the surge and assumed responsibilities for Khadamiyah, Hurriyah and some of the most dangerous Shia zones in Baghdad. TF 1-64AR (3ID) relieved TF 1-5CAV for Khadra and Mansour, enabling TF 1-5CAV to fully focus efforts against Sunni extremists in Ameriyah. TF 2-32FA (4th BCT, 1st ID) assumed responsibilities for Yarmouk and Hateen, completing the DAGGER BCT stance for OIF 06-08.
For the bulk of its deployment, DAGGER BCT would employ 5 maneuver Task Forces, from 5 different BCTs from 5 different installations in the Continental United States.
Throughout the tour, 1-7FA would be attached to the Victory Base Defense Force, but provided reliable Fire Support to the DAGGER BCT's efforts across Northwest Baghdad. The 9th Engineers established a route clearing capability dubbed "DAGGER IRON CLAW" which served to clear more than 50% of the routes in support of BCT, Division and Corps level efforts in Baghdad. The 299th Forward Support Battalion established an extremely active and vital Logistics Support Area in support of MND-Baghdad, and tirelessly sustained the BCT and all attached and detached formations while concurrently operating the Division Detainee Holding Area Annex.
DAGGER BCT ultimately established 14 Joint Security Stations, multiple Safe Neighborhoods and formally partered with the Iraqi Security Forces in the Khadamiyah and Mansour Security Districts. Under Dagger BCT OPERATION MARBLE ARCH, sectarian violence was significantly reduced as the BCT fought to stop the expansion of Shia and Sunni criminals and extremists from the North East and West/South West respectively.
The BCT and ISF leadership joined forces with the ARROWHEAD Stryker BCT for OPERATION ARROWHEAD STRIKE 9, which enabled a true combined forces approach to eliminating Sunni extremist from critical areas across the Mansour and Khadamiyah security districts. These combined efforts fully integrated Coalition, ISF and Iraqi Municipal Service efforts and enabled the rapid expansion of safe neighborhoods and increased Iraqi civilian participation in the security and services efforts.
Under DAGGER BCT OPERATION SEVENTH VEIL, corrupt ISF and Governmental Official's influence was significantly reduced with several key, senior-level officials being arrested and imprisoned and many others being put on notice. SEVENTH VEIL was conducted in full partnership with the leadership of the Kharkh Area Command. OPERATION SWITCHBLADE enabled the effective integration of volunteer security forces into the Combined Security Plan of the DAGGER BCT and partnered units of the Iraqi Kharkh Area Command, to include the combined units of the Khadamiyah and Mansour Security Districts. OPERATION OUR TOWN effectively linked the security apparatus with the essential services apparatus and served as a nexus for positive, real economic and essential service growth across North West Baghdad.
The BCT effectively transitioned Coalition Force responsibilities to the 2nd BCT of the 101st in November 2007 and the Brigade re-deployed to Schweinfurt, Germany.
Plan announced 19 Dec 2007, the 172nd is one of two Infantry Brigades that will be activated and retained in Germany until 2012 and 2013. The other Brigade is the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Baumholder, Germany, which was reflagged to 170th Infantry Brigade on 15 July 2009. On 28 March 2008, the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (HBCT) inactivated at Fort Riley. The Soldiers and equipment currently assigned were reflagged as 2d (Dagger) Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (HBCT), aligning all units on Fort Riley under the 1st Infantry Division.
to deploy in the fall of 2008.
In October 2008 the Dagger Brigade deployed to North West Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, they returned to Fort Riley September 2009 and then received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for their efforts in the support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
See details of their achievements at http://www.1id.army.mil/UnitPage.aspx?unit=2bct
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
in the U.S. 1st Infantry Division
U.S. 1st Infantry Division
The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army is the oldest division in the United States Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917...
. The brigade is stationed in Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, Kansas.
