196th Infantry Brigade (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 196th Infantry Brigade


caption=196th Infantry Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1921-1946
1966-1972
1998-present
country= United States
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branch= U.S. Army
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role= Training Support Brigade
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garrison=Fort Shafter
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nickname=Charger Brigade
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battles=World War II {defended Hawaii}
Vietnam War
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identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
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identification_symbol_2_label=The 196th Light Infantry Brigade, also known as the Charger Brigade was first formed on June 24, 1921 as part of the United States Army Reserve's 98th Division with the responsibility of training soldiers.

World War II

During World War II, the 98th initially defended Kauai, Hawaii and Maui, Hawaii, and finally responsible for defending Oahu, Hawaii later in the war.The Division began intensive training in May 1945 to prepare for the invasion of Japan, but the war ended before they could depart Hawaii. However, the unit arrived in Japan for occupation duty as the 3rd Platoon, 98th Reconnaissance Troop Mechanized, of the 98th Infantry Division, where it eventually was inactivated on February 16, 1946, in Osaka, Japan.

Vietnam

July 15, 1966 - June 1972. During the Vietnam War the 196th was part of the United States Army's 23rd Infantry Division (Also called the Americal Division).
The 196th LIB was reactivated again in September 1965 at Fort Devens, where it was originally scheduled to be sent to the Dominican Republic, but was rushed to Vietnam on July 15, 1966 via transport ships, arriving on August 14, 1966 in Tay Ninh City, where it began combat operations in the western area of the III Corps Tactical Zone. The 196th conducted Operations Cedar Falls, Dadsen, Lancaster, Junction City, Benton, and Attleboro (War Zone C of Tay Ninh Province), where it turned into a major action after a large enemy base camp was found in October 19, 1966.In April 1967, the 196th was selected, along with the 1st Brigade, the 101st Airborne Division and 3rd Brigade, and the 25th Infantry Division, to form a temporary division unit called Task Force OREGON, where it was moved to the I Corps Tactical Zone. The brigade continued with this division, where it was converted into the 23rd Infantry Division, or Americal, on September 25, 1967, and participated in Operations Wheeler/Wallowa, Golden Fleece, Fayette Canyon, Frederick Hill, Lamar Plain, Elk Canyon I, and Elk Canyon II. On February 15, 1969, the 196th officially became a member of this division, where it operated out of Northern Vietnam. On November 29, 1971, the 196th became a separate temporary entity to safeguard this same area of operations.In April 1971, the 196th moved to Da Nang to assist in port security duties, and finally left Vietnam in June 29, 1972 as the last combat brigade to leave in Vietnam. The brigade suffered 1004 KIA, and 5591 WIA in Vietnam.

Operations as a Division (July 15 1966 - September 25, 1967)
*Cedar Falls
*Gadsden
*Lancaster
*Attleboro
*Junction City
*Benton

Operations as a part of the Americal Division (September 25, 1967 - June 1972)
*Wheeler/Wallowa
*Golden Fleece
*Fayette Canyon
*Frederick Hill
*Lamar Plain
*Elk Canyon I
*Elk Canyon II

Headquarters locations during the Vietnam War
*Tay Ninh, August 1966 to May 1967
*Chu Lai, June 1967 to October 1967
*Tam Ky, November 1967 to March 1968
*Phong Dien, April 1968 to June 1968
*Hoi An, June 1968 to March 1971
*Da Nang, April 1971 to June 1972

ORDER OF BATTLE

Brigade Infantry & Brigade Artillery
*2d Battalion, 1st Infantry
*3d Battalion, 82d Artillery
*3d Battalion, 21st Infantry
*1st Battalion, 46th Infantry
*4th Battalion, 31st Infantry

Brigade Reconnaissance
*Troop F, 8th Cavalry (Air)
*Troop F, 17th Cavalry (Armored)
*1st Battalion, 1st Cavalry (Armored)
*64th Inf. Plt. Combat Trackers
*48th Scout Dog Platoon
*196th LRRP (E/51 LRP)

Brigade Support
*8th Support Battalion
*175th Engineer Company
*23rd MP Company
*408th Radio Research Det. (ASA)
*635th MID Team 2
*544th MP Plt.
*687th Signal Company
*196th Signal Co. (Prov)
*27th Chemical Detachment
*10th Public Information Detachment
*HHD & BAND, 196th Support Bn (Prov)
*569th MI Det
*Co.C, 37th. Sig.,1st.Signal Bde. (62nd. Co.)

Post Vietnam

On May 26, 1998, the 196th was reactivated during a ceremony at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. The new brigade assists reserve units in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, and Japan, as a Training Support Brigade, providing support to Reserve Component Forces throughout the Pacific area.

References

* [http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/content.asp#brigade "The Brigade: A History, Its Organization and Employment in the US Army"]
*Summers, Harry G. Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
*http://196th.org/History.htm
*http://www.usarpac.army.mil/196th/history.htm
*http://www.lzcentervietnamvets.com/196th%20LIB%20History.htm Article by Pete Shotts used with permission.