41st Fires Brigade (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 41st Fires Brigade


caption=41st Fires Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1918-1969
1972-2005
2007-
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= U.S. Army
type= Artillery
role= Fire support
size= Brigade
command_structure=
garrison=Fort Hood
garrison_label=
equipment=
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nickname=Railgunners
patron=
motto=
colors=
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march=
mascot=
battles=Vietnam War
Task Force Hawk
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours= WW2, Vietnam, Desert Shield/Storm
current_commander=
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ceremonial_chief=
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identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=The 41st Fires Brigade —nicknamed the Railgunners— is an artillery brigade in the United States Army. Its previous active-duty station was Babenhausen Caserne in Babenhausen, Germany. It deactivated on July 11, 2005. The 41st Field Artillery Brigade was a V Corps asset under the command of the V Corps Artillery; it provided artillery support to the 1st Armored Division and the 1st Infantry Division and deployed with V Corps in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Before deactivation, the 41st FA Bde saw most of its units inactivated or transferred to the United States as a part of the transformation of the United States Army and a reduction of forces in Europe. The last battalion commanded by the 41st FA Bde was 1st Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment; the battalion inactivated after 41st FA Bde on April 26, 2006. The 41st Fires Brigade was reactivated on 16 April, 2007, at Fort Hood, Texas.

History

The 41st Fires Brigade was first organized in 1918 as part of the Hawaiian Department of the coastal artillery. The unit's artillery guns were mounted on rail cars, thus, the unit nickname "Railgunners". The unit was deactivated in 1969 in Vietnam and reactivated in Germany in 1972 as a component of VII Corps Artillery. Two battalions from the 41st Field Artillery Brigade participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991. 1st Battalion, 27th Field Artillery and 3rd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery were both attached to the 42nd Field Artillery "Wheelhorse" Brigade, part of VII Corps Artillery during this short conflict. Members from the 41st who deployed with the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade for Operation Desert Storm wear the Wheelhorse insignia.

Reactivation

On 16 April, 2007 the 4th Fires Brigade, (formerly 4th Infantry Division's DIVARTY) reflagged as the 41st Fires Brigade. It supports III Corps. The 41st Fires Brigade is currently composed of:

* Headquarters & Headquarters Battery
* 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment (M270 MLRS)
* 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment (M270 MLRS)
* 589th Brigade Support Battalion
* A Battery, 26th Field Artillery Regiment (Target Acquisition Battery)
* 324th Signal Company

A tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) battery will be added to the Brigade in the future.

Commanders

*COL S.H. Wheeler 1967
*COL Archibald V. Arnold 1969
*COL Homer W. Kiefer, Jr. 1973 - 1975
*COL Charles Hoenstine 1976 – 1977
*COL Edward J. Stein, Jr. Dec 1977 – July 1979
*LTG August M. Cianciolo July 1979 – May 1982
*MG Fred F. Marty May 1982 – September 1984
*COL Craig H. Leyda 1984
*COL James H. Chapman 1986 - 1988
*COL David A. Schulte 1988 - 1990
*COL George E. Newman III 1990 - 1991
*COL James R. Chambless 1992 – 1994
*LTG Michael D. Maples August 1994 – June 1996
*COL Stephen M. Seay July 1996 – August 1998
*COL Michael T. Hayes August 1998 – July 2000
*COL Jackson L. Flake III July 2000 – July 2002
*COL Charles C. Otterstedt III July 2002 – July 2004
*COL Gary D. Langford July 2004 – July 2005
*COL Richard M. Francey, Jr. April 2007 – Present

Honors & Decorations

*Campaign Participation Credit
*World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Theater, streamer without inscription;
*Vietnam: 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
*Bosnia Herzegovina: Support of IFOR and SFOR, 1995 - 1996
*War on Terrorism: Campaigns to be determined
*Decorations
*Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), for SOUTHWEST ASIA 2003
*Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), for VIETNAM 1967-1968
*Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), for VIETNAM 1968-1969
*Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, for VIETNAM 1967-1969

External links

* [http://www.taskforcemountain.com 41st Fires Brigade in Iraq]
* [http://www.hood.army.mil/41stFires/index.htm Railgunners Website] - official site.
* [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Fires/41FiresBrigade.htm 41st Fires Brigade at the Institute of Heraldry]
* [http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=15399 Killeen Daily News article]
* [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/branches/fa/0041firebrig.htm Official Lineage & Honors]