Distinctive Unit
On 11 December 1980 the 2nd Brigade was authorized their own Distinctive Unit InsigniaDistinctive unit insignia
A Distinctive Unit Insignia is a metal heraldic device worn by soldiers in the United States Army. The DUI design is derived from the coat of arms authorized for a unit...
(DUI). It is described as "a silver device 1 1/4 inches in height overall consisting of a blue arrowhead on which is superimposed a silver lion."
Units
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team as of 2008 is composed of the following:- 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
- 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
- 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment
- 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment7th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)The 7th Field Artillery Regiment is a United States Army field artillery regiment, whose lineage traces back to the early 20th century.-World War I:...
- 299th Brigade Support Battalion, 299th Brigade Support Battalion299th Brigade Support Battalion (United States)The 299th Brigade Support Battalion, also known as the Lifeline, is a support battalion in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division...
- Brigade Support Troops Battalion
Origin
The 2nd Dagger Brigade was first constituted on 24 May 1917 as Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 1st Expeditionary Division, which was later designated as the 1st Division.World War I
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
(AEF), as the American military was known in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The brigade participated in many campaigns, including the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
and the Battle of Saint-Mihiel
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12–15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and 48,000 French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions...
.
The brigade redeployed at the end of World War I in August, 1918.
Commanders 2nd Infantry Brigade
- 1917
- 7 June COL Robert L. Bullard
- 28 June BG Robert L. Bullard
- 22 July Col. Charles A. DoyenCharles A. DoyenCharles Augustus Doyen was an officer in the United States Marine Corps.-Biography:Born in Concord, New Hampshire, BGen. Doyen was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1881, later commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps...
, USMC (ad interim) - 9 August BG Robert L. Bullard
- 14 August Col. Charles A. DoyenCharles A. DoyenCharles Augustus Doyen was an officer in the United States Marine Corps.-Biography:Born in Concord, New Hampshire, BGen. Doyen was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1881, later commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps...
, USMC (ad interim) - 19 August BG Robert L. Bullard
- 26 August Col. Charles A. DoyenCharles A. DoyenCharles Augustus Doyen was an officer in the United States Marine Corps.-Biography:Born in Concord, New Hampshire, BGen. Doyen was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1881, later commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps...
, USMC (ad interim) - 29 August BG Robert L. Bullard
- 4 September BG Beaumont B. Buck
- 1 November COL Ferdinand W. Kobbe (ad interim)
- 10 November BG Beaumont B. Buck
- 1918
- 27 August BG Frank E. Bamford
- 12 October COL George C. Barnhardt (ad interim)
- 17 October BG George C. Barnhardt
- 26 October BG Francis C. Marshall
- 1919
- 2 February COL Fredrik L. Knudson (ad interim)
- 17 February BG Francis C. Marshall
- 29 May COL Robert A. BrownRobert A. BrownRobert A. Brown is the 10th president of Boston University. He was formerly the provost of MIT.-External links:*...
(ad interim) - 6 June BG Frank E. Bamford
- 11 July COL Robert A. BrownRobert A. BrownRobert A. Brown is the 10th president of Boston University. He was formerly the provost of MIT.-External links:*...
(ad interim) - 16 July BG Frank E. Bamford
- 24 July COL Robert A. BrownRobert A. BrownRobert A. Brown is the 10th president of Boston University. He was formerly the provost of MIT.-External links:*...
(ad interim) - 2 August COL Adolphe H. Huguet (ad interim)
- 9 August to 4 September COL Robert A. BrownRobert A. BrownRobert A. Brown is the 10th president of Boston University. He was formerly the provost of MIT.-External links:*...
World War II
- At the start of World War II, 2nd Brigade was stationed at Fort OntarioFort OntarioFort Ontario is a historic fort situated by the City of Oswego, in Oswego County, New York in the United States of America. It is owned by the state of New York and operated as a museum known as Fort Ontario State Historic Site....
at Oswego, New YorkOswego, New YorkOswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
. It was relieved from assignment to the 1st Infantry Division on 16 October 1939, and moved to Pierrepont, New YorkPierrepont, New YorkPierrepont is a town and hamlet in St. Lawrence County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,674. It was named after Hezekiah Pierrepont, the early owner of much of the town's territory. The Town of Pierrepont is centrally located in the county and is...
as a Separate Infantry Brigade on 29 March 1940. - 2nd Infantry Brigade remained at Pierrepont, New York until 1 June 1940, when they returned to Fort Ontario. 2nd Infantry Brigade was Inactivated on the same day.
In 1942 units that had previously been under 2nd Brigade participated in Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
, the landings on North Africa. The 1st Infantry Division at that time was composed of only three infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiments, the 16th Infantry
16th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 16th Infantry Regiment is a regiment in the United States Army.-Formation:The 34th Infantry Regiment and 11th Infantry Regiment consolidated into the 16th Infantry Regiment on 3 March 1869. The 11th Infantry's history prior to the consolidation is normally included with the 16th's.-U.S...
, 18th Infantry, and 26th Infantry, all of which distinguished themselves in the push across North Africa from the Kasserine Pass
Battle of the Kasserine Pass
The Battle of the Kasserine Pass was a battle that took place during the Tunisia Campaign of World War II in February 1943. It was a series of battles fought around Kasserine Pass, a wide gap in the Grand Dorsal chain of the Atlas Mountains in west central Tunisia...
to Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
's eventual defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
. These units were then moved to Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire, England in anticipation of a cross-channel invasion late in 1942, but the next amphibious operation the unit would undertake next was to be in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, not France.
Gela
Gela is a town and comune in the province of Caltanissetta in the south of Sicily, Italy. The city is at about 84 kilometers distance from the city of Caltanissetta, on the Mediterranean Sea. The city has a larger population than the provincial capital, and ranks second in land area.Gela is an...
, 10 July 1943, and quickly overpowering the Italian defenses. Soon after, the German Herman Goering Tank Division counter-attacked with 100 tanks. With the help of naval gunfire, divisional artillery and Canadian allies, the counter-attack was repulsed. Brigade units then advanced and captured Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
on 28 July. During the Battle of Troina
Battle of Troina
The Battle of Troina took place between 31 July and 6 August 1943, a part of the Allied invasion of Sicily during World War II. Forces of the US II Corps, part of the US Seventh Army, engaged in fierce fighting around the town of Troina in the central portion of Sicily along the Caronie Mountains...
, from 31 July 1943 to 6 August 1943, brigade units, including the 26th Infantry Regiment were instrumental in capturing and then defending Troina from German counterattack. Even though the 26th was decimated due to intense counterattacks—one company reported only 17 men fit for duty by 5 August—the brigade held Troina. The brigade unit's refusal to give up Troina forced the German 15th Panzer Grenadier Division to retreat toward Randazzo
Randazzo
Randazzo is a town and comune of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania. It is situated at the northern foot of Mount Etna, 70 km NW of Catania by rail. It is the nearest town to the summit of Etna, and is one of the points from which the ascent may be made.-History:In the 13th century the...
, opening the Allied road to the Straits of Messina.
After Operation Husky, the brigade units returned to England, this time in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
to prepare for D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
at Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Brigade units, led by the 16th Infantry Regiment and closely followed by the 18th, led the way across Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
at Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. It was on Omaha Beach that Col. George Taylor, commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment, famously told his men, "Two kinds of people are staying on this beach! The dead and those who are going to die! Now, let's get the hell out of here!"
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
throughout the summer of 1944 and subsequent operations across France, reaching the German border at Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
in September. Along with the rest of the 1st Infantry Division, brigade units laid siege to Aachen, taking the city after a direct assault on 21 October 1944. They then attacked east of Aachen in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest
Battle of Hurtgen Forest
The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...
, driving to the Roer River. Brigade units moved to a rest area on 7 December for its first real rest in 6 months of combat, and were resting when the von Rundstedt offensive (aka Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
) suddenly broke loose 16 December 1944. Dagger Brigade units raced to the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
, and fighting continuously from 17 December 1944 to 14 January 1945, helped blunt and turn back the German offensive. While the brigade itself was disbanded on 15 January 1945, brigade units kept fighting as part of the 1st Infantry Division until the end of the war in May 1945.
Post World War II
The Dagger Brigade didn't participate in the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
as it was still inactivated. On 15 February 1958 the 2nd Brigade was re-activated at Fort Devens
Fort Devens
Fort Devens is an active United States military installation in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was named after jurist and Civil War general Charles Devens. The nearby Devens Reserve Forces Training Area is...
as the 2nd Infantry Brigade with its own shoulder sleeve insignia. It spent the next five years training in northern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
. It was inactivated on 19 February 1963 at Fort Devens, only to be reactivated on 23 October 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and moved (with the rest of the Division) to Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
in January, 1964.
Vietnam
On 12 July 1965, the 2nd Brigade landed at Cam Ranh BayCam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in the province of Khánh Hòa. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kilometers / 180 miles northeast of Hồ Chí Minh City / Saigon.Cam Ranh is...
and Vung Tau
Vung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
, making it the first element of an Infantry Division to arrive in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. On 30 July 1969, the unit was visited by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
on his visit to South Vietnam. He met with the troops in Di An
Di An
Dĩ An, Bình Dương , is a town of Binh Duong Province in the Southeast region of Vietnam. It is about 20 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It is 1706 km by rail from Hanoi. As of 2003 the towan had a population of 136,530...
. The brigade returned to Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
in April 1970.
Desert Storm
The Dagger Brigade deployed from Fort RileyFort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
in December, 1990 as part of the United States' offensive buildup. The brigade was commanded by Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Anthony Moreno. The brigade was composed of 2–16 Infantry Battalion
16th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 16th Infantry Regiment is a regiment in the United States Army.-Formation:The 34th Infantry Regiment and 11th Infantry Regiment consolidated into the 16th Infantry Regiment on 3 March 1869. The 11th Infantry's history prior to the consolidation is normally included with the 16th's.-U.S...
, 3–37 Armor Battalion, and 4–37 Armor Battalion, plus supporting units. The brigade redeployed to Fort Riley in May, 1991.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 15 February 1996 the Dagger Brigade was relocated with the rest of the 1st Infantry Division to Europe. The Dagger Brigade replaced the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division's Raider Brigade in SchweinfurtSchweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
, Germany.
Also in February 1996 the Dagger Brigade deployed units to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
to participate in Operation Joint Endeavor with the US 1st Armored Division.
On 7 October 1996, the Brigade Combat Team
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
deployed to Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
to cover the US 1st Armored Division's redeployment to Germany. The brigade participated in Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard, and served as a stabilization force. The brigade redeployed to Schweinfurt in May 1997, except for the 1–77 Armor Battalion
77th Armor Regiment (United States)
The 77th Armor is an armored regiment of the United States Army. The 77th Armor Regiment is part of the U.S. Army Regimental System with only a single battalion, the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, and is therefore classified as both a single battalion, and the remainder of the Regiment itself...
task force, which stayed in Bosnia until November 1997.
Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
in 1999–2000 and again in 2002–2003.
The Dagger Brigade deployed to the Balkans twice in 1999, first as part of Task Force Sabre in Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, then in Kosovo as part of Task Force Falcon
Task Force Falcon
Task Force Falcon may refer to:*Task Force Falcon , a US Army Task Force*Task Force Falcon , a bounty-hunting company...
. Task Force Falcon served as the U.S. component of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) with the mission of conducting peackeeping operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia'a Serbian Kosovo province.
TF Falcon was under the command of the 1st Infantry Division and included elements from the 1st Armored Division. The Dagger Brigade enetered the war-torn province of Kosovo on 12 June 1999. TF Falcon headquartered at Camp Bondsteel, and grew into a Multi-National Brigade, including units from Greece, Russia, Poland, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Lithuania, and the UK.
Initial efforts focused on monitoring and verifying the withdrawal of former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro) forces and later the demilitarization and transformation of the Kosovo Liberation Army
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
.
The Dagger Brigade rotated to Kosovo again in 2002, this time focused on maintaining the secure environment established by coalition forces.
Operation Iraqi Freedom II
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Initial efforts were to prepare the way for the U.S. 4th Infantry Division
U.S. 4th Infantry Division
The 4th Infantry Division is a modular division of the United States Army based at Fort Carson, Colorado, with four brigade combat teams. It is a very technically advanced combat division in the U.S. Army....
to invade Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
from the north. When the Turkish government denied access through their border, the 2nd brigade returned to Germany.
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
included of 9th Engineer Battalion, 1–18 Infantry Battalion, 1–26 Infantry Battalion, 1–77 Armor Battalion
77th Armor Regiment (United States)
The 77th Armor is an armored regiment of the United States Army. The 77th Armor Regiment is part of the U.S. Army Regimental System with only a single battalion, the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, and is therefore classified as both a single battalion, and the remainder of the Regiment itself...
, 2–108 Infantry Battalion
108th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 108th Infantry Regiment is a regiment of the New York Army National Guard. It was first formed in 1898 and has been in continuous existence since 1907. As National Guardsmen, Soldiers of the 108th Infantry can be called upon to serve the state and Federal governments...
, 1–7 Field Artillery Battalion
7th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
The 7th Field Artillery Regiment is a United States Army field artillery regiment, whose lineage traces back to the early 20th century.-World War I:...
, 299th Forward Support Battalion
299th Brigade Support Battalion (United States)
The 299th Brigade Support Battalion, also known as the Lifeline, is a support battalion in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division...
, 2nd Brigade Recon Team, and supporting elements.
Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08
In August 2006 the 2nd "Dagger" Brigade Combat Team again deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from their home station in Schweinfurt, Germany. Task Force 1–26 (BLUE SPADERS) was sent ahead of the main body in an effort to curve the growing violence in Adamiyah, Shab and Uhr in North East Baghdad, Iraq. The Dagger BCT followed in September 2006 and assumed the mission as the CENTCOM reserve, positioned in Kuwait. Shortly after arrival in Kuwait, TF 1–77 AR (STEEL TIGERS) was deployed to Ramadi and TF 1–18 IN (VANGUARDS) was deployed to FOB FalconForward Operating Base Falcon
Forward Operating Base Falcon, referred to by some media sources as Camp Falcon, is a United States military forward operating base in Iraq a short distance outside of Baghdad, some south of the Green Zone. For a time it was designated as "Camp Ferrin-Huggins"...
, in the Rashid District of Baghdad, Iraq. The BCT Headquarters along with the 9th Engineers (GILAS), 1–7 FA(FIRST LIGHTNING), the 299th Forward Support Battalion (LIFELINE) and the BCT's four separate companies, were deployed to Camp Liberty, Baghdad.
The DAGGER BCT assumed responsibility for Coalition Force activities in Northwest Baghdad in late October, 2006 following Operation Together Forward II. The BCT assumed Command of 3 Task Forces already in Sector; TF 1–22 (REGULARS) in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad, TF 8–10 CAV in the Ameriyah district and TF 1-23IN (TOMAHAWK), a STRYKER Infantry Task Force which operated mainly in the Ghazaliyah and Shulla districts of Baghdad.
Throughout the BCT's tour of duty, they effectively integrated and employed a total of nine attached Task Forces including TF 1-22IN, TF 8-10CAV, TF 1-23IN, TF 2-8CAV, TF 2–12 CAV, TF 1-325AIR, TF 1-5CAV, TF 2-32FA and TF 1–64 AR.
TF 1-22IN (1st BCT, 4th ID) transitioned the Abu Ghraib district to TF 2-8CAV (1st BCT, 1st CAV). TF 8–10 CAV (4th BCT, 4th ID) transitioned Ameriyah and Khadra to TF 1–5 CAV (2nd BCT, 1st CAV). TF 1-23IN (3/2 STRYKER) transitioned Ghazaliyah to TF 2-12CAV (4th BCT, 1st CAV) and the Tomahawks assumed responsibilities in Hurriyah and Khadamiyah. TF 1-325AIR (2nd BCT, 82nd) arrived as part of the surge and assumed responsibilities for Khadamiyah, Hurriyah and some of the most dangerous Shia zones in Baghdad. TF 1-64AR (3ID) relieved TF 1-5CAV for Khadra and Mansour, enabling TF 1-5CAV to fully focus efforts against Sunni extremists in Ameriyah. TF 2-32FA (4th BCT, 1st ID) assumed responsibilities for Yarmouk and Hateen, completing the DAGGER BCT stance for OIF 06-08.
For the bulk of its deployment, DAGGER BCT would employ 5 maneuver Task Forces, from 5 different BCTs from 5 different installations in the Continental United States.
Throughout the tour, 1-7FA would be attached to the Victory Base Defense Force, but provided reliable Fire Support to the DAGGER BCT's efforts across Northwest Baghdad. The 9th Engineers established a route clearing capability dubbed "DAGGER IRON CLAW" which served to clear more than 50% of the routes in support of BCT, Division and Corps level efforts in Baghdad. The 299th Forward Support Battalion established an extremely active and vital Logistics Support Area in support of MND-Baghdad, and tirelessly sustained the BCT and all attached and detached formations while concurrently operating the Division Detainee Holding Area Annex.
DAGGER BCT ultimately established 14 Joint Security Stations, multiple Safe Neighborhoods and formally partered with the Iraqi Security Forces in the Khadamiyah and Mansour Security Districts. Under Dagger BCT OPERATION MARBLE ARCH, sectarian violence was significantly reduced as the BCT fought to stop the expansion of Shia and Sunni criminals and extremists from the North East and West/South West respectively.
The BCT and ISF leadership joined forces with the ARROWHEAD Stryker BCT for OPERATION ARROWHEAD STRIKE 9, which enabled a true combined forces approach to eliminating Sunni extremist from critical areas across the Mansour and Khadamiyah security districts. These combined efforts fully integrated Coalition, ISF and Iraqi Municipal Service efforts and enabled the rapid expansion of safe neighborhoods and increased Iraqi civilian participation in the security and services efforts.
Under DAGGER BCT OPERATION SEVENTH VEIL, corrupt ISF and Governmental Official's influence was significantly reduced with several key, senior-level officials being arrested and imprisoned and many others being put on notice. SEVENTH VEIL was conducted in full partnership with the leadership of the Kharkh Area Command. OPERATION SWITCHBLADE enabled the effective integration of volunteer security forces into the Combined Security Plan of the DAGGER BCT and partnered units of the Iraqi Kharkh Area Command, to include the combined units of the Khadamiyah and Mansour Security Districts. OPERATION OUR TOWN effectively linked the security apparatus with the essential services apparatus and served as a nexus for positive, real economic and essential service growth across North West Baghdad.
The BCT effectively transitioned Coalition Force responsibilities to the 2nd BCT of the 101st in November 2007 and the Brigade re-deployed to Schweinfurt, Germany.
Return to CONUS
On 16 March 2008, 1st Infantry Division’s presence in Europe formally ended when the 2nd (Dagger) Brigade in Schweinfurt, Germany reflagged as the 172nd Infantry Brigade. As part of the Grow the ArmyGrow the Army
Grow the Army is a transformation and restationing initiative of the United States Army announced in 2007 and scheduled to be completed by fiscal year 2013. The initiative is designed to grow the U.S...
Plan announced 19 Dec 2007, the 172nd is one of two Infantry Brigades that will be activated and retained in Germany until 2012 and 2013. The other Brigade is the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Baumholder, Germany, which was reflagged to 170th Infantry Brigade on 15 July 2009. On 28 March 2008, the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (HBCT) inactivated at Fort Riley. The Soldiers and equipment currently assigned were reflagged as 2d (Dagger) Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (HBCT), aligning all units on Fort Riley under the 1st Infantry Division.
Return to Iraq
On 30 September 2008, the Dagger Brigade Combat Team held its deployment ceremony on the Cavalry Parade Field at Fort Riley, KS. 2nd HBCT received their warning order from the Department of the ArmyUnited States Department of the Army
The Department of the Army is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency which the United States Army is organized within, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has...
to deploy in the fall of 2008.
In October 2008 the Dagger Brigade deployed to North West Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, they returned to Fort Riley September 2009 and then received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for their efforts in the support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
See details of their achievements at http://www.1id.army.mil/UnitPage.aspx?unit=2bct
Operation New Dawn
In November 2010, the Dagger Brigade deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn as a Advise and Assist Brigade. They are currently deployed.Lineage
- Constituted 24 May 1917 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Brigade, and assigned to the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated as the 1st Division)
- Organized 8 June 1917 at New York, New York
- Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1921 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade
- Redesignated 23 March 1925 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade
- Redesignated 24 August 1936 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade
- Relieved 11 October 1939 from assignment to the 1st Division
- Inactivated 1 June 1940 at Fort OntarioFort OntarioFort Ontario is a historic fort situated by the City of Oswego, in Oswego County, New York in the United States of America. It is owned by the state of New York and operated as a museum known as Fort Ontario State Historic Site....
, New York - Redesignated 30 June 1943 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Airborne Infantry Brigade, and activated at Camp MackallCamp MackallCamp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training facility located in eastern Richmond County and northern Scotland County, North Carolina, south of the town of Southern Pines. The facility is in close proximity to and is a sub-installation of Fort Bragg Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training...
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... - Disbanded 15 January 1945 in Europe
- Reconstituted 12 February 1958 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade
- Activated 15 February 1958 at Fort DevensFort DevensFort Devens is an active United States military installation in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was named after jurist and Civil War general Charles Devens. The nearby Devens Reserve Forces Training Area is...
, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010... - Inactivated 19 February 1962 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts
- Redesignated 23 October 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
- Activated 2 January 1964 at Fort RileyFort RileyFort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
Campaign Participation Credit
- World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
- Montdidier-Noyon
- Aisne-Marne
- St. MihielBattle of Saint-MihielThe Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12–15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and 48,000 French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions...
- Meuse-ArgonneMeuse-Argonne OffensiveThe Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
- Lorraine 1917
- Lorraine 1918
- Picardy 1918
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- World War II
- NormandyOperation OverlordOperation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
- VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
- Vietnam
- Defense
- Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase II
- Counteroffensive, Phase III
- Tet Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase IV
- Counteroffensive, Phase V
- Counteroffensive, Phase VI
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive
- Summer-Fall 1969
- Winter-Spring 1970
- Southwest Asia
- Defense of Saudi Arabia
- Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
- Cease-Fire
Decorations
- Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
(Army) for VIETNAM 1969 - Army Superior Unit Award for 1996–1997
- Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1965–1968
- Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1965–1970
- Valorous Unit AwardValorous Unit AwardThe Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit and is considered the unit equivalent of the Silver Star...
for SAMARRA October 2004 – November 2004 - Valorous Unit AwardValorous Unit AwardThe Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit and is considered the unit equivalent of the Silver Star...
for IRAQ February 2004 – February 2005 - Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
(Army) OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08